OPT Applied Scientist Jobs
Applied Scientist roles on OPT sit squarely within specialty occupation territory, which makes them strong candidates for H-1B visa sponsorship down the line. Most positions require a master's or PhD in computer science, statistics, or a related field. STEM OPT gives you up to three years of authorized work, enough runway to move through the sponsorship process.
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Do you want to join an innovative team of scientists who develop Agentic AI, LLM, and deep learning based solutions to help Amazon provide the best seller experience across the entire Seller life cycle, including recruitment, growth, support, risk mitigation and provide the best customer and seller experience?
Do you want to build advanced algorithmic systems that help manage the trust and safety of millions of customer interactions every day? Are you excited by the prospect of analyzing and modeling terabytes of data and creating state-of-the-art algorithms to solve real world problems? Are you excited by the opportunity to leverage GenAI and innovate on top of the state-of-the-art large language models to improve customer and seller experience?
Do you like to build end-to-end business solutions and directly impact the profitability of the company? Do you like to innovate and create solutions that have cross-organizational impacts?
If yes, then you may be a great fit to join the Machine Learning Accelerator team.
Key job responsibilities
The scope of an Applied Scientist in the Machine Learning Accelerator (MLA) team is to research and prototype AI and Machine Learning applications that solve strategic business problems across Selling Partner Experience (SPX) domains. Additionally, the scientist collaborates with engineers and business partners to design and implement solutions at scale that are of broad benefit to SPX organizations. They develop large-scale solutions for high impact projects, introduce tools and other techniques that can be used to solve problems from various perspectives, and show depth and competence in more than one area. They influence the team’s technical strategy by making insightful contributions to the team’s priorities, approach and planning. They develop and introduce tools and practices that streamline the work of the team, and they mentor junior team members and participate in hiring.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD, or Master's degree and 4+ years of CS, CE, ML or related field experience
- 3+ years of building machine learning models or developing algorithms for business application experience
- Experience in patents or publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience in any of the following areas: algorithms and data structures, parsing, numerical optimization, data mining, parallel and distributed computing, high-performance computing
- Experience with Machine Learning and Large Language Model fundamentals, including architecture, training/inference lifecycles, and optimization of model execution, or experience in developing and deploying LLMs in production on GPUs, Neuron, TPU or other AI acceleration hardware
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience using Unix/Linux
- Experience in state-of-the-art deep learning models architecture design and deep learning training and optimization and model pruning
- Experience with LLM fine-tuning, in-context learning, or model evaluation
- Hands-on experience designing reward models or RL post-training pipelines (PPO/GRPO, DPO) for LLMs or agents, including preference-data collection and evaluation
- Experience building agentic AI systems — tool use, planning, retrieval-augmented generation, or multi-agent workflows
- Experience with researching and developing neuro-symbolic solutions and applications
- Publications at top ML/AI venues
- Experience partnering with product/engineering teams to deliver ML in large-scale production system
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.
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.
LOCATION
USA, CA, San Diego
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $142,800.00 - $193,200.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Do you want to join an innovative team of scientists who develop Agentic AI, LLM, and deep learning based solutions to help Amazon provide the best seller experience across the entire Seller life cycle, including recruitment, growth, support, risk mitigation and provide the best customer and seller experience?
Do you want to build advanced algorithmic systems that help manage the trust and safety of millions of customer interactions every day? Are you excited by the prospect of analyzing and modeling terabytes of data and creating state-of-the-art algorithms to solve real world problems? Are you excited by the opportunity to leverage GenAI and innovate on top of the state-of-the-art large language models to improve customer and seller experience?
Do you like to build end-to-end business solutions and directly impact the profitability of the company? Do you like to innovate and create solutions that have cross-organizational impacts?
If yes, then you may be a great fit to join the Machine Learning Accelerator team.
Key job responsibilities
The scope of an Applied Scientist in the Machine Learning Accelerator (MLA) team is to research and prototype AI and Machine Learning applications that solve strategic business problems across Selling Partner Experience (SPX) domains. Additionally, the scientist collaborates with engineers and business partners to design and implement solutions at scale that are of broad benefit to SPX organizations. They develop large-scale solutions for high impact projects, introduce tools and other techniques that can be used to solve problems from various perspectives, and show depth and competence in more than one area. They influence the team’s technical strategy by making insightful contributions to the team’s priorities, approach and planning. They develop and introduce tools and practices that streamline the work of the team, and they mentor junior team members and participate in hiring.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD, or Master's degree and 4+ years of CS, CE, ML or related field experience
- 3+ years of building machine learning models or developing algorithms for business application experience
- Experience in patents or publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience in any of the following areas: algorithms and data structures, parsing, numerical optimization, data mining, parallel and distributed computing, high-performance computing
- Experience with Machine Learning and Large Language Model fundamentals, including architecture, training/inference lifecycles, and optimization of model execution, or experience in developing and deploying LLMs in production on GPUs, Neuron, TPU or other AI acceleration hardware
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience using Unix/Linux
- Experience in state-of-the-art deep learning models architecture design and deep learning training and optimization and model pruning
- Experience with LLM fine-tuning, in-context learning, or model evaluation
- Hands-on experience designing reward models or RL post-training pipelines (PPO/GRPO, DPO) for LLMs or agents, including preference-data collection and evaluation
- Experience building agentic AI systems — tool use, planning, retrieval-augmented generation, or multi-agent workflows
- Experience with researching and developing neuro-symbolic solutions and applications
- Publications at top ML/AI venues
- Experience partnering with product/engineering teams to deliver ML in large-scale production system
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.
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.
LOCATION
USA, CA, San Diego
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $142,800.00 - $193,200.00 USD annually
See all 523+ OPT Applied Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Applied Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Applied Scientist
Target companies with active H-1B filing histories
Employers who regularly sponsor Applied Scientists will have a track record of H-1B visa filings. Prioritize companies with dedicated research divisions, such as large tech firms and AI labs, where sponsorship is standard practice rather than an exception.
Lead with your research output, not just your degree
Published papers, patents, and conference presentations signal the kind of specialized expertise that justifies sponsorship. Employers evaluating OPT candidates for Applied Scientist roles weigh research credentials heavily when making the case to their legal team.
Confirm your STEM OPT eligibility before applying
Applied Scientist roles almost always qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, but your degree field must appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program list. Verify this with your DSO before your initial 12-month OPT period ends.
Bring up OPT early in the interview process
Waiting until an offer to mention your work authorization status creates friction. Raise it in the recruiter screen so only genuinely sponsor-willing employers move forward. It saves both sides time and builds trust from the start.
Frame your OPT timeline as a planning asset
Three years of STEM OPT authorization covers two H-1B lottery cycles. Presenting this clearly to hiring managers shows you understand the process and gives cautious employers confidence that there is enough time to get sponsorship right.
Connect with Applied Scientists at the company before applying
Reach out to researchers already in the role you want. They can tell you whether sponsorship is handled internally or through outside counsel, how long the process typically takes at that company, and what the team actually values in candidates.
Applied Scientist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Applied Scientist on OPT without employer sponsorship?
Yes. During your OPT authorization period, you can work as an Applied Scientist without any employer petition or sponsorship filing. Your employer does need to report the job to your DSO for STEM OPT compliance, but there is no separate visa petition required. Sponsorship only becomes necessary when your OPT period ends and you need a different work visa to stay authorized.
Do Applied Scientist roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Applied Scientist positions almost universally qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because the role draws directly on STEM degree fields such as computer science, statistics, applied mathematics, and electrical engineering. Your degree must appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program list and the job must be directly related to that field of study. Your DSO can confirm eligibility before you apply for the extension.
How do I find Applied Scientist jobs where employers are open to OPT sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this. The platform surfaces Applied Scientist roles from employers who have a demonstrated history of sponsoring international workers, so you are not wasting applications on companies that will decline once they learn your status. Browsing by role and authorization type there is the most efficient way to identify genuinely sponsor-willing employers in research and tech.
Does a master's degree qualify me for Applied Scientist roles on OPT, or do most employers require a PhD?
Requirements vary by company and team. Large tech companies and AI labs regularly hire Applied Scientists with strong master's degrees, particularly when candidates have published research, internship experience, or a compelling project portfolio. Roles focused on applied product work tend to be more accessible with a master's, while positions in core research or fundamental modeling often prefer a PhD. Read job descriptions carefully and prioritize applying to roles that list a master's as sufficient.
What should I know about the 60-day grace period if my Applied Scientist job ends while I am on OPT?
When employment ends during your OPT period, you enter a 60-day grace period during which you are not authorized to work but remain in valid F-1 status. You can use this window to find a new Applied Scientist role and start work once authorized. If you cannot secure a new position within 60 days, you would need to change status, transfer to a new school, or depart the United States.