AmazonSenior Applied Scientist, Fauna
AI in this role
Lead the development of evaluation frameworks and data collection protocols for advanced robotic machine learning capabilities.
You will operate at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and human-in-the-loop systems, building the infrastructure and methodologies that connect teleoperation, evaluation, and learning. This includes developing evaluation policies, defining task structures, and contributing to operator-facing interfaces that enable scalable and reliable data collection.
The ideal candidate is highly experimental, systems-oriented, and comfortable working across software, robotics, and data pipelines, with a strong focus on turning ambiguous capability goals into measurable and actionable evaluation systems.
Key job responsibilities
- Design and implement evaluation frameworks to measure robot capabilities across structured tasks, edge cases, and real-world scenarios
- Develop task definitions, success criteria, and benchmarking methodologies that enable consistent and reproducible evaluation of policies
- Create and refine data collection protocols that generate high-quality, task-relevant datasets aligned with model development needs
- Build and iterate on teleoperation workflows and operator interfaces to support efficient, reliable, and scalable data collection
- Analyze evaluation results and collected data to identify performance gaps, failure modes, and opportunities for targeted data collection
- Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate evaluation tooling, logging systems, and data pipelines into the broader robotics stack
- Stay current with advances in robotics, evaluation methodologies, and human-in-the-loop learning to continuously improve internal approaches
- Lead technical projects from conception through production deployment
- Mentor junior scientists and engineers
Basic qualifications
- PhD, or Master's degree and 6+ years of applied research experience
- 3+ years of industry or academic research experience
- Experience with any programming language such as Python, Java, C++
- 5+ years of building machine learning models or developing algorithms for business application experience
- Experience leading technical initiatives and key deliverables
- Experience in patents or publication at top-tier conferences
- Dmonstrated expertise in deep learning and model development
- Strong experience with robotics systems, control, or embodied AI
- Experience designing evaluation methodologies, benchmarks, or experimental frameworks for large-scale ML models or robotic systems
- Familiarity with teleoperation systems, simulation environments, or human-in-the-loop data collection
Preferred qualifications
- Experience managing and deploying ML products
- Experience in patents or publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
- Experience leading research initiatives in robotics or foundation models
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, NY, New York - 183,800.00 - 248,700.00 USD annually
How we rate this
Senior Applied Scientist, Fauna 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.
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
- 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 evaluation frameworks was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where data collection was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Python in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Machine Learning, Robotics, Evaluation Frameworks, Data Collection, and Python. 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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