Cambridge Residency Programme – Post Doc Researcher Security and Systems

Job Description

Overview

Microsoft's Azure Research is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in Security and Systems.

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

• New security primitives in general purpose processors and specialized accelerator hardware;
• Languages and language runtimes that guarantee safety and security by construction;
• New services such as databases, blockchains, and machine learning platforms that utilize secure hardware and runtimes to guarantees strong security properties; and
• Leakage analysis and mitigation techniques for privacy-preserving machine learning pipelines.

We place strong emphasis on systems 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 group and its current focus areas through the projects and publications pages.

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 storage with a focus on enhancing the security and performance of confidential computing environments.

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

Design, develop, and implement prototypes and proof-of-concept systems that leverage confidential computing technologies to address real-world challenges in systems and storage.

Optimize existing confidential computing systems and storage solutions for maximum efficiency and minimal impact on overall system performance.

Conduct thorough security assessments of systems and storage components, identifying potential vulnerabilities and proposing mitigation strategies.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

An ideal candidate has the following qualifications.

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on systems and storage.
• Proven track record of conducting impactful research in the areas of systems and storage, demonstrated through publications in reputable conferences and journals.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, and Python. Experience with low-level programming and system-level development is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with confidential computing concepts, technologies, and frameworks. Experience with Intel SGX, AMD SEV, or similar technologies is a plus.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team and present research findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex problems, propose innovative solutions, and implement them effectively.
• Understanding of security principles and practices, with a focus on securing systems and storage in a cloud computing environment.

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.