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.​ ​​Are you passionate about advancing database systems to support the next generation of AI-powered applications? Do you thrive on building core infrastructure like vector indexing, semantic search, and graph-aware query engines inside a trusted open-source database? Join us as we extend PostgreSQL to natively support AI workloads, combining deep systems engineering with meaningful developer impact. The Azure PostgreSQL team is building advanced, cloud-native capabilities that extend PostgreSQL into a trusted platform for AI workloads. This includes native support for vector search, semantic and full-text indexing, hybrid search patterns, graph queries, and in-database model integration. We are looking for a Senior Engineer to design and build foundational systems that enable intelligent applications to run directly inside PostgreSQL with performance, reliability, and scale. This is a high-impact individual contributor role where you will collaborate with experienced engineers, contribute to core infrastructure, and help shape the developer experience for AI-powered applications built on PostgreSQL. About the Team We are a fast-moving, collaborative team focused on extending PostgreSQL to support AI workloads natively. Our work includes vector indexing, semantic query processing, graph data models, and model-aware execution capabilities, all built directly on top of the PostgreSQL engine. We operate at the intersection of distributed systems, database internals, and AI infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on technical rigor and real-world impact. Our culture values curiosity, deep systems thinking, and inclusive collaboration. We believe the best ideas emerge from engineering craftsmanship, open experimentation, and a shared commitment to excellence. 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- Design and implement AI-native capabilities in PostgreSQL, including vector indexing, semantic and full-text search operators, hybrid search patterns, and graph query features.
• Own or contribute to the design and implementation of major AI-native subsystems, from early technical exploration through production readiness, with guidance from senior engineers as appropriate.
• Build and enhance high-performance PostgreSQL extensions and core engine integrations using C, C++, or Rust, with a strong focus on performance, correctness, and maintainability.
• Contribute to end-to-end development, including performance analysis, debugging, tuning, operability, and service integration in cloud database environments.
• Work effectively in high-ambiguity problem spaces, evaluating technical tradeoffs through experimentation as patterns and best practices emerge.
• Collaborate closely with senior engineers, product managers, and AI researchers to translate requirements into scalable, intuitive, and reliable systems.
• Participate actively in technical design discussions, code reviews, and the evolution of engineering standards, while deepening understanding of PostgreSQL internals and systems design.
• Help shape the developer experience through APIs, control plane integration, and extensibility mechanisms.
• Learn, apply, and promote best practices for building reliable, observable, and operable systems in a production cloud database service.
• Stay informed and curious about research and industry trends in databases, search systems, graph systems, and AI-powered data platforms.

Qualifications-

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND equivalent technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• OR equivalent experience.
• Proven technical engineering capabilities in systems-level engineering, including work on database engines, distributed systems, or backend infrastructure
• Proficiency in one or more systems programming languages such as C, C++, or Rust
• Experience working with PostgreSQL or similar engines at the extension, indexing, or query execution level
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver reliable, performant systems in a collaborative environment

Job Requirements: Other & Additional

• 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

• ​​Experience implementing vector indexes, ANN search algorithms, or semantic retrieval systems
• Interest or experience in graph data models or graph-aware query execution
• Familiarity with embedding workflows, model integration, or retrieval-augmented generation patterns
• Prior contributions to open-source databases, search engines, or AI infrastructure projects
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills with a collaborative, growth-oriented mindset
• Commitment to learning, innovation, and inclusive engineering culture
  #azdat #azuredata ​​#postgres #databases​

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, read more about requesting accommodations.