Sr. Applied Scientist, Alexa Connections – Amazon – Vancouver, BC

At the cutting edge of Agentic AI and conversational technology, Amazon‘s Alexa Connections team in Vancouver, BC is looking for a Sr. Applied Scientist to help shape the next generation of intelligent communication experiences. If you’re passionate about pushing the limits of Large Language Models (LLMs) and real-world AI applications, this is your chance to make a tangible difference for millions of customers across Canada and beyond.

In this senior-level role, you’ll drive the development of novel algorithms and modelling techniques, collaborate across product, engineering, design, and data teams, and lead the integration of advanced AI systems into Alexa’s core capabilities. Your work will directly influence how Alexa+ becomes the world’s most trusted connection assistant — from Smart Home automation to personalized, proactive user experiences.

About the Role: Sr. Applied Scientist, Alexa Connections

As a Sr. Applied Scientist on the Alexa Connections team, you’ll be responsible for researching and building state-of-the-art AI and machine learning solutions. Your focus will span LLM inference and training techniques, synthetic data generation, and proof-of-concept development for next-generation GenAI features. You’ll be expected to lead technically rigorous projects while adapting to a fast-moving environment with evolving requirements.

Beyond the technical work, this role involves mentoring junior scientists, publishing research in reputable venues, and maintaining thorough documentation for transparency and reproducibility. You’ll also support on-call activities for critical issues, contributing to the reliability of Alexa’s systems at scale. Cross-functional collaboration and strong technical communication — both written and spoken — are central to how this team operates.

Benefits and Salary

The base salary range for this position in Vancouver, BC is $195,900 to $327,200 CAD annually. As a total compensation company, Amazon’s package may also include sign-on payments and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Final compensation is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, basic life and AD&D), a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), a Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP), paid time off, and additional resources to support health and well-being.

Responsibilities

The day-to-day work of this role sits at the intersection of fundamental AI research and production-scale engineering. You’ll be expected to move fluidly between developing novel techniques, leading collaborative projects, and communicating complex findings clearly across teams. These responsibilities reflect Amazon’s high bar for both scientific rigour and real-world impact.

• Develop new inference and training techniques to improve the performance of Large Language Models for Smart Home control and automation
• Build robust methods for synthetic data generation to train large models and maintain model generalization
• Research and prototype Proof of Concepts advancing the state of the art in AI, ML, and GenAI
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to architect and execute technically rigorous AI projects
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly through both written documentation and verbal coordination across teams
• Publish research papers in internal and external venues of repute
• Mentor junior scientists to develop their skills, knowledge, and ability to deliver results
• Support on-call activities for critical system issues

Requirements / Skills

Amazon is looking for a scientist who combines deep machine learning expertise with hands-on applied research experience. The ideal candidate thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments and brings both the academic foundation and the practical know-how to move ideas from research into production at scale.

• 3+ years of experience building machine learning models for business applications
• PhD, or Master’s degree with 6+ years of applied research experience
• Programming proficiency in Java, C++, Python, or a related language
• Experience with neural deep learning methods and machine learning techniques
• Familiarity with modelling tools such as R, scikit-learn, Spark MLLib, MXNet, TensorFlow, NumPy, or SciPy (asset)
• Experience with large-scale distributed systems such as Hadoop or Spark (asset)

How to Apply

To apply, visit the official Amazon job posting using the link below. Make sure your resume is up to date and tailored to highlight your applied research and machine learning experience before submitting.

Share This Opportunity

Know someone who might be interested? Share this job posting and help them join Amazon in Vancouver.