Applied Scientist II

About the role

We seek an Applied Scientist with expertise in Machine Learning, Generative AI, Agentic Modeling, Data Science, or related areas. The ideal candidate should be passionate about generative modeling, experimental prompt tuning, and large-scale modeling optimization, and have hands-on experience working with LLMs or SLMs such as Qwen, Llama, or its variants.

Microsoft AI unites product, engineering, and science teams to advance Bing and Consumer Copilot, aiming to provide the best generative search experience through advanced AI/ML technologies and innovative AI features. Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We collaborate with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and build on values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

Starting January 26, 2026, employees who live within a 50-mile commute of a designated Microsoft office in the U.S. or 25-mile commute of a non-U.S. location are expected to work from the office at least four days per week, subject to local law.

Responsibilities

• Build and own production machine learning models to improve results.
• Work hands-on with state-of-the-art generative models like Qwen, Llama, Mistral, GPT, and others to deliver impact.
• Find insights and form hypotheses on large-scale data using machine learning, feature engineering, statistical, and data mining techniques (e.g., regression, classification, NLP, optimization).
• Design experiments, analyze resulting data, and produce actionable, trustworthy conclusions.
• Wrangle large amounts of data (petabytes) using various tools, including open-source and custom solutions.
• Use programming languages such as Python, C#, R, C++, Java, and SQL.
• Distill complex problems and data into concise answers to assist senior executives in making key business decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 2+ years of related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
• OR Master's Degree in the same fields AND 1+ year of related experience
• OR Doctorate in the same fields
• OR equivalent experience.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in the specified fields AND 5+ years of related experience
• OR Master's Degree in the specified fields AND 3+ years of related experience
• OR Doctorate in the specified fields AND 1+ year of related experience
• OR equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of proficient experience with C#/C++/Java/Python/Scala or other OOP skills, with strong knowledge of Data Structures/Algorithms.
• Passion and experience in data analytics, applied machine learning, deep learning, and/or related fields.

Pay

The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100 - $202,200 per year. For specific work locations within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the range is USD $133,800 - $219,200 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.