Cambridge Residency Programme – Post Doc Researcher Security and Privacy

Job Description

Overview

Microsoft’s Azure Research is seeking a world-class Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in the design, implementation, and/or verification of critical systems to join our Security and Privacy team in Cambridge, UK.

Our team conducts pioneering research in the design, analysis, and verification of systems that guarantee strong security and privacy properties to cloud users, and in novel applications that are enabled by emerging security, privacy, and cryptography technology. As part of our work, we are designing

• New system software, languages, runtimes, protocols, and libraries that can guarantee safety and security by construction;
• New services such as databases, ledgers, and machine learning platforms that utilize these high-assurance components to ensure end-to-end security properties;
• New security primitives in general purpose processors and specialized accelerator hardware;
• New analysis and tools for side-channel resilience and privacy.

We place strong emphasis on artefacts that can be deployed at scale in the real world. We work in close collaboration with external and internal research organizations, as well as with Microsoft product teams. Please find more information about our team and its current focus areas through the projects and publications pages at Azure Research - Security and Privacy Microsoft Research.

As a key member of our innovative team, you will play a crucial role in advancing the field of security, privacy and confidential computing.

Responsibilities

Conduct cutting-edge research in the areas of systems and verification with a focus on enhancing the security and performance of cloud computing environments, leading to top-tier publications.

Design, develop, and implement tools and prototypes that experimentally validate this research.

Work closely with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, security experts, and data scientists, to integrate research findings into practical solutions for security and privacy in the cloud.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

An ideal candidate has the following qualifications.

• Ph.D. and research experience in Security and Privacy, Operating Systems, Formal Verification, Computer Architecture, and/or Cryptography.
• Proven track record of conducting impactful research in these areas, demonstrated through publications in top-tier conferences and journals.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as C and Rust, and their use in operating systems, virtualization, or cryptographic protocols and libraries, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex problems, propose innovative solutions, and implement them effectively.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and present research findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.