Sr Applied Scientist, Amazon Cryptographic Libraries

Amazon is hiring a Sr Applied Scientist, Amazon Cryptographic Libraries in Seattle, United States. It pays $167k-$226k 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 Rust, C and Hol Light.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Build machine-checked proofs of correctness for cryptographic implementations using formal verification and AI models.

RustCHol LightVerusCbmc

formal-verificationcryptographyprogram-analysisalgorithm-optimization

The Amazon Cryptographic Libraries(ACL) team builds the cryptography that AWS services and a growing open-source community depend on, including AWS-LC, our FIPS-validated open-source cryptographic library. As an Applied Scientist on the team, your primary focus will be formal verification: building machine-checked proofs that cryptographic implementations are correct. You will also contribute to algorithm implementation, assembly level optimization, and the adoption of post-quantum cryptography. You will work alongside senior scientists on the team, building deep expertise in an environment where your proofs and code ship to effectively every AWS service. This is a role where an early-career scientist gets both rigorous mentorship and immediate production-scale impact.

Key job responsibilities
- Develop and maintain machine-checked proofs of correctness for cryptographic implementations in AWS-LC.
- Specify the functional behavior of low-level cryptographic code (Rust, C, assembly) in formal notation and verify it using both automatic and interactive provers, such as HOL-Light, Verus and CBMC.
- Apply formal methods, program analysis, and rigorous testing to raise the assurance bar of a security-critical, widely deployed codebase.
- Contribute to the implementation and optimization of cryptographic algorithms, including post-quantum algorithms (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA) for production use.
- Assist in the career development of others, actively mentoring individuals and the community on advanced technical issues.
- Publish patents and peer-reviewed articles and present your research both internally and externally

A day in the life
You take a cryptographic algorithm that needs to be provably correct and write the formal specification of its behavior, the code and the proof of correctness. You develop the proof in an interactive theorem prover, assisted by state-of-the-art AI models and iterate until the machine checks it end to end. Some days you are debugging a proof obligation; other days you are reading a paper on a new verification technique or helping refine an algorithm implementation, so it is both fast and amenable to proof. Your proofs back code that is validated for FIPS and deployed across AWS.

About the team
ACL owns AWS-LC (Amazon's FIPS-validated cryptographic library) and manages third-party cryptographic libraries. We build the cryptographic foundation under nearly every AWS service and a growing set of external open-source projects. Applied Scientists on the team own algorithm-level and assembly performance work and partner deeply with AWS's Automated Reasoning Group on formal verification.

Basic qualifications

- PhD or equivalent research experience, or a PhD and experience in patents or publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
- Experience programming in Rust, Java, C, C++, Python or related language
- Experience in any of the following areas: formal verification, interactive theorem proving, deductive verification, cryptography or mathematical logic

Preferred qualifications

- Hands-on experience with automatic or interactive program verification tools, such as HOL Light, CBMC, Verus, or Lean.
- Experience specifying or verifying low-level software (machine code or assembly)
- Familiarity with cryptographic primitives and their implementation
- Low-level or systems programming experience in Rust, C or assembly
- Familiarity with post-quantum cryptography (lattice-based, code-based, or hash-based schemes)

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, WA, Seattle - 167,100.00 - 226,100.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Sr Applied Scientist, Amazon Cryptographic Libraries at Amazon rates 85 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

Sr Applied Scientist, Amazon Cryptographic Libraries is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $167k-$226k a year.
The role is based in US, WA, Seattle.
The job was posted on September 1, 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

Formal VerificationCryptographyProgram AnalysisAlgorithm OptimizationRustCHol LightVerus

Also common in applied scientist jobs at this level

Machine learning Deep learning LLM Generative AI NLP Reinforcement learning

Pay

This job starts at: $167k
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 project where formal verification was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where cryptography was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where program analysis was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where algorithm optimization was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used Rust in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Formal Verification, Cryptography, Program Analysis, Algorithm Optimization, and Rust. 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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