Principal Applied Scientist, CX Science

Amazon is hiring a Principal Applied Scientist, CX Science in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $229k-$309k 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 35% above the typical applied scientist posting on Level.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Python, Java and C.
Level classifies it as a lead role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Build industry-leading Conversational AI systems and advance state-of-the-art language technology as a Principal Applied Scientist.

PythonJavaC

machine-learningnatural-language-processinggenerative-aillmsconversational-ai

We are looking for passionate, talented, and inventive Principal Applied Scientist with a strong machine learning background to help build industry-leading Conversational AI Systems. Our mission is to provide a delightful experience to Amazon’s customers by pushing the envelope in Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Dialog Systems including Generative AI with Large Language Models (LLMs) and Applied Machine Learning (ML).

As part of our team, you will work alongside internationally recognized experts to develop novel algorithms and modeling techniques to advance the state-of-the-art in human language technology. Your work will directly impact millions of our customers in the form of products and services that make use language technology. You will gain hands on experience with Amazon’s heterogeneous text, structured data sources, and large-scale computing resources to accelerate advances in language understanding.

We are hiring in all areas of human language technology: NLU, Dialog Management, Conversational AI, LLMs and Generative AI.

A day in the life
The team uses generative AI and foundation models to reimagine the experience of all customers on AWS. We explore new technologies and find creative solutions. Curiosity and an explorative mindset can find a place here to impact the life of engineers around the world.

If you are excited about this space and want to enlighten your peers with new capabilities, this is the team for you.

Basic qualifications

- 5+ years of hands-on work in predictive modeling and analysis experience
- PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related technical field
- Experience working in predictive modeling and analysis
- Experience distilling informal customer requirements into problem definitions, dealing with ambiguity and competing objectives
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience with leading experienced scientists as well as having a record of developing junior members from academia or industry to a career track in a business environment

Preferred qualifications

- 10+ years of relevant work in industry or academia experience
- Knowledge of problem solving, algorithm design and complexity analysis
- Experience creating novel algorithms and advancing the state of the art
- Have peer-reviewed scientific contributions in premier journals and conferences

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 - 228,700.00 - 309,400.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Principal Applied Scientist, CX Science at Amazon rates 95 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

Principal Applied Scientist, CX Science is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $229k-$309k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on September 8, 2026.
Seniority: lead.
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

Machine learningNatural Language ProcessingGenerative AILLMsConversational AIPythonJavaC

Also common in applied scientist jobs at this level

Deep learning NLP Reinforcement learning TensorFlow Spark Computer vision

Pay

This job starts at: $229k
Typical applied scientist job: $169k

This posting starts 35% above the typical applied scientist job. See applied scientist jobs

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where machine 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?
Tell me about a project where llms was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where conversational ai was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, Generative AI, LLMs, and Conversational 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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