Principal Applied Science Manager

Microsoft Teams is the hub for teamwork that integrates all the people, content, and tools your team needs to be more engaged and effective. It is core to Microsoft’s modern work, modern life & modern education value prop. We are reinventing the way people communicate and work together across the globe.   We own the infrastructure that enables complex orchestration of Copilot workflows to put powerful AI capabilities at the user’s fingertips.  

Our team empowers users to have more effective and engaging meetings, chats, and collaborations by providing real-time assistance as well as getting information and accomplishing tasks in ways they never thought possible. We leverage the most advanced, large language models (LLMs) to develop cutting-edge Copilot products in Teams.

We are looking for an experienced manager who can bring deep applied science expertise and a proven track record of shipping at-scale AI-enabled intelligent user-facing experiences to drive vision and execution for Microsoft 365 AI. As an Principal Applied Science Manager in Microsoft Teams, you would work in an exciting and fast-paced environment, collaborating closely with teams across the company, including Microsoft Research and various product groups. You will work as part of an organization that brings together talent in the areas of large language models, deep learning, information retrieval, software engineering, and responsible AI. We value and encourage diversity in the belief that it leads to both great workplaces and great products.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Manage an innovative applied science team in the area of Large Language Models, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
• Technical leadership in an applied science team in the area of Large Language Models, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
• Develop and deploy conversational and language understanding models at scale.
• Push the boundaries of AI platforms through innovation and partnership.
• Follow and advance best practices for Responsible AI and Privacy Preserving Machine Learning.
• Support hiring, coaching, mentoring and career development of Applied Scientists to build an inclusive and ambitious applied science team.
• Collaborate closely with Microsoft Research and product teams to create the next generation of AI innovation in our products and services.
• Communicate internally and externally through publication, presentations, and other media (e.g., blogs, press interviews) on research progress, major breakthroughs, and product innovation.

Qualifications

Required

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or other related technical field (e.g., mathematics, physics, statistics, or similar). 
• Experience: At least 9+ years of industry experience, with strong proficiency in coding in Python for software development and data science. (Experience with additional programming languages is a plus but not required.) 
• Skills: Proficiency in Python-based machine learning frameworks and libraries such as PyTorch and TensorFlow, and experience developing and deploying generative AI or machine learning models into production. Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences. 
• Problem-Solving: Demonstrated ability and motivation to understand complex business contexts and to solve hard, open-ended problems. A proactive mindset in tackling challenges and optimizing solutions to deliver business impact. 
• Additional or Preferred Qualifications 
• Advanced Degree (Preferred): Master’s Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field and 9+ years of related experience; OR Doctorate in one of the above fields and 6+ years related experience; OR equivalent industry experience. 
• Research & Publications: 5+ years of experience contributing to research publications (e.g., patents, academic papers, open-source libraries) that showcase innovative thinking and technical depth. 
• Research Excellence: 5+ years of experience conducting original research as part of a formal research program (in academic or industrial settings), with proven ability to drive insights from concept to execution. 
• Production Deployment: 3+ years of experience developing and deploying live production systems as part of a product team, ensuring solutions are scalable, reliable, and maintainable. 
• Product Lifecycle Experience: 3+ years of experience contributing to products or systems at multiple stages of the development lifecycle, from initial ideation and prototyping to final production deployment and ongoing iteration. 

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.