UK Residency Programme - Postdoctoral Researcher in Secure Programming Language

Job Description

Overview

Microsoft Azure Research conducts pioneering research in the design and analysis of systems that guarantee strong security, safety, and privacy properties for cloud users. Our team in Cambridge, UK is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join Project Verona—an ambitious initiative to design and implement a next‑generation systems programming language engineered for secure, safe, and efficient cloud infrastructure.

Project Verona is a groundbreaking research project that explores innovative approaches to memory safety, concurrency control, and resource management, addressing fundamental challenges in building robust and scalable cloud‑scale systems.

Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Contract Length: 2 years

Responsibilities

As a Postdoctoral Researcher on Project Verona, you will:

• Conduct cutting‑edge research in programming language design, compiler architecture, and systems implementation.
• Develop efficient compiler technologies, including translation of high‑level constructs into optimized bytecode and native code.
• Design and prototype runtime systems with advanced capabilities in memory management, resource allocation, and concurrency control.
• Collaborate with external research institutions, Microsoft product teams, and the broader academic community.
• Publish in top‑tier venues and contribute to shaping the future of secure systems programming.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in systems programming with languages such as C, C++, or Rust.
• Expertise in runtime systems, memory management, concurrency models, and compiler design.
• Demonstrated ability in designing, implementing, and debugging complex language features or compiler components for large‑scale projects.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and clear, effective technical communication.

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.