Microsoft

Principal Applied Scientist

Microsoft • $130K — $180K *
Redmond, WA 98052In-Person
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor/Master/Doctorate in Statistics, Computer Science, or related field with relevant experience in predictive analytics.
  • Proven track record of developing machine learning models in industry or academic settings for real-world applications.
  • Strong programming skills in Python or R for data analysis and modeling, along with expertise in SQL.
  • Experience with large-scale data processing tools like Apache Spark or Azure Databricks.
  • Skilled in advanced analytics techniques such as time-series analysis and anomaly detection.
  • Familiarity with LLM prompt engineering and fine-tuning GPT models for domain-specific applications.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement machine learning models for product discovery and personalization.
  • Develop large language model (LLM)-based systems specifically for conversational shopping.
  • Address trust and quality issues related to data accuracy and recommendation reliability.
  • Create evaluation frameworks for testing conversational shopping experiences.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate models into user interfaces.
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance in applied science initiatives.
  • Contribute to governance and Responsible AI practices for system compliance.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead innovative projects at the intersection of machine learning and generative AI.
  • Work directly on enhancing user experiences in conversational commerce.
  • Collaborative environment with multidisciplinary teams including product and design.
  • Strong emphasis on responsible AI practices, ensuring ethical application of technology.
Full Job Description
Overview

Conversational commerce introduces challenges that differ from traditional web shopping. Preferences emerge through dialogue, expectations for accuracy and trust are high, and systems must reason over context and frequently changing commerce data.

Microsoft Copilot is building shopping experiences that are conversational, proactive, and trustworthy. As a Principal Applied Scientist, you will lead the development of machine learning and generative AI systems that power product discovery, ranking, personalization, and reasoning across Copilot shopping surfaces. This role sits at the intersection of applied machine learning, generative AI, and product experience, with clear ownership of core shopping intelligence used directly in user-facing Copilot experiences.

Starting January 26, 2026, Microsoft AI (MAI) 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., country-specific location are expected to work from the office at least four days per week. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction.

Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and productionize machine learning models for product discovery, ranking, recommendation, and personalization using large-scale commerce and behavioral data.
  • Develop LLM-based systems for conversational shopping, including prompt design, retrieval-augmented generation, tool orchestration, and grounding against structured commerce data.
  • Address quality and trust challenges such as hallucination risk, stale data, and recommendation reliability.
  • Define evaluation frameworks and experimentation strategies for conversational and proactive shopping scenarios, including offline metrics and online experiments.
  • Partner closely with product, engineering, and design teams to translate models into low-latency, reliable Copilot experiences.
  • Provide technical leadership for applied science within Copilot Shopping through design reviews, mentoring, and setting quality standards.
  • Contribute to model governance and Responsible AI practices to ensure trustworthy and compliant systems.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
    • OR Master's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
    • OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years related 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 9+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
    • OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience developing machine learning or statistical models to solve real-world problems (in industry or academic projects), including building and validating algorithms such as regressions, classifiers, or clustering models.
  • Proficiency in programming for data science (e.g. using Python or R for data analysis and modeling) and experience with data querying languages (e.g. SQL).
  • Big Data & Distributed Computing: Hands-on experience with large-scale data processing using tools like Apache Spark or Azure Databricks for training and inference workflows.
  • Advanced Analytics: Skilled in time-series analysis and anomaly detection techniques (e.g., ARIMA, isolation forests) applied to business contexts for actionable insights.
  • LLMs & Domain Adaptation: Practical experience with prompt engineering, fine-tuning GPT-like models, and applying LLMs in domain-heavy areas (healthcare, agriculture, social sciences) while ensuring privacy and Responsible AI compliance.


#MicrosoftAI #copilot #shopping

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft Careers

Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

Explore Career Opportunities at Microsoft

Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a recent graduate eager to start your career, Microsoft has a position that suits your skills and ambitions. We are committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where every team member is supported in expanding their horizons.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Microsoft internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment. You'll work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

Employment Benefits

Choosing a career at Microsoft means more than just a job. Our employees enjoy a range of benefits designed to empower them both professionally and personally. These include comprehensive health benefits, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement through professional development and diversity training.

Inclusive Culture and Diversity

At Microsoft, we believe that innovation comes from diversity of thought and inclusion. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired. Our leadership is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives lead to breakthrough innovations and a competitive edge.

Grow with Us

Career growth at Microsoft is about more than climbing the corporate ladder; it's about continuous learning, expanding your skills, and improving your capabilities. With access to various leadership and training programs, you can evolve as a professional and make a significant impact within the company and on the global stage.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify true potential. Starting with a review of your resume, followed by interviews that assess your problem-solving abilities and cultural fit, we ensure that all candidates have a fair chance to demonstrate their strengths and potential to contribute to our team.

Networking and Professional Development

Microsoft is a place where you can build a professional network that spans the globe. Our employees benefit from connections with top-tier professionals and industry leaders, which opens doors to innovative projects and collaborative opportunities that are second to none.

Join Our Team

If you're ready to take on exciting challenges and make a difference in the world of technology, explore the job opportunities at Microsoft. Search for open positions that match your skills and interests, and prepare to embark on a rewarding career path filled with innovation and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest at Microsoft Careers by subscribing to our job alert emails. Get tailored content that aligns with your career preferences and discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Microsoft.

SEARCH MICROSOFT JOBS

At Microsoft, your future is limitless. Join us in our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Your journey with Microsoft starts here.
Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Microsoft

More Consumer Technology Jobs

Find similar Principal Applied Scientist jobs:

NationwideRedmond, WA