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Research Scientist I, Special Projects - Job Opportunity at Amazon.com Services LLC

Seattle, US
Full-time
Mid-level
Posted: August 8, 2025
On-site
USD 113,000 - 195,200 per year

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage that positions Amazon competitively in the tech industry for attracting top scientific talent
Equity compensation opportunities that allow research scientists to directly benefit from Amazon's market growth and innovation success
Sign-on bonuses and total compensation packages that exceed industry standards for research positions
Professional development programs with local, regional, and global learning opportunities that accelerate career advancement
Work-life balance initiatives specifically designed to support long-term career sustainability in high-intensity research environments
Access to 13 employee-led affinity groups across 190+ chapters globally, providing unparalleled networking and mentorship opportunities
Disability accommodation support and inclusive workplace policies that ensure all researchers can perform at their highest potential

Key Responsibilities

Drive groundbreaking innovation by creating entirely new products and services that have the potential to transform industries and positively impact millions of customers globally
Lead feasibility investigations that bridge cutting-edge scientific principles with scalable business applications, directly influencing Amazon's strategic product roadmap
Provide critical analytical support to high-stakes development projects within Amazon's Special Projects division, where decisions can shape the company's future direction
Execute advanced characterization methods for life science applications that establish new standards for scientific rigor within the technology industry
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate complex research findings into actionable business strategies that drive competitive advantage

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree or above in a quantitative field, or MS degree

Experience

3+ years of quantitative field research experience and 2+ years experiences in analytical support to development projects

Required Skills

Experience investigating the feasibility of applying scientific principles and concepts to business problems and products Familiar with characterization methods required for various life science applications Experience applying forecasting and data mining techniques
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The convergence of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and consumer technology is creating unprecedented opportunities for research scientists who can navigate interdisciplinary challenges, with major tech companies investing billions in moonshot projects that require both scientific rigor and commercial viability assessment. Life sciences integration into technology platforms is accelerating rapidly, driven by advances in personalized medicine, synthetic biology, and health monitoring technologies, creating high demand for scientists who can bridge laboratory research with scalable technology solutions. Corporate R&D divisions are increasingly focusing on breakthrough innovation rather than incremental improvements, with companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft establishing specialized teams dedicated to exploring entirely new product categories and market opportunities.

Salary Evaluation

The provided salary range of $113,000-$195,200 is highly competitive for a Research Scientist I position and reflects Amazon's premium positioning in the market. This range exceeds typical industry standards by 15-25% and accounts for Seattle's high cost of living while positioning the role competitively against other major tech companies.

Role Significance

Typically operates within a small, elite team of 5-15 highly specialized researchers and engineers, working closely with senior scientists, product managers, and executive stakeholders on confidential, high-impact projects.
This Research Scientist I position represents a mid-level role with significant autonomy and strategic impact, positioned as a key contributor to Amazon's most ambitious and experimental initiatives, with direct influence on product development decisions and company direction.

Key Projects

Feasibility studies for breakthrough consumer technologies that could create entirely new market categories Cross-disciplinary research initiatives combining AI, life sciences, and consumer applications Strategic analysis of emerging scientific fields for potential Amazon expansion opportunities Development of novel analytical methodologies for evaluating complex, multi-industry business opportunities

Success Factors

Ability to think systemically across multiple disciplines while maintaining scientific rigor, as the role requires translating complex scientific concepts into viable business opportunities Strong entrepreneurial mindset combined with analytical precision, essential for evaluating the commercial potential of cutting-edge research in ambiguous, high-uncertainty environments Exceptional communication skills to present complex scientific findings to diverse stakeholders including executives, engineers, and product teams Adaptability and intellectual curiosity to rapidly learn new domains, as Special Projects work spans multiple industries and scientific fields

Market Demand

Extremely high demand exists for research scientists who can combine quantitative analysis with business application feasibility, particularly those with life sciences expertise, as technology companies increasingly seek to diversify into healthcare, sustainability, and emerging scientific domains.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Quantitative analysis and statistical modeling capabilities are absolutely essential, as the role requires rigorous evaluation of complex, multi-variable business and technical opportunities in ambiguous environments where traditional analytical frameworks may not apply. Life sciences expertise combined with business acumen represents a rare and highly valuable skill combination, particularly as technology companies increasingly explore healthcare, biotechnology, and sustainability applications. Forecasting and data mining experience is crucial for identifying market opportunities and predicting the viability of emerging technologies in rapidly evolving markets where historical data may be limited.

Beneficial Skills

Cross-industry knowledge and the ability to identify patterns and opportunities across different domains would be extremely valuable for Special Projects work Experience with regulatory environments, particularly in healthcare or emerging technologies, would provide significant advantage for feasibility assessments Strong network within the scientific community and ability to identify emerging research trends before they become mainstream would enhance strategic value to the organization

Unique Aspects

This role offers the rare opportunity to work on Amazon's most secretive and ambitious projects, with access to resources and scope that few research positions in the world can match
The position combines the intellectual freedom of academic research with the practical impact and resources of one of the world's largest companies
Special Projects designation indicates involvement in Amazon's highest-priority experimental initiatives, potentially including healthcare, sustainability, space technology, or other breakthrough domains
The role specifically seeks 'entrepreneurs' and 'dreamers,' indicating Amazon's commitment to supporting intrapreneurial thinking and breakthrough innovation

Career Growth

Advancement to Senior Research Scientist typically occurs within 2-4 years, with progression to Principal Scientist or management roles possible within 5-7 years for high performers, particularly given Amazon's rapid growth and expansion into new markets.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Research Scientist positions leading larger research initiatives and mentoring junior scientists Principal Scientist roles with strategic responsibility for entire research domains within Amazon's innovation portfolio Research Manager positions overseeing multiple research streams and cross-functional collaboration Product Manager roles leveraging scientific expertise to drive commercial product development Director-level positions in corporate innovation, venture capital, or technology strategy

Company Overview

Amazon.com Services LLC

Amazon.com Services LLC represents one of the world's most innovative and diversified technology companies, with a proven track record of successfully entering and transforming multiple industries beyond its original e-commerce foundation, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, logistics, and entertainment.

Amazon maintains a dominant position as a global technology leader with virtually unlimited resources for research and development, providing research scientists with unparalleled access to data, computational resources, and opportunities to scale innovations to hundreds of millions of customers worldwide.
Seattle serves as Amazon's global headquarters and primary innovation hub, offering access to world-class research institutions, a thriving technology ecosystem, and proximity to other major tech companies, creating an environment that accelerates professional development and collaboration opportunities.
Amazon's culture emphasizes bold experimentation, data-driven decision making, and customer obsession, creating an environment where research scientists are encouraged to pursue ambitious, high-risk projects with potentially transformative outcomes, supported by strong mentorship and professional development programs.
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