Reinforcement Learning Systems

Overview Microsoft AI is looking for a Member of Technical Staff – Reinforcement Learning Systems to help build the world’s most advanced reinforcement learning systems. We are responsible for designing, developing, and operating the large-scale reinforcement learning systems that power several use cases – from training trustworthy and capable agents and powerful reasoning models to helpful and conversational assistants. We are looking for individuals who can contribute to cutting-edge research and help bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and robust, production-grade distributed systems. The ideal candidate has both distributed systems expertise and a scientific mindset and will be able to build complex and scalable systems from the ground up, identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, debug complex, cross-system issues with extremely high attention to detail, and contribute to solving scientific and research challenges. Specifically, they should: Excel in programming (especially parallel/concurrent and distributed), software engineering, and system design Have experience in large-scale systems, preferably having built some components from scratch. Thrive in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment Have a high degree of craftsmanship and pay close attention to details Effectively manage multiple responsibilities and can adjust to shifting priorities A background in machine learning is preferred but not required. In this case, candidates must demonstrate they have an ability to quickly learn the subject, and backgrounds in mathematics, competitive programming, and related domains are a plus. Microsoft AI, is dedicated to advancing Copilot and other consumer AI products and research. The team is responsible for Copilot, Bing, Edge, and generative AI research. Come be a part of the team shaping the future personal computing. Microsoft Microsoft's team’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. Microsoft AI This role is part of Microsoft AI. Our team is a startup-like organization within Microsoft, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence while maintaining a strong commitment to safety, responsibility, and human values. Our mission is to build AI that amplifies human potential and empowers people around the world. We strive to deliver breakthroughs that advance science, education, productivity, and global well-being. We’re also fortunate to partner with incredible product teams giving our models the chance to reach billions of users and create immense positive impact. If you’re a brilliant, highly-ambitious and low ego individual, you’ll fit right in—come and join us as we work on our next generation of models! MAI employees are expected to work from a designated Microsoft office at least four days a week if they live within 50 miles (U.S.) or 25 miles (non-U.S., country-specific) of that location. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction. Responsibilities Build and own core RL infrastructure: Design, develop, and continuously improve the training systems that support MAI research at scale. Drive end-to-end system development: Work across orchestration, environments, training, inference, and evaluation to address emerging research and engineering needs. Advance RL research: Investigate training behavior at scale and collaborate with cross-functional research teams to identify opportunities for improving performance and stability. Implement new training methods: Translate research ideas into practical algorithms, training recipes, and scalable implementations. Optimize performance and efficiency: Profile, benchmark, and optimize RL training and evaluation pipelines to improve throughput, reduce computational overhead, and accelerate experimentation. Enable researcher productivity: Develop clean abstractions, well-defined APIs, and comprehensive automated tests that make the system reliable, maintainable, and easy to extend. Communicate technical insights: Clearly document engineering decisions, experimental results, performance analyses, and research findings through written reports and technical discussion Embody our Culture and Values Qualifications Required qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience. Preferred qualifications Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience. Experience with generative AI. Experience with distributed computing. Experience in leading technical projects and supporting architectural decisions with data. Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 per year. Software Engineering IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 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.