Machine Learning Research Jobs at Microsoft with Visa Sponsorship
Microsoft's Machine Learning Research teams work on foundational AI systems, large-scale model development, and applied research across products used by hundreds of millions of people. Microsoft has an established sponsorship process for research roles and supports multiple work visa categories, making it a realistic target for international candidates in this field.
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Health Futures is a mission-focused organization within Microsoft Research, working at the forefront of artificial intelligence, healthcare, and life sciences research. We are a global and diverse team of engineers, scientists and domain experts who are working on expanding the technological frontier of health and life sciences through deep research. We offer a unique and vibrant environment that features innovative academic research, enterprise software development, and real-world delivery, with close feedback loops and rapid iterations between all three. Our mission is to empower every person on the planet to live a healthier future. We are looking for a Senior Researcher - Machine Learning - Microsoft Research to help us advance the ways artificial intelligence can accelerate and advance discovery in biomedicine and the life sciences. This role is ideal for a candidate with intellectual curiosity who wants to craft a research agenda, articulate it clearly to team members with a diverse set of backgrounds, and execute on it as a member of that research team. Successful applicants will bring deep expertise about AI and will be passionate about making new discoveries in health and the life sciences.
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and evaluate novel methodologies for scientific discovery through artificial intelligence, non-exhaustively including techniques around post-training, inference-time optimization, interpretability, and experimental design.
- Deep Learning Training Methods: Leverage a background in state-of-the-art techniques to post-train and fine-tune for application-specific scenarios.
- System Optimization: Develop approaches for inference-time optimization of interaction patterns with deep learning models, e.g., context optimization, intelligent sampling, etc.
- In addition to these specific technical areas, candidates will be required to participate in robust, repeatable team-based technical research and be effective communicators.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Doctorate in relevant field + OR Master's Degree in relevant field AND 3+ years related research experience + OR Bachelor's Degree in relevant field AND 4+ years related research experience + OR equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience creating and using generative AI or other ML techniques in the life sciences.
- Experience with pre-, mid-, and/or post-training deep learning models.
- Experience innovating software, systems, or workflows that leverage generative AI-based systems to solve real-world problems in the life sciences. This includes techniques like context engineering, prompt optimization, and optimization of test-time compute.
- Experience creating robust, repeatable technical research artifacts as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Experience publishing academic papers as a lead author or essential contributor.
Compensation
- The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $158,400 - $258,000 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
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.
Overview
Health Futures is a mission-focused organization within Microsoft Research, working at the forefront of artificial intelligence, healthcare, and life sciences research. We are a global and diverse team of engineers, scientists and domain experts who are working on expanding the technological frontier of health and life sciences through deep research. We offer a unique and vibrant environment that features innovative academic research, enterprise software development, and real-world delivery, with close feedback loops and rapid iterations between all three. Our mission is to empower every person on the planet to live a healthier future. We are looking for a Senior Researcher - Machine Learning - Microsoft Research to help us advance the ways artificial intelligence can accelerate and advance discovery in biomedicine and the life sciences. This role is ideal for a candidate with intellectual curiosity who wants to craft a research agenda, articulate it clearly to team members with a diverse set of backgrounds, and execute on it as a member of that research team. Successful applicants will bring deep expertise about AI and will be passionate about making new discoveries in health and the life sciences.
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and evaluate novel methodologies for scientific discovery through artificial intelligence, non-exhaustively including techniques around post-training, inference-time optimization, interpretability, and experimental design.
- Deep Learning Training Methods: Leverage a background in state-of-the-art techniques to post-train and fine-tune for application-specific scenarios.
- System Optimization: Develop approaches for inference-time optimization of interaction patterns with deep learning models, e.g., context optimization, intelligent sampling, etc.
- In addition to these specific technical areas, candidates will be required to participate in robust, repeatable team-based technical research and be effective communicators.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Doctorate in relevant field + OR Master's Degree in relevant field AND 3+ years related research experience + OR Bachelor's Degree in relevant field AND 4+ years related research experience + OR equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience creating and using generative AI or other ML techniques in the life sciences.
- Experience with pre-, mid-, and/or post-training deep learning models.
- Experience innovating software, systems, or workflows that leverage generative AI-based systems to solve real-world problems in the life sciences. This includes techniques like context engineering, prompt optimization, and optimization of test-time compute.
- Experience creating robust, repeatable technical research artifacts as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Experience publishing academic papers as a lead author or essential contributor.
Compensation
- The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $158,400 - $258,000 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
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.
See all 33+ Machine Learning Research at Microsoft jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Machine Learning Research Jobs at Microsoft Jobs
Align your research profile to Microsoft's focus areas
Microsoft Research publishes its active research areas openly. Before applying, map your publication history or project work to areas like reinforcement learning, foundation models, or responsible AI to signal direct relevance to hiring teams.
Distinguish yourself through peer-reviewed publication records
Microsoft's ML Research hiring places significant weight on first-author papers at venues like NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR. Organize your CV to surface these prominently before any screening call, since recruiters assess research depth early.
Target roles that match your visa category eligibility
Microsoft sponsors H-1B, E-3, and other visa types, but not every role is filed under the same category. Australian citizens should flag E-3 eligibility upfront, since it bypasses the H-1B lottery and can accelerate your start date significantly.
Ask about sponsorship timing during your offer call
If you need H-1B sponsorship and are outside the cap-exempt window, Microsoft's HR team needs to confirm whether your start date aligns with the USCIS October 1 fiscal year start. Clarify this before countersigning your offer letter.
Find open Machine Learning Research roles on Migrate Mate
Search and filter Machine Learning Research positions at Microsoft by visa type on Migrate Mate, so you're only applying to roles where sponsorship is confirmed rather than inferred from job description language.
Prepare your credentials for specialty occupation documentation
For H-1B filings, Microsoft's legal team will need to demonstrate specialty occupation status. Have your degree transcripts, credential evaluations for non-U.S. degrees, and a clear role description linking your academic background to the specific research position ready before filing begins.
Machine Learning Research at Microsoft jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Machine Learning Research at Microsoft JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Microsoft sponsor H-1B visas for Machine Learning Research roles?
Yes, Microsoft sponsors H-1B visas for Machine Learning Research positions. If you're subject to the H-1B cap, your employment would typically begin October 1 following a successful lottery selection. Microsoft also sponsors H-1B1 visas for eligible Chilean and Singaporean nationals, and E-3 visas for Australian citizens, which avoid the H-1B lottery entirely.
How do I apply for Machine Learning Research jobs at Microsoft?
Applications go through Microsoft's careers portal at careers.microsoft.com. Most Machine Learning Research roles require submitting a CV and, in some cases, a research statement or publication list. From there, the process typically involves a recruiter screen, technical interviews focused on ML fundamentals and research depth, and a final loop with the research team. Migrate Mate also lists open Machine Learning Research roles at Microsoft filtered by visa sponsorship eligibility.
Which visa types does Microsoft commonly use for Machine Learning Research positions?
Microsoft files H-1B petitions most frequently for Machine Learning Research hires, but also sponsors E-3 visas for Australian nationals and H-1B1 visas for Chilean and Singaporean nationals. For candidates pursuing permanent residency, Microsoft supports EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card pathways, which are commonly used for research and engineering roles requiring advanced degrees.
What qualifications does Microsoft expect for Machine Learning Research roles?
Microsoft Research typically requires a PhD in machine learning, computer science, statistics, or a closely related field for research scientist positions. For research engineer or applied researcher roles, a master's degree with strong practical experience in areas like large language models, deep learning systems, or ML infrastructure may be sufficient. First-author publications at top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, or ICLR strengthen your application considerably.
How do I ask about Microsoft's visa sponsorship process after receiving an offer?
Once you have a verbal or written offer, ask your recruiter directly which visa category Microsoft intends to file and what the expected timeline looks like. For H-1B petitions, USCIS processing can take several months, so confirming whether premium processing is available and what your anticipated start date is will help you plan. Get confirmation in writing before you resign from any current position.
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