Principal Researcher (AI)

Conduct innovative research in Agentic AI, LLMs, Agentic Software Engineering, RL, RSI, model tuning, LLM Privacy, or Efficient AI. Design and prototype agentic systems that autonomously perform tasks, make decisions, and interact with users and other agents. Develop scalable algorithms for agentic systems, memory-augmented reasoning, or efficient learning. Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate research into key Microsoft products. Publish in top-tier venues (e.g., NeurIPS, ICLR, ICML, KDD, ICSE, FSE, OSDI, etc.) and contribute SOTA technologies to academia/industry community.

Required Qualifications: Doctorate in relevant field AND 3+ years related research experienceOR Master's Degree in relevant field AND 4+ years related research experience OR Bachelor's Degree in relevant field AND 6+ years related research experience OR equivalent experience. Other Requirements: Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. Preferred Qualifications: PhD (or equivalent experience) in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related fields. Good publication record in AI, ML, Agent, or Software/System Research. Experience with LLMs, Agent frameworks, and ML toolkits. Experience with common programming languages and AI coding tools. Rich experience with AI and Agentic AI. Familiarity with vibe coding workflows, AI-native development lifecycles, model tuning, AI optimization, or reinforcement learning. Demonstrated ability to translate research into real systems and product impact. #CAP #CTO This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.