Applied Scientist II

Amazon Inc.; Sunnyvale, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 171,600 - 222,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon is looking for a talented individual in San Francisco, CA, to innovate in the field of robotics by developing advanced simulation systems that integrate AI and mechanical design. The ideal candidate should be pursuing a PhD while also having experience in physics simulation. With a salary range of $171,600 to $222,200 annually, this opportunity promises a dynamic work environment alongside top experts in robotics. Additional benefits include comprehensive health insurance and a generous 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• Currently obtaining a PhD in computer science, computer engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in STEM fields.
• Deep expertise in physics-based simulation.
• Experience in designing physics simulation systems for high-performance environments.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.

Responsibilities

• Advance physics-based simulation fidelity for robotic manipulation.
• Design and build high-performance simulation tools.
• Translate research ideas into verifiable data.
• Develop methods to reduce simulation-to-reality gaps.
• Collaborate with engineering teams on simulation requirements.

Skills

Physics-based simulation expertise

C++ programming

Python programming

Computational geometry

Contact mechanics knowledge

Education

PhD in computer science or related field

Tools

MuJoCo

Isaac Lab

Drake

Newton

Job description

Job ID: 10403261 | Amazon.com Services LLC

Amazon is seeking exceptional talent to help develop the next generation of advanced robotics systems that will transform automation at Amazon's scale. We're building revolutionary robotic systems that combine cutting‑edge AI, sophisticated control systems, and advanced mechanical design to create adaptable automation solutions capable of working safely alongside humans in dynamic environments. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of robotics and automation at an unprecedented scale, working with world‑class teams pushing the boundaries of what's possible in robotic dexterous manipulation, locomotion, and human‑robot interaction.

Key job responsibilities

• Advance physics‑based simulation fidelity for contact‑rich manipulation and locomotion
• Design and build high‑performance simulation tools integrated into a robotics design stack
• Translate research ideas into robust, verifiable data
• Develop methods to quantify and reduce simulation‑to‑reality gaps across design, safety, and control
• Architect scalable simulation solutions for rigid and deformable body dynamics
• Build simulation pipelines optimized for a digital twin level of fidelity
• Establish frameworks for continuous simulation improvement using real‑world hardware
• Collaborate with engineering, science, and safety teams on simulation requirements and validation

About the team

Our team is building a comprehensive robot simulation and modeling platform for advanced robotics development, combining locomotion and manipulation capabilities. We operate at the cutting edge of physics simulation, reinforcement learning, hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), and sim‑to‑real transfer, collaborating with world‑class robotics engineers, scientists, and mechanical designers in a fast‑paced, innovation‑driven environment.

This role uniquely combines fundamental research with real‑world development. You will pursue core research questions in physics‑based simulation while seeing your work translated into real robots, validated on real hardware. Working alongside robot scientists and designers, you will help transform research ideas into scalable, quantifiable simulation capabilities that directly impact how robots are designed and built.

Basic Qualifications

• Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining, a PhD in computer science, computer engineering, or related field
• 2+ years of science, technology, engineering or related field experience
• Deep expertise in physics‑based simulation, including rigid and deformable dynamics, contact mechanics, computational geometry, and numerical methods
• Experience designing and optimizing physics‑based simulation systems for high‑performance and large‑scale computing environments
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python, with an emphasis on maintainable, performance‑critical code
• Working knowledge of modern physics engines such as MuJoCo, Isaac Lab, Drake, and Newton

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with reinforcement learning and policy training in simulation
• Familiarity with differentiable physics, learned simulation models, or neural physics engines
• Background in contact‑rich manipulation or legged locomotion simulation
• Experience with robotics model formats and pipelines (e.g., URDF, SDF, USD)
• Expertise in GPU‑accelerated computing and algorithms
• Experience deploying simulation‑trained policies on real robotic systems
• Demonstrated research leadership, from project conception through publication and deployment

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Location: Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Base salary range: 171,600.00 - 222,200.00 USD annually. Your Amazon package will include sign‑on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on your 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.