Microsoft Research Software Engineer salaries in India (Updated 2025)

Likes

It had good learning opportunity. People from outside will respect you.

Dislikes

...g in MS for 11 years in higher most technical position have been asked to leave. Once MS ask you to leave its difficult to get job in India since your package will be high and you will find difficulty in getting a company so can provide you the same package forget about growth or hike.

Likes

love the flat hierarchy and openness at MSR; the people here have deep agency. conversations are open, sharp and often spark new ways of thinking. there's scope to work on frontier level research across domains be it compiler optimization or applied llm work. unlike parts of Microsoft where DSA-based hiring narrows perspectives, MSR is filled with people who have gone deep into research and real-world problems.

Dislikes

hallway chats starting to feel like impromptu phd defenses; impostor syndrome is real.

Likes

High Expectations and Pressure: Research environments, especially at companies like Microsoft, can have high expectations for output, innovation, and the speed of progress, which can lead to pressure and stress. Balancing Research and Practical Application: Sometimes, researchers may feel caught between pursuing fundamental research and delivering products or solutions that are immediately practical. This tension can be challenging for some. Collaboration Challenges: Working in a large, multidisciplinary environment might make it difficult for some to collaborate effectively due to differing priorities, work styles, or communication barriers. Funding and Resource Allocation: Like many large organizations, there can be competition for resources or research funding, which may limit opportunities for certain projects or ideas. Corporate Culture: As part of a major corporation, Microsoft Research may have a corporate culture that isn't aligned with the work preferences of all researchers, especially those who thrive in more academic or independent environments. However, these are general considerations, and many researchers find working at Microsoft Research to be a highly rewarding experience due to its cutting-edge projects, resources, and impact on technologies.

Dislikes

High Expectations and Pressure: Research environments, especially at companies like Microsoft, can have high expectations for output, innovation, and the speed of progress, which can lead to pressure and stress. Balancing Research and Practical Application: Sometimes, researchers may feel caught between pursuing fundamental research and delivering products or solutions that are immediately practical. This tension can be challenging for some. Collaboration Challenges: Working in a large, multidisciplinary environment might make it difficult for some to collaborate effectively due to differing priorities, work styles, or communication barriers. Funding and Resource Allocation: Like many large organizations, there can be competition for resources or research funding, which may limit opportunities for certain projects or ideas. Corporate Culture: As part of a major corporation, Microsoft Research may have a corporate culture that isn't aligned with the work preferences of all researchers, especially those who thrive in more academic or independent environments. However, these are general considerations, and many researchers find working at Microsoft Research to be a highly rewarding experience due to its cutting-edge projects, resources, and impact on technology.

Likes

olleagues are very friendly and you work is valued. Your growth rate will be very high because most of the projects are development projects and you will often learn new skills and technologies while working on challenging tasks.

Dislikes

If you love tech, this is a great place. No doubt you'll talk tech (mostly the MSFT stack) from enterprise to consumer from employer