Applied Scientist II

Description

Amazon is on a mission to redefine the future of automation — and we're looking for exceptional talent to help lead the way. We are building the next generation of advanced robotic systems that seamlessly blend cutting-edge AI, sophisticated control systems, and novel mechanical design to create adaptable, intelligent automation solutions capable of operating safely alongside humans in dynamic, real-world environments.

At Amazon, we leverage the power of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced robotics to solve some of the most complex operational challenges at a scale unlike anywhere else in the world. Our fleet of robots spans hundreds of facilities globally, working in sophisticated coordination to deliver on our promise of customer excellence — and we're just getting started.

As an Applied Scientist in Robot Perception, you will be at the forefront of this transformation. You will develop and deploy state-of-the-art perception algorithms that enable robots to truly understand and interact with the physical world — bridging the gap between theoretical research and real-world impact. Bringing deep expertise in Computer Vision and a nuanced understanding of the capabilities and limitations of modern Vision-Language Models (VLMs), you will innovate boldly and push the boundaries of what's possible. Our vision for the Perception layer is ambitious: to enable seamless, intelligent interaction between the user, the robot, and its environment.

This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of deep learning, large language models, and robotics — contributing to research that doesn't just advance the field, but reshapes it. You will collaborate with world-class teams pioneering breakthroughs in dexterous manipulation, locomotion, and human-robot interaction, all at an unprecedented scale.

Join us in building intelligent robotic systems that will define the future of automation and human-robot collaboration.

Key job responsibilities

Design, develop, and deploy perception algorithms for robotics systems, including object detection, segmentation, tracking, depth estimation, and scene understanding
Contribute to research initiatives in computer vision, sensor fusion and 3D perception
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including robotics engineers, software engineers, and product managers to define and deliver perception capabilities
Drive end-to-end ownership of ML models — from data collection and labeling strategy to training, evaluation, and deployment
Define and track key metrics to measure perception system performance in real-world environments
Publish research findings in top-tier venues (CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICRA, NeurIPS, etc.) and contribute to patents

A day in the life

Train ML models for deployment in simulation and real-world robots, identify and document their limitations post-deployment
Contribute to technical discussions within your team and with key stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to address identified limitations
Actively contribute to brainstorming sessions on adjacent topics, bringing fresh perspectives that help peers grow and succeed — and in doing so, build lasting trust across the team

Basic Qualifications

Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
PhD in engineering, technology, computer science, machine learning, robotics, operations research, statistics, mathematics or equivalent quantitative field
1+ years of building machine learning models for business application experience
Experience with neural deep learning methods and machine learning
Have publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with large scale distributed systems such as Hadoop, Spark etc.
PhD in Robotics, with a focus on Robot Perception
Experience leading research initiatives in full-stack robotics or foundation models
Track record of successful production robotics deployments
Experience bridging research with practical engineering implementation in robotics systems
Extensive programming skills in Python and PyTorch/JAX

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 - 142,800.00 - 193,200.00 USD annually
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