Applied Scientist, Navigation

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

Level's read on this job

Builds AI ●●●● is how Level rates this applied scientist role: the job is building AI systems.
The listed pay starts close to the typical applied scientist posting on Level.
Tools and skills the posting cites include PyTorch, JAX and Python.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Applied Scientist in Robot Navigation to research and deploy machine learning and AI algorithms for advanced autonomous robotics systems.

PyTorchJAXPythonC

ai-automationcomputer-visionmachine-learningroboticsmodel-predictive-control

Amazon is on a mission to redefine the future of automation — and we're looking for exceptional talent to help lead the way. We are building the next generation of advanced robotic systems that seamlessly blend cutting-edge AI, sophisticated control systems, and novel mechanical design to create adaptable, intelligent automation solutions capable of operating safely alongside humans in dynamic, real-world environments.

At Amazon, we leverage the power of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced robotics to solve some of the most complex operational challenges at a scale unlike anywhere else in the world. Our fleet of robots spans hundreds of facilities globally, working in sophisticated coordination to deliver on our promise of customer excellence — and we're just getting started.

As a Sr. Scientist in Robot Navigation, you will be at the forefront of this transformation — architecting and delivering navigation systems that are intelligent, safe, and scalable. You will bring deep expertise in learning-based planning and control, a strong understanding of foundation models and their application to embodied agents, and as well as have in-depth understanding of control-theoretic approaches such as model predictive control (MPC)-based trajectory planning. You will develop navigation solutions that seamlessly blend data-driven intelligence with principled control-theoretic guarantees.

Our vision is bold: to build navigation systems that allow robots to move fluidly and safely through dynamic environments — understanding context, anticipating change, and adapting in real time. You will lead research that bridges the gap between cutting-edge academic advances and production grade deployment, collaborating with world-class teams pushing the boundaries of robotic autonomy, manipulation, and human-robot interaction.

Join us in building the next generation of intelligent navigation systems that will define the future of autonomous robotics at scale.

Key job responsibilities
- Design, develop, and deploy perception algorithms for robotics systems, including object detection, segmentation, tracking, depth estimation, and scene understanding
- Lead research initiatives in computer vision, sensor fusion and 3D perception
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including robotics engineers, software engineers, and product managers to define and deliver perception capabilities
- Drive end-to-end ownership of ML models — from data collection and labeling strategy to training, evaluation, and deployment
- Mentor junior scientists and engineers; contribute to a culture of technical excellence
- Define and track key metrics to measure perception system performance in real-world environments
- Publish research findings in top-tier venues (CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICRA, NeurIPS, etc.) and contribute to patents

A day in the life
- Train ML models for deployment in simulation and real-world robots, identify and document their limitations post-deployment
- Drive technical discussions within your team and with key stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to address identified limitations
- Actively contribute to brainstorming sessions on adjacent topics, bringing fresh perspectives that help peers grow and succeed — and in doing so, build lasting trust across the team
- Mentor team members while maintaining significant hands-on contribution to technical solutions

About the team
Our team is a group is a diverse group of scientists and engineers passionate about building intelligent machines. We value curiosity, rigor, and a bias for action. We believe in learning from failure and iterating quickly toward solutions that matter.

Basic qualifications

- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Controls, or a related field
- 2+ years of experience in robot navigation, motion planning, or autonomous systems
- Deep expertise in learning-based approaches to navigation (e.g., imitation learning, reinforcement learning, neural motion planning, diffusion-based policies)
- Strong experience with Model Predictive Control (MPC) and optimization-based planning (PyTorch, JAX, or equivalent)
- Proven track record of translating research into deployed systems

Preferred qualifications

- Experience applying foundation models or large pre-trained models to robotics tasks (navigation, manipulation, or embodied AI)
- Familiarity with world models, visual navigation, or vision-languageaction models
- Experience with sim-to-real transfer and high-fidelity simulation environments (Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, Gazebo)
- Knowledge of SLAM, localization, and mapping systems
- Experience with ROS/ROS2 and real-time robotics middleware
- Hands-on experience deploying navigation systems on physical robots in dynamic, real-world environments
- Experience with safety-critical systems and formal verification of learned controllers
- Familiarity with multi-agent coordination and fleet-level navigation

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.

Pursuant to the San Francisco 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, SAN FRANCISCO - 171,600.00 - 222,200.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Applied Scientist, Navigation 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, Navigation 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, San Francisco.
The job was posted on May 7, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
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 AutomationComputer visionMachine learningRoboticsModel Predictive ControlPyTorchJAXPython

Also common in applied scientist jobs at this level

Deep learning LLM Generative AI NLP TensorFlow Spark

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

Tell me about a workflow you automated with AI tools, end to end.
Walk me through a computer vision problem you solved, from raw data to a deployed model.
Tell me about a project where machine learning was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where robotics was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where model predictive control was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: AI Automation, Computer vision, Machine learning, Robotics, and Model Predictive Control. 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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