Senior Applied Scientist, Robotics Simulation

Amazon.com Services LLC; North Reading (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon.com Services LLC seeks a Simulation Applied Scientist to advance physics-based simulation for robotics, merging theory with production deployment. You will work on high-performance tools, continuing to push the boundaries of sim-to-real transfer and reinforcement learning in a dynamic, scale-driven environment.

You’ll collaborate across engineering and safety teams, translating research into validated hardware deployments and scalable software pipelines that drive robot design, training,

Qualifications

• Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language.
• PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong publication record in simulation, robotics, or computer graphics.
• Demonstrated ability to advance state of the art through novel research.
• 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.
• Working knowledge of modern physics engines such as MuJoCo, Isaac Lab, Drake, and Newton.
• Proven ability to bridge simulation and real-world robotic systems, from modeling and validation through deployment.

Responsibilities

• Advance physics-based simulation fidelity for contact-rich manipulation and locomotion.
• Design and build high-performance simulation tools integrated into a production robotics stack.
• Translate research ideas into robust, scalable software pipelines.
• 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 large-scale reinforcement and policy learning.
• Establish frameworks for continuous simulation improvement using real-world deployment data.
• Collaborate with engineering, science, and safety teams on simulation requirements and validation.

Skills

Programming languages

Education

PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Tools

MuJoCo

Isaac Lab

Drake

Newton

GPU-accelerated computing

Job description

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. This role presents an opportunity to shape the future of robotics through innovative applications of deep learning and large language models.

We are seeking a Simulation Applied Scientist to advance the state of the art in physics-based simulation for advanced robotics systems. This role blends research and practical engineering to develop novel simulation methodologies that accelerate robot development and reduce the simulation-to-reality gap, translating theoretical advances into real-world impact.

The ideal candidate will work at the intersection of theory and practice, contributing research that directly informs deployed robotic systems. You will join a team that is redefining how robots learn, adapt, and interact with complex, real-world environments.

This role uniquely combines fundamental research with real-world deployment. You will pursue core research questions in physics-based simulation while seeing your work translated into production systems, validated on real hardware, and informed by deployment data. Working alongside Simulation Software Engineers, you will help transform research ideas into scalable, production-grade simulation capabilities that directly impact how robots are designed, trained, and deployed.

Key job responsibilities

• Advance physics-based simulation fidelity for contact-rich manipulation and locomotion
• Design and build high-performance simulation tools integrated into a production robotics stack
• Translate research ideas into robust, scalable software pipelines
• 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 large-scale reinforcement and policy learning
• Establish frameworks for continuous simulation improvement using real-world deployment data
• Collaborate with engineering, science, and safety teams on simulation requirements and validation

About the team

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

Basic Qualifications:

• Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
• PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Strong publication record in simulation, robotics, or computer graphics
• Demonstrated ability to advance state of the art through novel research
• 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
• Working knowledge of modern physics engines such as MuJoCo, Isaac Lab, Drake, and Newton
• Proven ability to bridge simulation and real-world robotic systems, from modeling and validation through deployment

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.

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 li