Principal Research Engineer – Generative AI – AI Frontiers

The AI Frontiers lab at Microsoft Research is seeking a Principal Research Engineer to join their cutting-edge team working on advancing Artificial Intelligence capabilities. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to tackling some of the hardest and most rewarding challenges in AI, particularly in areas such as large language models, reinforcement learning, and agentic AI.

The lab provides a vibrant environment for multidisciplinary research, with an open publication policy and close links to top academic institutions worldwide. You'll be working on projects that have produced notable models like Phi and will have the opportunity to contribute to various research areas including pre-training language models, action models, multimodal models, reasoning systems, and multi-agent orchestration.

As a Principal Research Engineer, you'll collaborate with world-class researchers and engineers across many disciplines to advance the state of the art in AI. The position offers access to diverse real-world problems and data, along with the potential to impact over a billion Microsoft customers through your research.

The role requires strong technical expertise in Python and PyTorch/JAX, with preferred experience in large language model architecture and optimizations. You'll work on projects including Phi, Orca, AutoGen, Eureka, OmniParser, and other cutting-edge AI initiatives. The position offers competitive compensation ranging from $139,900 to $274,800 per year (higher in SF and NYC areas), along with comprehensive benefits.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about AI research who wants to work at the forefront of technology while having the resources and support of a leading tech company. The role combines hands-on engineering with research opportunities, making it ideal for those who want to bridge the gap between theoretical advances and practical implementations in AI.

Microsoft offers an inclusive work environment and comprehensive benefits package, including industry-leading healthcare, educational resources, investment options, and generous time off. The company is committed to diversity and equal opportunity employment, making it an excellent place for professional growth and development in the AI field.