Overview
Microsoft is a company where passionate innovators come to collaborate, envision what can be and take their careers further. This is a world of more possibilities, more innovation, more openness, and the sky is the limit thinking in a cloud-enabled world.
Microsoft’s Azure Data engineering team is leading the transformation of analytics in the world of data with products like databases, data integration, big data analytics, messaging \& real-time analytics, and business intelligence. The products our portfolio include Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL DB, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure PostgreSQL, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Service Bus, Azure Event Grid, and Power BI. Our mission is to build the data platform for the age of AI, powering a new class of data-first applications and driving a data culture.
Within Azure Data, the databases team builds and maintains Microsoft's operational Database systems. We store and manage data in a structured way to enable multitude of applications across various industries. We are on a journey to enable developer friendly, mission-critical, AI enabled operational Databases across relational, non-relational and OSS offerings.
The Gray Systems Lab (GSL) is an applied research lab under Azure Data. We do research and development for databases, big-data, and cloud systems, working in close collaboration with product teams to design innovative solutions for real-world problems. Our team is friendly and inclusive. We focus on a variety of exciting areas, including modern/future hardware (e.g., GPU, NVM and FPGAs). Our work covers both internal both Microsoft internal and open-source systems, such as Fabric, Spark, SQL Server, MySQL, Apache Iceberg, and more. We provide opportunities to work on ideas from internal collaborations, as well as external ones with partner universities, and to continue to be an active scholar in the research community.
We do not just value differences or different perspectives. We seek them out and invite them in so we can tap into the collective power of everyone in the company. As a result, our customers are better served.
Responsibilities
Full‑time Applied Scientists apply inquiry and theory to real‑world challenges, advancing the state of the art in database technology. Alongside some of the world’s best researchers, engineers, and product collaborators, you will drive innovation from early exploration through impact at scale.
In this role, you will:
Lead and execute original research that expands foundational understanding, develops new methodologies, or pushes technical boundaries.
Collaborate closely with peers, product teams, and partners to identify high‑impact problems, define research directions, and translate ideas into tangible outcomes.
Publish and communicate findings through top‑tier conference venues, internal reviews, and cross‑team presentations to influence both research and product strategy.
Mentor and guide students, interns, and early‑career researchers, fostering a culture of learning, creativity, and scientific rigor.
Prototype, build, and evaluate systems or algorithms that demonstrate the feasibility and potential of new approaches.
Contribute to the broader research community, strengthening knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and long‑term innovation.
Engage deeply with MSR and product teams, helping shape the future direction of technologies across the company.
Qualifications
Required qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND relevant professional experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
OR Master's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND demonstrated relevant experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND practical research experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
OR equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications Master's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND substantial relevant experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND advanced relevant experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
OR equivalent experience.
Demonstrated experience creating publications (e.g., patents, libraries, peer-reviewed academic papers).
Experience presenting at conferences or other events in the external research or industry community as an invited speaker.
Demonstrated experience conducting research as part of a structured research program (in academic or industry settings).
Experience developing and deploying live production systems as part of a product team.
Experience developing and deploying products or systems across multiple stages of the product lifecycle, from ideation to shipping.
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/Additional Qualifications
Demonstrate experience with RDMA, InfiniBand, NVLink, smart NICs, io_uring. referred demonstrated experience with database transactions.
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 reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form (Accessibility \| Microsoft Careers).
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
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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.