Amazon

DESCRIPTION

Join Amazon's Search and Conversational Shopping (Rufus) organization as an Applied Science Director to revolutionize the e-commerce customer experience using AI. We're seeking an exceptional leader to reimagine the next-generation search experiences that serve hundreds of millions of customers globally. In this role, you'll combine deep technical expertise with strategic leadership to pioneer advances in natural language processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Key job responsibilities

• Define and execute the scientific vision for Search and Conversational Shopping (Rufus), developing breakthrough AI technologies that transform e-commerce customer experience
• Lead a world-class team of applied scientists and software development engineers in developing state-of-the-art search and conversational AI solutions
• Design and implement advanced machine learning models for: Natural language understanding, Conversational AI, and generative search interfaces
• Personalized recommendations
• Drive research and development of large language models and generative AI capabilities that enhance search relevance, accuracy, and user interaction
• Establish research priorities, technical roadmaps, and innovation strategies for next-generation search experience
• Mentor and develop scientific talent, fostering a culture of technical excellence and bold innovation
• Collaborate across Amazon to maximize the impact of scientific innovation
• Publish research, present at top-tier conferences, and contribute to the broader scientific community

About the team

The Search and Conversational Shopping (Rufus) team at Amazon represents the state of the art of AI-driven product discovery. We operate at an unprecedented scale, serving billions of search queries daily worldwide. Our team combines deep scientific expertise with a relentless focus on customer experience, developing technologies that make finding products more natural, intuitive, and engaging.

We work across multiple domains, from e-commerce and cloud services to entertainment and devices, creating search experience that adapt to diverse user needs. Our team collaborates closely with other Amazon AI organizations, including AWS AI Services, Alexa, and Artificial General Intelligence, creating a rich ecosystem of technological innovation.

We pride ourselves on a culture of customer obsession, continuous learning, and technical excellence. Team members have the opportunity to publish innovative research, contribute to open-source projects, and develop technologies that impact millions of users worldwide.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or related technical field
• 15+ years applied research experience with demonstrated expertise in search, e-commerce, conversational AI, or related consumer technology domains
• 8+ years of technical leadership experience managing scientific teams
• Proven track record of developing and deploying large-scale machine learning models in production environments
• Deep expertise in AI and reinforcement learning technologies
• Exceptional communication skills with ability to translate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to drive technical strategy and execution

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with multimodal AI systems combining text, voice, and visual search capabilities
• Strong publication record in top-tier conferences and journals

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $262,500/year in our lowest geographic market up to $350,000/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.