Applied Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Applied Scientist jobs in Virginia are among the most active in the country, concentrated in defense and intelligence technology, cloud computing, and federal data analytics, with openings at every level from entry-level research associate through principal and staff scientist. The heaviest hiring is in Northern Virginia, the Richmond metro, and the Charlottesville corridor, where anchors like Amazon Web Services, Leidos, and Booz Allen Hamilton maintain large technical workforces. The most in-demand specialties are machine learning, natural language processing, and applied statistics supporting defense and commercial cloud programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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DESCRIPTION
We are seeking an Applied Scientist to build production machine learning systems that turn Amazon's employee listening signals into insight at scale. You will design, develop, and deploy ML solutions that transform large volumes of employee feedback — survey responses, free-text comments, and other listening channels — into signals that drive strategic decision-making across the organization. In this role, you will work on challenging problems spanning natural language processing, large language models, predictive modeling, and generative AI applications applied to employee experience. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate ambiguous business challenges into rigorous technical solutions.
Key job responsibilities
- Apply and adapt state-of-the-art NLP and machine learning techniques to extract structured, reliable signals from employee listening data (surveys, free-text feedback, and related channels), using reasonable assumptions, data, and customer requirements.
- Design, develop, and implement small-to-medium ML components on top of the employee listening system — such as theme and sentiment extraction, text classification, and aggregated signal generation — with input and guidance from senior scientists, taking ownership of the code in your components.
- Write secure, stable, testable, maintainable, well-reviewed code (at the SDE I bar) to deliver solutions into production that benefit customers and the business.
- Design features and signals responsibly, applying privacy-preserving practices appropriate to sensitive employee data.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to understand business context and impact, and help mentor interns.
- Communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, from technical peers to senior leadership.
About the team
The People eXperience and Technology Central Science Team (PXTCS) uses economics, applied science, statistics, and machine learning to proactively identify mechanisms and process improvements which simultaneously improve Amazon and the lives, wellbeing, and the value of work to Amazonians. We build and apply science on top of Amazon's employee listening systems — turning what Amazonians tell us into products and insights that improve their experience. We are an interdisciplinary team that combines the talents of science and engineering to develop and deliver solutions that measurably achieve this goal.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience with SQL and an RDBMS (e.g., Oracle) or Data Warehouse
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience implementing algorithms using both toolkits and self-developed code
- Have publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.
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, CA, San Francisco - 157,300.00 - 212,800.00 USD annually
USA, MA, Boston - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, TX, Austin - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Bellevue - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
We are seeking an Applied Scientist to build production machine learning systems that turn Amazon's employee listening signals into insight at scale. You will design, develop, and deploy ML solutions that transform large volumes of employee feedback — survey responses, free-text comments, and other listening channels — into signals that drive strategic decision-making across the organization. In this role, you will work on challenging problems spanning natural language processing, large language models, predictive modeling, and generative AI applications applied to employee experience. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate ambiguous business challenges into rigorous technical solutions.
Key job responsibilities
- Apply and adapt state-of-the-art NLP and machine learning techniques to extract structured, reliable signals from employee listening data (surveys, free-text feedback, and related channels), using reasonable assumptions, data, and customer requirements.
- Design, develop, and implement small-to-medium ML components on top of the employee listening system — such as theme and sentiment extraction, text classification, and aggregated signal generation — with input and guidance from senior scientists, taking ownership of the code in your components.
- Write secure, stable, testable, maintainable, well-reviewed code (at the SDE I bar) to deliver solutions into production that benefit customers and the business.
- Design features and signals responsibly, applying privacy-preserving practices appropriate to sensitive employee data.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to understand business context and impact, and help mentor interns.
- Communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, from technical peers to senior leadership.
About the team
The People eXperience and Technology Central Science Team (PXTCS) uses economics, applied science, statistics, and machine learning to proactively identify mechanisms and process improvements which simultaneously improve Amazon and the lives, wellbeing, and the value of work to Amazonians. We build and apply science on top of Amazon's employee listening systems — turning what Amazonians tell us into products and insights that improve their experience. We are an interdisciplinary team that combines the talents of science and engineering to develop and deliver solutions that measurably achieve this goal.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience with SQL and an RDBMS (e.g., Oracle) or Data Warehouse
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience implementing algorithms using both toolkits and self-developed code
- Have publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.
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, CA, San Francisco - 157,300.00 - 212,800.00 USD annually
USA, MA, Boston - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, TX, Austin - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Bellevue - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
See All 14 Applied Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Applied Scientist JobsApplied Scientist Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Applied Scientist Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in applied scientist jobs across Virginia.
- Master's or PhD in computer science, statistics, or a related quantitative field
- Demonstrated experience building and deploying machine learning models in production environments
- Proficiency in Python and machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn
- Experience working with large-scale distributed data systems or cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure
- Ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. security clearance, required by many Virginia defense contractors
- Strong communication skills to translate complex model outputs for non-technical stakeholders
Applied Scientist Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a applied scientist in Virginia?
Applied scientist roles in Virginia do not require a state-issued license, but employers consistently expect at least a master's degree in computer science, applied mathematics, statistics, or engineering, with a PhD preferred for senior positions. Most Virginia employers in the defense and cloud sectors also expect hands-on project experience, a portfolio of deployed models, and familiarity with cloud infrastructure. Candidates targeting federal contractor roles in Northern Virginia should begin the security clearance process early, as it can take several months to complete.
How much do applied scientists make in Virginia?
Applied scientists in Virginia earn a median of about $126,430 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $76,420 for the lowest 10% to over $207,890 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire applied scientists in Virginia?
Employers hiring applied scientists in Virginia right now include Amazon, Amazon Web Services, and Vantor, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal agencies and defense contractors means many openings are tied to government programs, so clearance-eligible candidates tend to find a broader range of roles across the state.
Which Virginia cities have the most applied scientist jobs?
The cities with the most applied scientist openings in Virginia are Arlington, Herndon, and McLean. Northern Virginia dominates because of its dense cluster of cloud infrastructure campuses and federal intelligence and defense contractors, while Richmond and Charlottesville draw hiring from university research programs and state government technology initiatives.
Are there remote applied scientist jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 0% of applied scientist openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based, computational nature of the work. Roles focused on modeling, research, and data analysis are the most likely to offer full or partial remote arrangements, while positions requiring access to classified systems or sensitive government facilities typically require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a applied scientist in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a research assistant or associate scientist role, which large Virginia employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and MITRE hire into directly from graduate programs. Internships and co-op programs tied to Virginia Tech, George Mason University, and the University of Virginia regularly convert to full-time offers. Candidates transitioning from adjacent roles such as data analyst, research engineer, or software engineer strengthen their applications by building a public project portfolio and pursuing cloud certifications relevant to the AWS or Azure ecosystems dominant in Northern Virginia.
Where can I find and apply to applied scientist jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to applied scientist jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 14 Applied Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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