Amazon

Applied Scientist II, AWS DynamoDB

Amazon$142K — $193K *
Enterprise Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of experience in building business models
  • PhD or Master's degree with 4+ years in CS, CE, ML or related fields
  • Experience with patents or publications in peer-reviewed venues
  • Proficient in programming with Java, C++, Python or similar
  • Knowledge of algorithms, numerical optimization, and high-performance computing

Responsibilities

  • Identify and quantify optimization opportunities in capacity usage across DynamoDB
  • Model and analyze scaling bottlenecks affecting service and utilization
  • Develop data placement strategies balancing performance and capacity utilization
  • Collaborate with the DynamoDB performance team on capacity decisions
  • Build components for integration into production systems
  • Monitor and evaluate algorithm performance during implementation
  • Write papers for peer-reviewed conferences depending on the novelty of work

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance packages (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Paid time off and parental leave
  • Mental health support and EAP services
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement coverage
Full Job Description
You will work backwards from customer experience and fleet economics to find where capacity is used inefficiently, where scaling bottlenecks constrain the service, and where smarter data placement can raise utilization without degrading latency or availability.

You will turn these findings into models and algorithms that inform capacity profile decisions and placement policy. You will partner closely with the DynamoDB teams to bring your inputs into production decisions.

This is a customer-obsessed science role for a self-driven scientist. Many of the problems are not yet well defined and no textbook solution exists. You will frame the problem, extend state-of-the-art approaches or invent new ones, and drive the work to production impact with a strong bias for action.

Key job responsibilities

Identify capacity usage optimization opportunities across the DynamoDB fleet. Quantify the customer and cost impact of each opportunity.

- Model the scaling bottlenecks of the service and characterize how they constrain placement and utilization.

- Develop data placement approaches that balance customer experience (latency, availability, throughput headroom) against optimal capacity utilization.

- Partner with the DynamoDB performance team to incorporate your inputs into capacity profile decisions and placement policy. Validate impact with production data.

- Build components that integrate directly into production systems or that directly support the large systems making placement and capacity decisions.

- Scrutinize the performance of your algorithms and software during implementation. Resolve root causes and leave systems easier to maintain.

- Author or co-author papers for internal or external peer-reviewed venues when the work is novel and business considerations allow.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- 3+ years of building models for business application experience

- PhD, or Master's degree and 4+ years of CS, CE, ML or related field experience

- Experience in patents or publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals

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

- Experience in any of the following areas: algorithms and data structures, parsing, numerical optimization, data mining, parallel and distributed computing, high-performance computing

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Experience using Unix/Linux

- Experience in professional software development

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, WA, Seattle - 142,800.00 - 193,200.00 USD annually

About Amazon

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Amazon Careers

Joining Amazon presents an unparalleled opportunity to become part of a vibrant team pushing the boundaries of innovation and growth in the global marketplace. As a leader in e-commerce, technology, and logistics, Amazon offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and professional interests. Work You’ll Do At Amazon, every day is an opportunity to collaborate with the brightest minds in technology and business to redefine what’s possible. Whether you’re interested in software development, marketing, human resources, or customer service, Amazon has a position waiting for you. Transform the way the world shops and innovates with our diverse and inclusive team. Amazon is not just a company; it’s a community where you can drive real change and contribute to projects impacting millions globally. Lead with Innovation and Leadership Amazon is the perfect place to enhance your leadership and innovation skills. Our culture encourages pushing the envelope and imagining the unimaginable. Here, you will lead projects that challenge the status quo and define new industry standards. Work with a team that values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment. Our leadership is focused on harnessing the collective power of unique perspectives to foster growth and innovation. Explore Amazon’s Employment Benefits Amazon’s commitment to its employees extends beyond just career growth. We offer competitive benefits, including health care, parental leave, and diversity training, ensuring that our team not only excels professionally but also enjoys well-being and security. Internship and Networking Opportunities Start your career with an Amazon internship and gain hands-on experience that matters. Our internships provide a gateway to full-time employment and an opportunity to network with professionals across various sectors of the company. Future-Proof Your Career With Amazon, your career path is filled with numerous opportunities for advancement. Our learning and development programs are designed to nurture your professional growth and keep you at the forefront of industry trends. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the job opportunities at Amazon that match your skills and interests. We are constantly on the lookout for passionate, curious, and innovative team players ready to make a difference. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Amazon. Amazon is more than just a company—it’s a platform for building a promising future. Whether you’re starting or looking to advance your career, Amazon offers the resources, support, and network you need to succeed. Join us, and be a part of our continuing mission to be Earth's most customer-centric company.
Learn more about Amazon
Size
1,608 employees
Market Cap
$832.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$21.3 billion
Founded
1994
5 Year Trend
+28.1%
Revenue
$386 billion
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