Principal ML Engineer
Technology, Data & Digital · Data, AI & Analytics · Machine Learning · Software Engineering
In short
Microsoft AI Experience is seeking a Principal ML Engineer to lead the technical direction and long-range architecture for Copilot Discover. This role involves designing and driving end-to-end systems for AI-forward discovery experiences, personalizing content, and influencing platform direction across multiple teams. The ideal candidate is passionate about building high-scale, AI-driven systems with a strong focus on user value and architectural rigor.
Responsibilities
- Own the technical direction for Copilot Discover platforms, setting end-to-end architectural strategy.
- Partner with product, design, data science, and engineering leaders to translate business and user needs into executable architectural plans, well-documented designs, and multi-year roadmaps.
- Set and govern architectural decisions across multiple services and teams, ensuring systems are scalable, secure, reliable, cost-efficient, and grounded in data, telemetry and operational excellence.
- Raise the technical bar across the organization by establishing falsifiable principles, reviewing critical designs, and helping to develop technical leaders within the team.
- Establish and evolve quality and reliability standards, including test strategies, CI/CD practices, monitoring, alerting, and live-site health.
- Shape the adoption of AI/ML techniques for content understanding, personalization, summarization, and safety, in close collaboration with MAI and partner teams.
- Serve as a cross-org technical leader, aligning MSN architecture with Bing, Copilot, Ads, Privacy, Trust, and other Microsoft platforms.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research); OR Master's Degree AND 6+ years related experience; OR Doctorate AND 5+ years related experience; OR equivalent experience.
- Proven experience designing and operating large-scale distributed systems, including data pipelines, microservices, APIs, and storage systems.
- Experience with content platforms, personalization systems, or consumer-facing services at scale.
- Experience with technologies such as Apache Spark, Kafka, columnar storage, data modeling, and schema evolution.
- Demonstrated success as a technical lead or architect, influencing across teams without direct authority.
- Proven experience and understanding of system architecture, performance tuning, telemetry design, and operational excellence.
- Exposure to ML/AI systems, especially in content understanding, ranking, or personalization.
- Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts.
- Demonstrated cross-organizational collaboration skills and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
Desired Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years related experience; OR Doctorate AND 8+ years related experience; OR equivalent experience.
Benefits
- The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year.
- There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.
- Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
Skills
Apache SparkKafka
#AI#ML#Software Engineering#Architecture#Personalization#Ranking#Data Pipelines#Microservices#APIs#Storage Systems#Content Platforms#Consumer Services#Apache Spark#Kafka#Data Modeling#Schema Evolution#Telemetry#Operational Excellence#Content Understanding#Safety
About Microsoft
Empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more
Every company has a mission. What's ours? To empower every person and every organization to achieve more. We believe technology can and should be a force for good and that meaningful innovation contributes to a brighter world in the future and today. Our culture doesn’t just encourage curiosity; it embraces it. Each day we make progress together by showing up as our authentic selves. We show up with a learn-it-all mentality. We show up cheering on others, knowing their success doesn't diminish our own. We show up every day open to learning our own biases, changing our behavior, and inviting…
Company
MicrosoftJob Posted
4 days ago
Employment Type
Full Time
Work mode
Hybrid
Salary
US$165,600–331,200 · Negotiable
Experience Level
Senior
Locations
United States
Qualification
Bachelor, Master, Doctoral
Applicants
Be an early applicant
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