Senior Researcher - AI Systems

About the Role

Microsoft Research Cambridge is pioneering the next wave of AI infrastructure by addressing complex research challenges that will shape the future computing platforms. Our focus spans distributed systems, programming languages, networking, memory and storage, as well as runtime environments and platforms designed to enhance the efficiency, scalability, reliability, and programmability of advanced AI workloads. This role is ideal for researchers passionate about working at the confluence of systems architecture, hardware, and machine learning, collaborating with top experts to leverage cutting-edge hardware and emerging algorithms.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead original investigations into foundational systems underpinning AI infrastructure and extensive computing platforms.
• Innovate and design new abstractions, architectures, systems, and runtimes aimed at boosting performance, scalability, efficiency, dependability, and ease of programming for next-generation AI tasks.
• Create prototype systems and experimental platforms to explore groundbreaking AI infrastructure concepts.
• Perform comprehensive assessments through rigorous analysis, large-scale testing, and real workload scenarios.
• Collaborate extensively with interdisciplinary Microsoft Research teams and product divisions to drive long-term research strategies and facilitate the transition of discoveries into practical applications.
• Disseminate findings by publishing in prestigious academic forums.
• Promote a collaborative, open, and multidisciplinary research culture.

Qualifications and Experience

• Possess a PhD or commensurate research background in Computer Science or related fields.
• Established research accomplishments in computer systems or closely aligned disciplines.
• Proven ability to independently lead research and effectively communicate findings through academic publications, prototypes, or impactful results.
• Expertise in one or more core system domains such as distributed computing, networking, memory architecture, programming languages, machine learning systems, computer architecture, or databases.
• Proven record of effective interdisciplinary collaboration with diverse research and engineering teams.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience conducting cross-layer research encompassing multiple computing stack levels.
• Background at the intersection of systems with machine learning, programming languages, or hardware.
• Enthusiasm for innovating infrastructure to support AI workloads involving reasoning, inference, memory utilization, data handling, agent-based systems, and distributed execution at scale.
• Track record of transforming research concepts into deployable tools, platforms, or systems.
• Strong participation and leadership evidenced by steady publication output in top conferences like SOSP, OSDI, NSDI, SIGCOMM, EuroSys, ASPLOS, FAST, MLSys, PLDI, POPL, ISCA, MICRO, among others.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities in forging partnerships and guiding research priorities.

Compensation and Additional Information

This position falls under Research Sciences IC4 level with a typical salary range in the United Kingdom between £74,700 and £122,600 annually. Eligible roles may include further benefits and compensation, detailed on Microsoft's corporate pay website. The vacancy remains open for a minimum of five days and continues accepting candidates until the role is filled. Microsoft commits to equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on protected characteristics. Accommodation needs for religious practices or disabilities during application are supported upon request.