Join Microsoft as an Applied Scientist and become a key contributor to the evolution of speech technology. This role offers the chance to build groundbreaking, multilingual AI-driven speech solutions that will power intelligent experiences for billions worldwide.

Microsoft is at the forefront of developing next-generation AI for global languages, impacting areas like voice agents, video translation, and call center analytics. Your work will directly contribute to shaping the future of human-machine interaction.

This position is based in Hyderabad or Bengaluru, offering a hybrid work environment with 3 days per week in the office. It's an exceptional opportunity to grow your career and influence the trajectory of multimodal interactions for both Indian and global markets.

As an Applied Scientist in the Azure Speech team, you will be instrumental in developing advanced multilingual speech models, LLM speech fine-tuning, and multimodal generative AI. These technologies will enhance real-time transcription, intelligent voice agents, and multilingual solutions across Microsoft's product suite and enterprise offerings.

Key responsibilities include driving innovation in speech recognition, AOAI customization, and generative AI, with significant ownership over execution and technical direction. You will collaborate with leading scientists and engineers, influencing cross-functional teams to improve model quality and deliver breakthrough speech technologies.

This role involves delivering world-class speech solutions, setting technical directions for multilingual models and LLMs, and building novel data engineering and analysis solutions to optimize model performance. You will also mentor peers, contribute to patents and publications, and represent the team's technical leadership.

To thrive in this role, candidates should possess a BS/MS/PhD degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with a strong emphasis on speech recognition systems, machine learning, and AI.

We require 6+ years of experience in speech or machine learning within academic or industrial settings, or equivalent software development expertise. Exceptional problem-solving skills in speech and machine learning, along with a proven track record of delivering high-quality solutions in complex environments, are essential.

Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C++, alongside experience in large-scale data processing and distributed computing, is necessary. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are also required. Experience with speech/audio processing, multilingual models, or voice agents, as well as familiarity with Azure and cloud AI platforms, are considered preferred qualifications.