Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Data Scientist to join our Metrics & evaluation team in Microsoft AI org. This individual will play a pivotal role in defining the direction of our search engine for the upcoming years. The ideal candidate will have a solid expertise in statistics and a proven track record of leveraging data to drive business decisions.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.  

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

Lead the development and implementation of advanced statistical models and algorithms to analyse complex data sets.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define key metrics and KPIs that align with our product goals.
Provide strategic insights and recommendations based on data analysis to influence product direction and business strategies.
Uphold data engineering and data science best practices new methodologies, technologies, industry trends and open sources.
Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 10+ 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 8+ 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.
6+ years of extensive experience in metric defintion, statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining.
Customer‑obsessed mindset with the ability to translate customer needs and business problems into data‑driven solutions.
Solid problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and analytically.
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to the stakeholders and manage expectations with them.
Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Experience in defining metrics to measure the success of a large-scale product/service and define OKR metrics for large orgs is a plus.
Experience in working with Cloud architecture such as Azure is a plus
Ability to work cross-group and across disciplines effectively.
Excellent skills in designing, debugging and problem solving.  
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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.

Principal Applied Scientist