Machine Learning Engineer, Foundational AI (FAI)

Amazon is hiring a Machine Learning Engineer, Foundational AI (FAI) in Sunnyvale, United States. It pays $165k-$224k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Builds AI ●●●● is how Level rates this machine learning engineer role: the job is building AI systems.
The posting mentions Python, PyTorch and LLMs among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as a mid-level role.
Amazon has 21,000+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Build generative AI technology and frontier large language models using large-scale computing resources.

pythonpytorchllms

nlpmachine-learningdeep-learningnatural-language-processinggenerative-aireinforcement-learning

The Foundational AI (FAI) team is looking for a passionate, talented, and inventive Machine Learning Engineer with a strong deep learning background, to build industry-leading Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technology with Large Language Models (LLMs).

Key job responsibilities
As a Machine Learning Engineer with the FAI team, you will support the development of RL Gyms, assess their usefulness for the frontier model advancement and build techniques to advance the state of the art with LLMs. You will support the foundational model development in an applied research role. Your work will directly impact our customers in the form of products and services that make use of GenAI technology. You will leverage Amazon’s heterogeneous data sources and large-scale computing resources to accelerate advances in LLMs.

About the team
The FAI team supports the growth and progress of RL Gyms and assess the value of RL gyms for the frontier model advancement. The team has a mission to push boundaries in GenAI with LLMs, in order to provide the best-possible experience for our customers.

Basic qualifications

- 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 3+ years of computer science fundamentals (object-oriented design, data structures, algorithm design, problem solving and complexity analysis) experience
- Experience in machine learning, data mining, information retrieval, statistics or natural language processing

Preferred qualifications

- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Master's degree in computer science or equivalent
- Experience using managed ML/AI solutions

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, Sunnyvale - 165,200.00 - 223,600.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Machine Learning Engineer, Foundational AI (FAI) 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

Machine Learning Engineer, Foundational AI (FAI) is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $165k-$224k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Sunnyvale.
The job was posted on October 7, 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

NLPMachine learningDeep learningNatural Language ProcessingGenerative AIReinforcement learningPythonPyTorch

Also common in machine learning engineer jobs at this level

Python PyTorch TensorFlow AWS C++Kubernetes

Pay

This job starts at: $165k
Typical machine learning engineer job: $199k

This posting starts 17% below the typical machine learning engineer job. See machine learning engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

What NLP problem have you worked on, and how did you measure whether it actually worked?
Tell me about a project where machine learning was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where deep learning was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where natural language processing was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where generative ai was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: NLP, Machine learning, Deep learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI. 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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