Sr. Applied Scientist, Amazon Robotics, Structured Field Coordinated Planning & Control

Amazon; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 167,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon Robotics is seeking an experienced and Senior Applied Scientist to advance robotic research and produce production-ready AI solutions at scale. You will lead research on AI-driven structured field robotics and coordinate with cross-functional teams globally.

The role involves end-to-end ownership from design to deployment, mentoring junior scientists, and addressing production constraints while pursuing research innovations. Strong publication and leadership is encouraged.

Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, CS, robotics, OR, statistics, mathematics or equivalent quantitative field, or Master’s with 5+ years applied research.
• Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language.
• 3+ years of industry or academic research experience.
• 3+ years building ML models or developing algorithms for business applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead research initiatives advancing AI-driven structured field robotics and translate breakthroughs into production solutions at global scale.
• Own end-to-end delivery of complex algorithmic solutions from design through production deployment and operational maintenance.
• Drive technical decisions for Control, Coordination, and Path Planning systems meeting performance, scalability, and reliability requirements.
• Mentor junior Applied Scientists on research methodology and balancing innovation with production constraints.

Skills

Research leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

ML fundamentals

Education

PhD in engineering or related field

Master's plus 5+ years applied research

Tools

Java

C++

Python

Job description

Description

Are you inspired by invention? Is problem solving through teamwork in your DNA? Do you like the idea of seeing how your work impacts the bigger picture? Answer yes to any of these and you’ll fit right in here at Amazon Robotics. We are a smart team of doers that work passionately to apply advances in robotics and software to solve real-world challenges that will transform our customers’ experiences in ways we can’t even imagine yet. We invent new improvements every day. We are Amazon Robotics and we will give you the tools and support you need to invent with us in ways that are rewarding, fulfilling and fun.

Amazon Robotics is seeking experienced and Senior Applied Scientist with a passion for robotic research. Our team works on challenging and high-impact projects within robotics. Examples of projects include allocating resources to complete a million orders a day, coordinating the motion of thousands of robots and identifying objects and damage.

Key job responsibilities

• Lead research initiatives advancing AI-driven structured field robotics (path planning, fleet coordination, control systems) and translate breakthroughs into production solutions at global scale




• Own end-to-end delivery of complex algorithmic solutions from design through production deployment and operational maintenance




• Drive technical decisions for Control, Coordination, and Path Planning systems meeting performance, scalability, and reliability requirements




• Partner with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into research problems and assess technical risks




• Influence technical direction across the broader robotics organization through design reviews and technical discussions with senior engineers and scientists




• Demonstrate measurable impact through AI-driven algorithmic improvements: fleet efficiency gains, operational cost reduction, system reliability improvements, and enhanced customer experience




• Publish findings at top-tier AI and robotics conferences representing organizational technical leadership




• Mentor junior Applied Scientists on research methodology and balancing innovation with production constraints




• Operate independently on ambiguous, multi-quarter problems requiring novel AI approaches while navigating tradeoffs between research innovation and production constraints

A day in the life

Amazon offers a full range of benefits that support you and eligible family members, including domestic partners and their children. Benefits can vary by location, the number of regularly scheduled hours you work, length of employment, and job status such as seasonal or temporary employment.

The benefits that generally apply to regular, full-time employees include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage




• Maternity and Parental Leave Options




• Paid Time Off (PTO)




• 401(k) Plan

At Amazon, we value people with unique backgrounds, experiences, and skillsets.

About the team

We're the structured field robotics organization powering large-scale mobile robotics operations globally. Our mission is to enable safe, efficient, and reliable robotic operations through intelligent Control, Coordination, and Path Planning systems.

We operate at the intersection of planning, algorithmic, and ML research with production systems, owning the full stack from innovation to deployment.

Our culture balances research excellence with operational ownership. Applied Scientists partner closely with engineers: reviewing code, contributing to research discussions, and solving problems together. We value deep technical expertise alongside pragmatic engineering judgment. We invest in our people through mentorship and encourage conference participation and knowledge sharing.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, technology, computer science, machine learning, robotics, operations research, statistics, mathematics or equivalent quantitative field, or Master's degree and 5+ years of applied research experience




• Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language




• Experience with conducting research in a corporate setting




• 3+ years of industry or academic research experience




• 3+ years of building machine learning models or developing algorithms for business application experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Have publications on top-tier conferences, such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV or NeurIPS




• Strong foundation in motion planning algorithms (A*, RRT, optimization-based planning) and multi-agent coordination




• PhD and 6 years of applied research experience

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, North Reading - 167,100.00 - 226,100.00 USD annually

USA, MA, WESTBORO - 167,100.00 - 226,100.00 USD annually