Applied Scientist II
Amazon, San Francisco, CA, United States
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.
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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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr