Amazon

Principal Applied Scientist, Mobile Manipulation Robotics

Amazon$198K — $269K *
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering or related field with 7+ years of experience; or Master's with 12+ years equivalent experience.
  • Proven experience in deploying real-time controllers on physical robotic systems.
  • Strong abilities in influencing technical strategy across diverse teams and organizations.
  • Proficiency in Python and C++ for production-grade coding.
  • Established track record of publications at premier robotics venues, such as CVPR and NeurIPS.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement motion planners for the Phoenix mobile manipulation robot.
  • Architect whole-body motion planning pipelines for seamless trajectory generation.
  • Develop and tune real-time whole-body controllers utilizing QP-based and model-predictive approaches.
  • Integrate motion planners with the Foundry Controller to ensure smooth operations.
  • Extend the Control Barrier Function safety architecture to maintain constraints during execution.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), including mental health support and Flexible Spending Accounts.
  • 401(k) matching to support your retirement.
  • Generous paid time off and parental leave policies.
  • Options for adoption and surrogacy reimbursement coverage.
Full Job Description
Amazon Robotics is revolutionizing warehouse automation at unprecedented scale. We are looking for a technical lead to own the whole-body planning, control, and optimization stack for the Phoenix mobile manipulation robot. In this role, you will design and ship motion planners and controllers that coordinate all of Phoenix's degrees of freedom (mobile base, torso, arm, and end-effector) as a single unified system, enabling smooth, safe, and production-ready autonomous manipulation in Amazon fulfillment environments.

You will architect whole-body motion planning pipelines (task-and-motion planning, trajectory optimization) that generate collision-free, time-efficient trajectories across the full kinematic chain. You will develop and tune real-time whole-body controllers, including QP-based and model-predictive approaches, and integrate them with the Foundry Controller mainline. A key part of the role is ensuring planner-generated trajectories are high-quality enough to train downstream foundation model policies (e.g.,  0.5) at scale. You will also extend Phoenix's Control Barrier Function (CBF) safety architecture, guaranteeing constraint satisfaction from planning through execution.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, with 7+ years of relevant research experience after degree; or Master's degree with 12+ years of equivalent experience

- Experience developing and deploying real-time controllers on physical robotic hardware

- Demonstrated ability to influence technical strategy across multiple teams and organizations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Proficiency in Python and C++ with experience writing production-grade code

- Proven track record of publications at top-tier venues (e.g., CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, NeurIPS, ICRA, RSS, CoRL)

- Experience with real-time perception on resource-constrained hardware (edge compute, embedded GPUs)

- Track record of building perception systems that generalize across multiple sensor configurations or robot platforms

- Experience with foundation models or large-scale self-supervised learning applied to robotics perception

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 - 198,900.00 - 269,000.00 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.
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Industry
Net Income
$21.3 billion
Founded
1994
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+28.1%
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$386 billion
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