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The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) is looking for a Threat Context Analyst with proficiency in Mandarin and experience in investigating influence and/or AI threats emanating from China. MTAC is part of Microsoft Global Affairs within Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA). The threat context analyst will contribute to MTAC’s mission to detect, assess, and disrupt digital threats to Microsoft, its customers, and democracies worldwide. The analyst will leverage their language skills and geopolitical knowledge to research and develop reports on malicious nation-state influence and cyber-enabled and AI-enabled influence operations from China.

In this role, the analyst will leverage Mandarin language and regional, cultural, and geopolitical knowledge to inform attribution analysis and develop assessments about how influence and cyber operations fit into China’s national security policy. This will require collecting and analyzing Chinese social media press content in Mandarin, as well as other open-source information, to quickly and efficiently to capture the most relevant findings. The analyst will also synthesize data/intelligence from multiple sources to draw conclusions about China-based AI threats to write and brief for executive audiences. The position will require excellent written composition ability, professional briefing skills, and rigorous attention to detail.

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Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

+ Investigate, research, and assess Chinese malign influence threats at tactical and strategic levels by drawing on information from China-linked social media accounts, foreign policy priorities and perspectives from open-source reporting, and the activity of other China-based actors.

+ Quickly and efficiently write reports based on those findings for executive audiences.

+ Develop engaging presentations and brief various stakeholders under tight deadlines.

+ Follow innovative, non-intrusive, law-abiding methods for detecting and assessing the most advanced and prolific threats in the information environment.

+ Occasionally work with the broader Microsoft Threat Intelligence community in its investigations of cyber operations and draw from their technical findings to inform analysis.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

+ Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Finance, Mathematics, Analytics, Engineering, Computer Science, Marketing, Business, Economics or related field OR equivalent experience.

+ Proficiency in reading and listening in Mandarin Chinese.

Other Requirements:

+ Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under U.S. export control regulations, potentially under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations.  As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of citizenship, for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information. To meet this legal requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport.

+ This position requires verification of citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport.

+ Cloud Screening: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Experience:

+ Experience living and/or working in the East Asia region.

+ Reading and listening proficiency in additional language skills are a plus, particularly for languages in Asia (e.g., Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Malay, Indonesian).

+ 2+ years of experience tracking Chinese threat capabilities, infrastructure, and operational techniques and East Asia geopolitical issues.

+ 2+ years producing actionable threat intelligence or strategic analysis through written reports and products.

+ Quantitative analytic experience is a plus.

+ Experience in using AI platforms and applications.

+ Experience in common database query languages (e.g. SQL, KQL) and Python is a plus.

+ Excellent cross-group collaboration with experience building relationships.

+ Experience leveraging language skills for open-source research.

+ Experience in social media research and analysis, including on platforms frequently used by Chinese actors (e.g., WeChat, Weibo).

+ Strong writing skills.

+ Proficient in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and Microsoft PowerPoint for presentations for executive audiences.

+ Professional analytic experience working on influence, cyber, or AI threats in the East Asia region.

+ Ability to quickly and efficiently sift through data to identify trends, shifts, or key issues to incorporate into synthesized analysis for executive-level customers or decisionmakers.

The role is ON-SITE based in our NYC office. LOCATION IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. Some domestic and international travel may be expected, estimated to be less than 10%. Most common travel locations include offices in the Washington, DC area and Microsoft’s Corporate Headquarters, in Redmond, WA.

The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $68,300 - $137,900 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $93,200 - $151,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until 10/29/2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .