Research Scientist, SCOT Customer Promise

Job summary
The Customer Promise team seeks to identify the optimal delivery option for whatever a customer wants. We believe that finding an optimal promise and living up to it consistently improves our customer experience because we increase customer's confidence and trust in Amazon as the one, best option to get what you want, when you want it. Our research scientists optimize trade-offs between fulfillment and customer experience. If you are interested in online optimization, resource allocation, or decision making under uncertainty, you will enjoy this problem space.

To help describe some of our challenges, we created a short video about at Amazon - http://bit.ly/amazon-scot

Key job responsibilities
•Build artifacts such as mathematical, statistical, or data models, simulations, and/or design methods to solve difficult problems

•Write clear and factually correct documents, including substantial data and analytical components, explaining technical concepts and assumptions to non-technical audiences

•Gather and use large datasets from multiple sources, prototype mathematical, statistical, or data models, and design workable solutions.

•Implement in data analysis languages (e.g., R, python, SAS, etc.), optimization and/or simulation languages (Mosel, AMPL, Python, C/C++/Java, SSJ, Matlab, Arena, etc.), and corresponding tools (Xpress, Cplex, Gurobi).

•Develop metrics to quantify the benefits of a solution, influence other project resources, and gate rollouts based on solution quality. Audit metric data and use it to measure project progress and success


A day in the life
A day in the life
A scientist in the team primarily will spend their time in one of three ways:
(i) Research development - creating and improving models, reviewing literature, building prototypes, writing papers (40-50%)
(ii) Ad-hoc study - pulling data or create simple prototypes to answer a business questions (20-30%)
(iii) Operational (20-30%) - this includes meeting with stakeholders for feedback, supporting model launches into production, learning new things, or team meetings

About the team
About the team
Promise Research is an interdisciplinary team of economists, applied scientists, research scientists, and engineers working together to improve Amazon's customer experience through delivery speed. Our team answer questions like: which products do customers want the fastest? how can we best utilize our fastest fulfillment capacity for customers? what is the cost and how predictable are shipment delays?

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in a quantitative field such as Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Economics or MS or greater in a quantitative field and 2+ years of experience (after graduation)
•Strong coding and problem-solving skills in at least one programming such as Python, Java, SQL, etc
• Familiar with AWS environment, such as S3, Sage Maker and other technologies
• Linear OR model to make big-impact decision making. Familiar with using CPLEX/XPRESS/Gurobi.
• Sound theoretical understanding of broad concepts, with and demonstrable expertise in at least one topic
• Utilizing analytical skills, and identifying and solving ambiguous problems

Preferred Qualifications

• Coding and problem-solving skills in at least one programming such as Python, Java, SQL, or etc.
• AWS environment such as S3, Sage Maker or other
• Online optimization, resource allocation, or decision making under uncertainty




Amazon is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en/disability/us.