Applied Scientist, Automated Reasoning

Amazon is hiring an Applied Scientist, Automated Reasoning in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $172k-$222k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this applied scientist role is Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
Pay on this posting starts in line with the typical applied scientist posting on Level.
The posting mentions Theorem Provers, Model Checkers and Automated Reasoning Tools among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as a mid-level role.
Amazon has 20,000+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Applied scientist developing automated reasoning and formal methods to ensure the safety and correctness of AWS cloud systems and generative AI.

theorem-proversmodel-checkersautomated-reasoning-tools

ai-safetyformal-methodsautomated-reasoningmachine-learningalgorithmsgenerative-ai

Applied Scientists in AWS Automated Reasoning develop and apply bleeding-edge formal methods, automated reasoning techniques, and neurosymbolic approaches to ensure the security, reliability, and correctness of Amazon/AWS services and customer applications. Our tools are called billions of times daily, powering the backbone of Amazon's products and services. We are changing the way computer systems are developed and operated, raising the bar for security, durability, availability, and quality.

At Amazon, automated reasoning is central to maintaining customer trust and delivering delightful customer experiences. Application areas span cloud infrastructure verification, cryptographic assurance, AI safety, drone safety, and formal guarantees for generative AI systems. Our methods range from interactive theorem proving and constraint solving to neuro-inspired proof search

This is a unique opportunity to get in early on a fast-growing segment of the business and help shape the technology, product, and business. You will have a chance to utilize your deep technical expertise within a fast-moving environment and make a large business and customer impact.

Key job responsibilities
• Design and implement algorithms and formal methods for automated reasoning, including constraint solving, model checking, static analysis, theorem proving, and program synthesis to verify the correctness, security, and reliability of computing systems.
• Solve large or significantly complex problems that require deep knowledge and scientific innovation in your domain; own strategic problem solving and take the lead on design, implementation, and delivery of solutions with long-term quantifiable impact.
• Develop new decision procedures, heuristics, and search strategies that improve the scalability and accuracy of verification tools; build and deploy production-grade automated reasoning systems at Amazon scale.
• Explore and apply generative AI and machine learning techniques to enhance automated reasoning capabilities, including learning-based heuristics for search and optimization, neural approaches to symbolic reasoning, and methods for verifying the correctness of AI-generated code.
• Develop automated reasoning techniques for generative AI and agentic coding systems, including methods for ensuring the safety and alignment of autonomous software agents and applying formal guarantees to large language model outputs.
• Conduct original research snd publish findings in peer-reviewed venues.
• Work with customer teams to understand the nature of their software and the properties they need to establish; identify tools and methods capable of addressing verification needs, including novel analysis capabilities.
• Provide cross-organizational technical influence, increasing productivity and effectiveness by sharing deep knowledge and experience; collaborate with partner teams to translate verification capabilities into production systems.
• Mentor scientists and engineers on formal methods, neurosymbolic techniques, and best practices for building reliable automated reasoning systems; assist in career development of others.

Basic qualifications

- PhD or equivalent research experience
- Experience in any of the following areas: mathematical logic, formal verification, satisfiability solving (eg SAT/SMT), mechanical theorem proving, model checking, or program analysis

Preferred qualifications

- Experience in professional software development
- Experience applying formal methods or automated reasoning to real-world software, security, or systems problems
- Experience with proof assistants or verification languages such as Lean, Dafny, Isabelle, or Rocq
- Experience programming in OCaml, Haskell, Rust, Scala, Kotlin, or a related language

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, CA, Santa Clara - 171,600.00 - 222,200.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Applied Scientist, Automated Reasoning at Amazon rates 90 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Applied Scientist, Automated Reasoning is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $172k-$222k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on August 31, 2026.
Seniority: mid.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

AI SafetyFormal MethodsAutomated ReasoningMachine learningAlgorithmsGenerative AITheorem ProversModel Checkers

Also common in applied scientist jobs at this level

Python C++Java Deep learning NLP Reinforcement learning

Pay

This job starts at: $172k
Typical applied scientist job: $172k

This posting starts close to the typical applied scientist job. See applied scientist jobs

Questions you could be asked

How do you think about the risk of an AI system in this kind of role failing silently?
Tell me about a project where formal methods was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where automated reasoning was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where machine learning was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where algorithms was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: AI Safety, Formal Methods, Automated Reasoning, Machine learning, and Algorithms. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.

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