Data Scientist – AI/ML Recommendations & Personalization

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Are you passionate about building intelligent systems that respond to users in real time? Do you thrive in environments where experimentation, iteration, and creativity are core to the product development process?

At Xbox Gaming AI, we are exploring emerging technology trends to craft the next era of gaming. We are venturing beyond the horizon and charting a course forward with players and creators at the center. Our goal is to define the future of Xbox by advancing our mission of bringing joy and community to every player on the planet.

We’re looking for a Data Scientist who can help us unlock the power of real-time user signals to drive personalization, engagement, and product insights. You’ll work closely with product, engineering, and design teams to shape the future of how people interact with games and game creation tools.

You’ll be expected to bring analytical rigor, a deep understanding of user behavior, and a creative mindset to help us define what’s next.

We Value

• Growth Mindset: You are always learning and seeking feedback to improve yourself and your work. You embrace challenges and see failures as opportunities to grow.
• Be Brave. Be Bold: You are not afraid to take risks and experiment with new ideas. You are confident in your abilities and willing to challenge the status quo.
• Collaborate: You value teamwork and collaboration. You seek diverse perspectives and feedback from others. You support your colleagues and celebrate their achievements.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: You respect and appreciate the diversity of people, backgrounds, and experiences. You promote a culture of inclusion where everyone feels welcome, valued, and heard.

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.

Required Qualifications (RQs)

• Doctorate in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field
  • OR Master's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 1+ year(s) data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical tec
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 2+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical tec
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ year(s) customer-facing, project-delivery experience, professional services, and/or consulting experience.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python (or R), with experience using data science libraries and tools
• Experience with real-time data processing frameworks (e.g., Spark Streaming, Flink, Kafka), ML infrastructure (e.g., model deployment, evaluation, optimization, debugging) and experience building deploying recommendation systems (retrieval, ranking, embedding, personalization)

Preferred Qualifications (PQs)

• Experience in content platforms and/or social media
• Ability to work in ambiguous problem spaces and build analytical frameworks from scratch

Data Science IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $100,600 - $199,000 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 $131,400 - $215,400 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

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until July 11, 2025.

As a Data Scientist you will:

• Design and implement real-time data pipelines that capture and process user behavior at scale
• Build and evaluate machine learning models that drive personalized content, recommendations, and adaptive experiences
• Partner with product managers and designers to define success metrics, run experiments, and translate insights into strategy
• Develop frameworks for measuring user acquisition, activation, engagement, retention, churn, and ecosystem health across mobile and web platforms
• Conduct deep-dive analyses to uncover opportunities for product improvement and innovation
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure scalable deployment of models and data tools
• Stay current with data science research and apply new methodologies to improve product impact
• Contribute to a culture of experimentation, curiosity, and continuous learning