​​Principal Research SDE​

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 big data analytics team provides a range of products that enable data engineers and data scientists to extract intelligence from all data – structured, semi-structured, and unstructured. We build the Data Engineering, Data Science, and Data Integration pillars of Microsoft Fabric.​ 

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Within Azure Data, we are currently seeking a Principal Software Engineer for the Gray Systems Lab (GSL), an applied research group that is part of the Azure Data CTO office. GSL tackles interesting challenges in both open-source and proprietary technologies related to analytics, cloud, AI, and storage systems among others. We build reliable, highly scalable and highly performing distributed systems for data analytics on Azure, we publish in top-conferences and are actively involved in open-source projects. GSL researchers and engineers have contributed hundreds of academic papers and build technologies that impact tens of millions of dollars of Microsoft revenue and COGS. We work on novel technologies including analytics on GPUs, container technologies, graph databases, infrastructure and models for LLMs and data-science, and machine learning for systems. With team members originating from 10 countries and 4 continents, each of us brings something authentically unique to the team. In this diverse and inclusive environment, creativity, open dialogue, and a healthy work-life balance are powering GSL innovation and helping each of us grow.   

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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

• Lead the design and development of cutting-edge features and enhancements for Azure Data’s open-source components, working with product teams.  
• Contribute to and manage open-source projects, fostering a collaborative environment within the developer community.  
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align on technical strategy and ensure seamless integration of open-source solutions.
• Represent Microsoft Azure Data in the open-source community, attending and presenting at conferences and meetups. ​ 
• Embody our culture and values 

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• 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 in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
• OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
• OR equivalent experience.

Other Requirements

• 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.

​​Additional or preferred qualifications 

• 7+ years experience developing and deploying products or systems at multiple points in the product cycle from ideat