Overview

Microsoft Sentinel Platform NEXT R&D labs is the strategic incubation engine behind the next generation of AI-native security products. We are looking to hire a Senior AI Applied Scientist who thrives in a bottoms-up, fast-paced, highly technical environment. The Sentinel Platform team will be building cloud solutions meeting scales that few companies in the industry are required to support, that leverage state-of-the-art technologies to deliver holistic protection to a planet scale user base. Our team blends scientific rigor, curiosity, and customer obsession to deliver life-changing innovations that protect millions of users and organizations by building the next generation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native security products. We pursue long horizon bets while landing near term impact, taking ideas from zero-to-one (0→1) prototypes to Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and then one-to-many (1→N) platform integration across Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, Entra, Intune, and Purview. Our culture blends ambition and scientific rigor with curiosity, humility, and customer obsession; we invest in new knowledge, collaborate across worldclass scientists and engineers, and tackle the immense challenge of protecting millions of customers.

As an Senior AI Applied Scientist, you will lead product-focused applied research and development (R&D) in artificial intelligence and machine learning, driving innovation from concept to production. You will work on a wide range of AI/ML challenges, including, but not limited to, model design, continuous training, optimization, evaluation, and deployment, collaborating with world-class scientists and engineers to deliver robust, scalable, and responsible AI systems for security applications.

Responsibilities

• AI/ML Research: design, development, and analysis of novel AI and machine learning models and algorithms for security and enterprise-scale applications.
• Innovate Across Domains: Explore and apply a broad spectrum of AI/ML techniques, including deep learning, Bayesian probabilistic modeling, classical ML, generative models, and hybrid approaches.
• Experimentation & Evaluation: Design and execute experiments, simulations, and evaluations to validate models and system performance, ensuring measurable improvements.
• Collaboration: Partner with engineering, product, and research teams to translate scientific advances into robust, scalable, and production-ready solutions.
• Customer Impact: Engage with enterprise customers and field teams to co-design solutions, gather feedback, and iterate quickly based on real-world telemetry and outcomes.

Qualifications Required/minimum qualifications

• Bachelor'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 Master's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research) OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 1+ year(s) related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research) OR equivalent experience.

Other Requirements

• Candidates must be able 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- 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 3+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research) OR equivalent experience.

• 3+ years working with Machine Learning (ML)/Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems (e.g., Large Language Models (LLM/LRM)/Generative AI (GenAI), retrieval/Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), model serving, experimentation platforms, data pipelines) including establishing evaluation metrics and improving model quality.
• Demonstrated success driving zero-to-one (0→1) initiatives
• ML background and hands-on experience
• Experience with ML lifecycle: model training, fine-tuning, evaluation, continuous monitoring, and more.
• Coding ability in one or more languages (e.g., Python, C#, C++, Rust, JavaScript/TypeScript).
• Familiarity and previous work in the field of cybersecurity (e.g., threat detection/response, SIEM/SOAR, identity, endpoint, cloud security) and familiarity with analyst workflows.
  #NEXTAI #AI #MSEC #MSECAI #SENTINELAI

Applied Sciences IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $158,400 - $258,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Applied Sciences IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

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.