Senior Applied Scientist
AI in this role
At Amazon we leverage advanced robotics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to solve complex operational challenges at an unprecedented scale. Our fleet of robots operates across hundreds of facilities worldwide, working in sophisticated coordination to fulfill our mission of customer excellence.
The ideal candidate will contribute to research that bridges the gap between theoretical advancement and practical implementation in robotics. You will be part of a team that's revolutionizing how robots learn, adapt, and interact with their environment.
Join us in building the next generation of intelligent robotics systems that will transform the future of automation and human-robot collaboration.
Key job responsibilities
- Design and implement whole body control methods for balance, locomotion, and dexterous manipulation
- Utilize state-of-the-art in methods in learned and model-based control
- Create robust and safe behaviors for different terrains and tasks
- Implement real-time controllers with stability guarantees
- Collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams to co-design hardware and algorithms for loco-manipulation
- Mentor junior engineer and scientists
Basic qualifications
- 3+ years of building machine learning models for business application experience
- PhD, or Master's degree and 6+ years of applied research experience
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience with neural deep learning methods and machine learning
- Experience with methods for whole-body control such as hierarchical quadratic programming and model-predictive control
- Experience with imitation learning and reinforcement learning for whole-body control
- Experience with simulation environments such as IsaacLab, Mujoco, Drake, etc.
- Experience with developing and deploying code for real-time controllers
- Experience in state estimation from multiple sensor modalities
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with modeling tools such as R, scikit-learn, Spark MLLib, MxNet, Tensorflow, numpy, scipy etc.
- Experience with large scale distributed systems such as Hadoop, Spark etc.
- PhD in Robotics, with a focus on whole-body control
- Experience with low-level joint torque/impedance control
- Experience with robotics frameworks for fast prototyping (Matlab, ROS, etc.)
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
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, MA, N.Reading - 167,100.00 - 226,100.00 USD annually
How we rate this
Senior Applied Scientist at Amazon rates 93 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.
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. Open the description and count.
Prepare for this job
A free preview built only from this posting: what it asks for, what you could be asked in an interview, and how to adjust your resume.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- What's a project where you used TensorFlow hands-on?
- Walk me through how you've used scikit-learn in your day-to-day work.
- How would you decide a model or AI system is ready to ship?
- Tell me about a time a model underperformed in production. How did you find out, and what did you change?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: TensorFlow and scikit-learn. 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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