Principal Researcher

Microsoft Research Asia – Vancouver lab, located in the vibrant city of Vancouver, BC, Canada, our lab represents Microsoft Research Asia's exciting expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. We're on a mission to transform the future of artificial intelligence by bridging the gap between cutting-edge general AI and the specialized, real-world applications that drive meaningful impact.

We are currently seeking a
Principal Researcher
in the area of
Artificial Specialized Intelligence,
with a keen interest in developing cutting-edge large foundation models and post-training techniques for different domains and scenarios.

At the Vancouver Lab, we focus on deeply integrating intelligent systems across every layer of computing—from infrastructure to the physical environment. Our goal is to solve complex, real-world challenges with precision, scalability, and cost-efficiency. This means working at the intersection of AI, human interaction, and environmental context through a dynamic, co-evolutionary process.

If you're passionate about pushing the boundaries of Artifical Intelligence (AI) and want to be part of a team that's shaping the future of intelligent systems, we invite you to explore opportunities with us. This is an opportunity to drive an ambitious research agenda while collaborating with diverse teams to push for novel applications of those areas.

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.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research in large foundation models, focusing on applying large foundation models in specific domain.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate solutions into Artificial Intelligence (AI) -driven system.
• Develop and maintain research prototypes and software tools, ensuring that they are well-documented and adhere to best practices in software development.
• Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals and present your work at industry events.
• Collaborate with other AI researchers and engineers, sharing knowledge and expertise to foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the team.
• Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate in relevant field AND 3+ years related research experience
• OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years experience in research related to Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in relevant field AND 5+ years related research experience
• OR equivalent experience.
• Experience publishing academic papers as a lead author or essential contributor.
• Experience participating in a top conference in relevant research domain.
• Background in system and architecture, including experience with computer hardware, software, and networking technologies.
• Deep knowledge about the latest large model training/inference technology such as instruction finetuning, Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Reinforcement Learning with Hindsight Experience Replay (RLHF), processed and self-reward modeling, low-precision training/inference, etc.
• A track record of published research in the field of AI or other system innovation is a plus.
• Keen interest in general AI research, including but not limited to large foundation models.

Research Sciences IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across Canada is CAD $142,400 - CAD $257,500 per year.

Find Additional Pay Information Here

Microsoft will accept applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.