Applied Science Manager, Computer Vision, Perception Science, Prime Air Vehicle Software

Socket.dev; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 184,000 - 249,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

RSUs

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon is seeking a Manager III, Applied Science for the Perception team to lead scientists and engineers building world‑class perception systems for autonomous drones. You will guide development combining computer vision, ML, and distributed computing to enable safe navigation in complex environments.

The role emphasizes architectural leadership, data-driven decision making, and building an inclusive, high‑performing team while delivering scalable solutions for drone delivery safety and

Qualifications

• 3+ years leading scientists or ML engineers.
• Knowledge of ML, NLP, information retrieval, and analytics.
• Master’s degree or PhD.
• Experience with video/image processing, CV, and ML.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of scientists and software engineers building perception systems for autonomous drones.
• Define and drive the technical vision and roadmap for perception technology.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers, autonomy specialists, and product stakeholders to deliver scalable, distributed systems.
• Establish audit mechanisms and metrics to track system performance, model accuracy, and progress.
• Build and grow an inclusive, high-performing team through hiring, mentoring, and career development.

Skills

ML knowledge

NLP

Information Retrieval

Analytics

Education

Master's degree or PhD

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

MXNet

Job description

Are you ready to revolutionize the future of aerial delivery? Join our pioneering team working on autonomous drone technology that will transform how Amazon delivers to customers. As a Manager III, Applied Science for our Perception team, you'll lead scientists and engineers building world‑class machine learning models and computer vision and new frontier model based systems that enable drones to safely navigate complex environments.

In this high-impact role, you'll guide the development of perception systems combining radar, machine learning, and distributed computing to solve unprecedented challenges in autonomous flight. Your work will directly shape the future of Amazon's drone delivery service, bringing innovative solutions to customers while pushing the boundaries of what's possible in autonomous systems technology.

Key job responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of scientists and software engineers developing advanced perception systems that integrate computer vision, machine learning algorithms, and detect‑and‑avoid capabilities for autonomous drones
• Define and drive the technical vision and roadmap for perception technology, making strategic architectural decisions that balance current delivery needs with long‑term innovation goals
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including hardware engineers, autonomy specialists, and product stakeholders to deliver scalable, distributed systems that meet rigorous safety and performance requirements
• Establish audit mechanisms and metrics to track system performance, model accuracy, and team progress against goals, using data‑driven insights to continuously improve customer experience
• Build and grow an inclusive, high‑performing team through effective hiring, mentoring, and career development while fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence

About the team

The Perception team is at the heart of Amazon's autonomous drone delivery initiative, developing the advanced computer vision and machine learning systems that enable safe, reliable flight operations. Our team tackles fascinating challenges at the intersection of radar technology, distributed computing, and real‑time detection algorithms, creating solutions that have never been built before. We work in an innovative, collaborative environment where every scientists and engineer's contribution directly impacts the future of delivery technology. As we scale Amazon's drone delivery to new locations, you'll help shape both the technical direction and team culture that will define this transformative service for years to come.

Basic Qualifications

• - 3+ years of scientists or machine learning engineers management experience
• - Knowledge of ML, NLP, Information Retrieval and Analytics
• - Master's degree, or PhD
• - Experience with video and image processing and compression algorithms and standards, computer vision and/or machine learning

Preferred Qualifications

• - Experience building machine learning models or developing algorithms for business application
• - Experience building complex software systems, especially involving deep learning, machine learning and computer vision, that have been successfully delivered to customers
• - Experience with deep learning libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, MxNet
• - Research publications in computer vision, deep learning or machine learning at peer‑reviewed workshops, conferences or journals

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 - 183,800.00 - 248,700.00 USD annually