Data Scientist II

Security is one of the most critical priorities for our customers in a world challenged by relentless digital threats, increasing regulatory demands, and complex technology estates. At Microsoft Security, our aspiration is clear: to make the world a safer place for everyone. We aim to redefine security by empowering every user, customer, and developer with a comprehensive security cloud—delivering end-to-end protection through simplified, integrated solutions. Our organization accelerates Microsoft’s mission and bold ambitions by safeguarding digital platforms, devices, and clouds across diverse customer environments, while ensuring the security of our own internal estate.

We are looking for a Data Scientist to join our team! 

The Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) Security Research team leads advanced research in Identity protection, leveraging next-generation AI and cloud technologies. Our team comprises globally recognized experts in identity and cloud-related threats—highly skilled, passionate professionals committed to driving innovation and safeguarding customers in an ever-evolving

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. 

• Build algorithms and innovative methods to discover and defend real world sophisticated cloud-based attacks in SaaS ecosystem. ·
• Collaborate with other data scientists to develop machine learning systems for detecting anomalies, compromises, fraud, and non-human identity cyber-attacks using both Gen AI and graph-based systems. ·
• Identify, integrate multiple data sources, or types of data, and develop expertise with multiple data sources to tell a story, identify new patterns and business opportunities, and communicate visually and verbally with clear and compelling data-driven stories.  ·
• Analyze extensive datasets and develop a robust, scalable feature engineering pipeline within a PySpark-based environment. ·
• Acquires and uses broad knowledge of innovative methods, algorithms, and tools from within Microsoft and from the scientific literature and applies his or her own analysis of scalability and applicability to the formulated problem. ·
• Work across Threat Researchers, engineering, and product teams to enable metrics for product success. ·
• Contribute to active engagement with the security ecosystem through Research papers, presentations, and blogs.
• Provide subject matter expertise to customers based on industry attack trends and product capabilities.

• 5+ years of programming language experience like C/C++/C/Python required and hands on experience in using technologies such as Spark, Azure ML, SQL, KQL, Databricks, etc. ·
• Able to prepare data pipelines and feature engineering pipelines to build robust models using SQL, PySpark, Azure Data Studio etc.,
• Knowledge of Classification, Prediction, Anomaly Detection, Optimization, Graph ML, NLP ·
• Candidate must be comfortable in manipulating and analyzing complex, high dimensional data from various sources to solve difficult problems.
• Knowledge of working in cloud-computing environment like Azure / AWS / Google Cloud. ·
• Proficient in Relational Databases (SQL), Big Data Technologies (PySpark). Azure storage technologies such as ADLS, cosmos DB, etc.,
• Generative AI experience is a plus · Bachelor's or higher degrees in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or related disciplines.

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.