Job ID: 3175335 | Amazon.com Services LLCOverviewChallenge: How do you orchestrate a fleet of autonomous drones to deliver packages safely in under an hour while maximizing flight time? How do you scale a mission‐planning system to handle thousands of concurrent deliveries in complex, shifting environments?Role: As Applied Science Manager, you will lead a high‐caliber team of scientists and engineers focused on the "brains" of our fleet orchestration, bridging Geospatial Intelligence and Machine Learning to drive path‐planning and scheduling algorithms that increase deliveries per hour.Key Responsibilities
Lead and mentor a cross‐functional team of Applied Scientists and Engineers, fostering scientific rigor and rapid iteration.Leverage ML/RL and heuristic search techniques to develop dynamic path‐planning algorithms that navigate complex airspace and weather patterns.Drive the development of high‐scale scheduling systems that manage battery life, maintenance cycles, and delivery windows to maximise fleet utilisation.Utilise deep geospatial data (3D maps, urban topology, etc.) to improve situational awareness and mission safety.Define the long‐term technical roadmap for mission orchestration, ensuring modular, scalable, and resilient systems.Collaborate with Hardware, Flight Safety, and Supply Chain teams to translate business requirements into technical breakthroughs.
Day in the LifeLead an agile squad through high‐velocity sprints, start with stand‐ups to unblock path‐planning prototypes, review code and design docs to ensure production‐ready algorithms, and mentor scientists through 1:1s while collaborating cross‐functionally to integrate innovations into the live mission planning system.About the TeamOur team blends software developers, applied and research scientists, geospatial experts, and system developers, working together to deliver the best results for customers.QualificationsBasic Qualifications
Experience managing a team of scientists and/or engineers in a production environment.PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Operations Research, or a related field.Strong foundation in GIS and spatial data analysis.Proven track record of applying Machine Learning (e.g., RL, Graph Neural Networks) to optimisation problems such as path planning or vehicle routing.Experience programming in Java, C++, Python, or related languages.Experience with the Scrum methodology (or similar agile frameworks).
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with autonomous systems, UAVs, or large‐scale logistics networks.Knowledge of combinatorial optimisation and real‐time scheduling constraints.Ability to translate ambiguous research into deployed, high‐impact features.Experience communicating with users, other technical teams, and management to collect requirements and describe product features.Experience hiring and growing top talent.Knowledge of engineering practices across the full software/hardware/network development life cycle.
Export ControlPosition may require a deemed export control license; Amazon will apply for and obtain the license on your behalf if required.Salary and BenefitsBase salary range: USD $183,800 – $248,700 per annum (Seattle, WA).Includes sign‐on payments, restricted stock units (RSUs), and competitive benefits such as health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave.Equal Opportunity EmploymentAmazon is an equal‐opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.Accommodations for DisabilitiesOur inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations.Posted: March 4, 2026#J-18808-Ljbffr