{"id":3133500,"url":"https://alion.io/job/microsoft-senior-data-scientist-7","title":"Senior Data Scientist","company":{"id":18,"name":"Microsoft","domain":"microsoft.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/microsoft","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Eightfold","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":81,"open_postings":298,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.762,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":29,"computed_at":"2026-10-25T05:49:26Z"}},"role":"Data Science","role_family":"Data Science","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":119800,"max":234700,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":234700},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AI Agents","optional":false},{"name":"Azure","optional":false},{"name":"Copilot","optional":false},{"name":"Databricks","optional":false},{"name":"LangChain","optional":false},{"name":"LLM","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"MLFlow","optional":false},{"name":"MS SQL","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"RAG","optional":false},{"name":"Spark","optional":false},{"name":"SQL","optional":false},{"name":"Context Engineering","optional":true},{"name":"Prompt Engineering","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-15T17:32:02Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-25T10:44:49Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":9,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":9},"description":"OverviewMicrosoft is a company where passionate innovators come to collaborate, envision what can be, and take their careers further. This is a world of more possibilities, more innovation, more openness, and the sky is the limit of thinking in a cloud-enabled world\nWe are seeking aSenior Data Scientist to help design, scale, and continuously improve the analytical models that power sales quota setting and incentive programs. This role sits at the intersection of Sales Incentive Design, Data Science, Statistical Modeling, AI, and Business Strategy.\nYou will own and evolve quota methodologies, validate the data and assumptions behind quota-setting decisions, and partner across Finance, Plan Design, Implementation, Analytics, and business teams to translate complex financial and business objectives into scalable, explainable models.\nThe role combines strong quantitative and technical depth with an understanding of sales compensation, quota methodologies, forecasting, financial modeling, or sales performance management. You should be equally comfortable analyzing complex datasets, developing models and AI-enabled solutions, and explaining recommendations to business and technical stakeholders.\nMicrosoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, and we’re dedicated to this mission across every aspect of our company. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their highly qualified contributions each day. Join us and help shape the future of the world.\nWhat Success Looks Like?\nSuccess in this role means delivering quota methodologies that stakeholders can trust, understand, operationalize, and defend. You will connect financial objectives and sales strategy to rigorous quantitative models while continuously improving the underlying data, methodology, and technology.\nYou will also help modernize how sales incentive and quota decisions are made by applying advanced analytics, automation, machine learning, and AI to improve accuracy, scalability, transparency, and business impact.\nResponsibilities\nThe Senior Data Scientist is responsible for the following:\nOwn and continuously improve sales quota models and methodologies, ensuring they are accurate, scalable, explainable, and aligned with compensation design and business objectives.\n\nTranslate sales strategy, financial targets, budget assumptions, historical performance, run-rate data, and compensable metrics into executable quota methodologies.\n\nValidate quota-setting inputs and outputs, including baselines, historical data, assumptions, model logic, and results.\n\nProactively identify data-quality issues, unsupported assumptions, model risks, and upstream dependencies that could affect quota accuracy or field outcomes.\n\nPartner across Finance, Sales Compensation/Plan Design, Implementation, Analytics, Operations, and data-owner teams to align financial objectives with quota methodology and execution.\n\nProvide quota-model expertise and analytical support to business and field stakeholders, clearly explaining model drivers, assumptions, limitations, tradeoffs, and required actions.\n\nApply sound judgment in ambiguous situations by balancing model integrity, financial alignment, operational feasibility, and potential field impact.\n\nMaintain comprehensive methodology documentation, validation evidence, model assumptions, and operational readiness for annual quota-setting cycles and evolving compensable metrics.\n\nData Science, Modeling & Statistical Analysis:\nDevelop statistical, forecasting, optimization, and machine-learning approaches to solve complex sales and business problems.\n\nAnalyze large and complex datasets to identify performance trends, relationships, anomalies, risks, and opportunities.\n\nApply techniques such as forecasting, hypothesis testing, experimentation, causal analysis, supervised and unsupervised learning, and optimization where appropriate.\n\nAssess model performance for both statistical validity and business impact.\n\nIdentify risks involving data quality, bias, variance, methodological limitations, and model assumptions.\n\nDevelop scalable analytical models and partner with engineering and data teams to operationalize solutions.\n\nBuild reproducible analytical workflows using technologies such as Python, R, SQL/T-SQL, KQL, Spark, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Databricks, MLflow, or similar platforms.\n\nAI & LLM Solutions:\nPartner with stakeholders to define metrics and evaluation frameworks for AI, large language model (LLM), and agentic solutions.\n\nPrototype, build, validate, and operationalize AI-enabled applications and analytical tools for internal customers.\n\nEvaluate and select appropriate models, prompting strategies, data sources, retrieval approaches, and context-engineering techniques for specific business problems.\n\nDesign and optimize retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and other LLM workflows to improve the quality and reliability of AI-generated outputs.\n\nContinually evaluate model performance and identify opportunities to refine AI systems.\n\nLeverage tools and platforms such as Azure AI Foundry, Azure Machine Learning, LangChain, GitHub Copilot, or comparable technologies.\n\nBusiness Partnership & Impact :\nPartner with business and technical stakeholders to understand complex business problems and translate them into analytical solutions.\n\nDevelop analytical roadmaps that connect technical investments to measurable business outcomes.\n\nPresent complex quantitative concepts, model assumptions, findings, and recommendations in clear business terms.\n\nUse storytelling, data visualization, and analytical evidence to influence decisions and drive stakeholder alignment.\n\nHelp stakeholders understand both the capabilities and limitations of models and underlying data.\n\nIdentify opportunities to improve business processes through data, automation, analytics, machine learning, and AI.\n\nData Quality & Operational Excellence:\nAcquire, prepare, and validate datasets required for modeling and business analysis.\n\nDetect changes in source data, business assumptions, performance patterns, or expected outcomes that could materially affect model results.\n\nPartner with data owners to improve data integrity, completeness, and reliability.\n\nBuild efficient, readable, maintainable, and extensible analytical code.\n\nDevelop clear technical documentation supporting model validation, knowledge transfer, operational deployment, and ongoing governance.\n\nPromote appropriate standards for responsible AI, privacy, data quality, and analytical integrity.\n\nOther\nEmbody our culture and values.\n\nQualifications\nMinimum Qualifications:\nDoctorate 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 techniques and reporting results)\n\nOR Master's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 3+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)\n\nOR Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 5+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)\n\nOR equivalent experience.\n\nPreferred Qualifications:\nDoctorate in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 3+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)\n\nOR Master's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 6+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)\n\nOR Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 8+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)\n\nOR equivalent experience.\n\n8+ years of experience in Data Science, Applied Statistics, Quantitative Analytics, Machine Learning, Operations Research, Sales Analytics, or a related quantitative field.\n\nExperience developing complex statistical, forecasting, optimization, or machine-learning models.\n\nProficient programming and analytical skills using Python, R, SQL, KQL, or comparable languages.\n\nExperience analyzing large datasets and translating quantitative findings into actionable business recommendations.\n\nDemonstrated ability to validate model inputs, assumptions, methodologies, and outputs.\n\nExperience partnering with cross-functional stakeholders across technical and business organizations.\n\nExperience with sales compensation, incentive compensation, quota setting, sales planning, territory planning, sales performance management, or revenue operations.\n\nExperience designing or managing quota allocation, quota methodology, target setting, capacity planning, or sales forecasting models.\n\nKnowledge of compensation-plan mechanics and the relationship between financial targets, performance metrics, quotas, and incentive outcomes.\n\nExperience with financial modeling, forecasting, optimization, or business planning in a large-scale sales organization.\n\nExperience building or operationalizing machine-learning or AI solutions using Azure Machine Learning, Azure Databricks, Spark, MLflow, or similar technologies.\n\nHands-on experience with LLMs, prompt engineering, RAG, vector databases, context engineering, or agentic AI systems.\n\nExperience developing analytical solutions that operate on an enterprise scale.\n\nAbility to influence senior stakeholders through data-driven recommendations, visualization, and storytelling.\n\nData Science IC4 - 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 $160,200 - $261,000 per year.\nCertain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:\nhttps://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay\nThis position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.\nMicrosoft 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":11595,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Console Games","Cloud Platforms (IaaS & PaaS)","Gaming Consoles","Developer Tools"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-23T04:44:02Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":68,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.678,"p_room":1,"age_days":9,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","wave","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-25T05:49:26Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":234700,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/microsoft-senior-data-scientist-7","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/microsoft-senior-data-scientist-7.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-25T12:00:51Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":17322,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-26T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":18},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=18"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fmicrosoft-senior-data-scientist-7"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fmicrosoft-senior-data-scientist-7"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fmicrosoft-senior-data-scientist-7"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/microsoft-senior-data-scientist-7\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fmicrosoft-senior-data-scientist-7"}]}