Director of Applied Science

The IDEAS Applied Science team utilizes large scale interaction data to enhance our understanding of AI-enabled productivity systems and develop innovations to improve their performance. This includes work on human-AI collaboration, evaluation and measurement, data generation, fine tuning, and alignment. We work closely with product teams across Microsoft to drive cutting edge research that will define the future of AI systems and productivity. 

We are looking for a Director of Applied Science who has a proven ability to conduct high impact scientific research and to lead multidisciplinary research and innovation teams. You will build research agendas and lead teams that advance the scientific state of the art and drive innovation in Microsoft products. You will establish scientific processes, ensure relevance to business opportunities, communicate research findings, develop organizational expertise, and contribute to a culture of scientific innovation that will shape the future of productivity. 

We are particularly interested in candidates who are passionate about (1) improving the performance of generative AI models to support human productivity, (2) enhancing user experiences in copilot systems, and (3) discovering simple, generalizable ideas that work well in practice and at scale. Candidates should have experience in one or more of the following technical areas: Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Behavioral Modeling, Machine Learning, Computational Social Science, Data Science. Candidates should also have experience in the following leadership areas: research agenda setting, application of science to business strategy, people management, communication of scientific findings to a variety of audiences. 

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.