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Job Details
Posted date: Nov 11, 2026
There have been 78 jobs posted with the title of Principal Security Researcher all time at Microsoft.There have been 78 Principal Security Researcher jobs posted in the last month.
Category: Security Research
Location: London, London
Estimated salary: $127,650
Range: $93,500 - $161,800
Employment type: Full-Time
Work location type: 0 days / week in-office – remote
Role: Individual Contributor
Description
OverviewThe Cloud & AI organization accelerates Microsoft’s mission and bold ambitions to ensure that our company and industry is securing digital technology platforms, devices, and clouds in our customers’ heterogeneous environments, as well as ensuring the security of our own internal estate. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. Microsoft is one of the largest enterprise service companies in the world. Do you have a passion for helping Microsoft’s clients defend themselves against targeted exploitation? Are you interested in being intimately involved in the latest, cutting-edge developments in the security industry and having a direct impact on the security of all Microsoft customers? Do you want to be on the front lines of helping our customers go toe-to-toe against advanced adversaries? Are you interested in a fast-paced job full of new opportunities? If that resonates, consider joining us as a Principal Security Researcher on the Tip of the Spear team.
Responsibilities
Performing deep analysis of attacker activity in on-premises and cloud environmentsIdentifying potential threats, allowing for proactive defense before an actual incidentNotifying customers regarding imminent attacker activityProviding recommendations to improve customers’ cybersecurity posture going forward and performing threat intelligence knowledge transfer to prepare customers to defend against today’s threat landscapeBuilding proof-of-concept and prototype threat hunting tools, automations, and new capabilitiesDriving product and tooling improvements by conveying learnings from threat hunting and incident response at scale to engineering partner teamsIdentifying, prioritizing, and targeting complex security issues that cause negative impact to customers. Creating and driving adoption of relevant mitigations and providing proactive guidanceWorking with others to synthesize research findings into recommendations for mitigation of security issues. Sharing across teams. Driving change within team based on research finding.
Qualifications
Required/minimum qualifications:Batchelors, Masters Degree or PHD in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection OR equivalent experience.Additional or preferred qualificationsProven knowledge of security fundamentals across Microsoft platforms (Client, Server, Cloud)Strong understanding of malware and the modern threat landscape, especially identity-based attacksFamiliarity and understanding of SQL or Kusto Query Language (KQL) queries (or experience with large database/SIEM query languages such as Splunk/Humio/Kibana, etc.)Familiarity and understanding of Jupyter Notebooks, or building equivalent threat hunting automations with scripting languagesExperience with sophisticated threat actor evidence including familiarity with typical Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), Indicators of Activity (IOAs) and Tools, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs)Use of forensic analysis tools such as X-Ways Forensics®, WinHex®, Encase®, FTK®, etcExperience with various forensic log artifacts found in SIEM logs, web server logs, AV logs, protection logs such as HIDS and NIDS logs
Security Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across United Kingdom is ÂŁ 93,500.00 - ÂŁ 161,800.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/united-kingdom-corporate-pay.html
Security Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across United Kingdom is ÂŁ 93,500.00 - ÂŁ 161,800.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/united-kingdom-corporate-pay.html
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.