Scientist Jobs in Seattle, WA
Scientist jobs in Seattle, Washington are concentrated in South Lake Union, the University District, and Eastside corridors like Bellevue, where biotech, life sciences, and research institutions drive consistent hiring. Employers actively filling roles right now include Amazon, TikTok, and Amazon Web Services. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 278+ Scientist jobs
DESCRIPTION
Amazon's Search Science and AI team creates ML algorithms that connect customers around the world with products that delight them. We harness novel ML at Amazon's scale to make the customer experience easier and smoother. Our impact is large. For example, if your innovations save even 1 minute per customer per year, then for every 100 million customers, you save approximately 190 years of human effort.
Key job responsibilities
As an Applied Scientist on the team, you will build search ranking models that work for thousands of product types, billions of queries, and hundreds of millions of customers spread around the world. You will find the next set of big improvements to ranking, leverage large datasets to understand the complexities of customer behavior, and build ML models that work at Amazon scale. In addition to typical topics in ranking, we are particularly interested in exploration techniques and reinforcement learning.
A day in the life
Our primary focus is improving search ranking systems. On a day-to-day this means building ML models, analyzing data from your recent A/B tests, and guiding teams on best practices. You will also find yourself in meetings with business and tech leaders at Amazon communicating your next big initiative.
About the team
We are a team consisting of ML scientists and software engineers. Our interests span machine learning for better ranking, reinforcement learning to bring the benefits of exploration to search ranking, and infrastructure to make it all happen at scale and efficiently.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD, or Master's degree and 4+ years of CS, CE, ML or related field experience
- 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
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience using Unix/Linux
- Experience in professional software development
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.
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, WA, Seattle
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $142,800.00 - $193,200.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Amazon's Search Science and AI team creates ML algorithms that connect customers around the world with products that delight them. We harness novel ML at Amazon's scale to make the customer experience easier and smoother. Our impact is large. For example, if your innovations save even 1 minute per customer per year, then for every 100 million customers, you save approximately 190 years of human effort.
Key job responsibilities
As an Applied Scientist on the team, you will build search ranking models that work for thousands of product types, billions of queries, and hundreds of millions of customers spread around the world. You will find the next set of big improvements to ranking, leverage large datasets to understand the complexities of customer behavior, and build ML models that work at Amazon scale. In addition to typical topics in ranking, we are particularly interested in exploration techniques and reinforcement learning.
A day in the life
Our primary focus is improving search ranking systems. On a day-to-day this means building ML models, analyzing data from your recent A/B tests, and guiding teams on best practices. You will also find yourself in meetings with business and tech leaders at Amazon communicating your next big initiative.
About the team
We are a team consisting of ML scientists and software engineers. Our interests span machine learning for better ranking, reinforcement learning to bring the benefits of exploration to search ranking, and infrastructure to make it all happen at scale and efficiently.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD, or Master's degree and 4+ years of CS, CE, ML or related field experience
- 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
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience using Unix/Linux
- Experience in professional software development
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.
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, WA, Seattle
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $142,800.00 - $193,200.00 USD annually
See All 278+ Scientist Jobs in Seattle
Find roles in Seattle that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Scientist JobsScientist Job Market in Seattle
Who's Hiring
- Amazon114
- TikTok21
- Amazon Web Services21
- Apple19
- Socure7
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software172
- Retail118
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces113
- Distribution & Wholesale20
- Electronics & Hardware17
Scientist Jobs in Seattle: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a scientist job in Seattle?
Focus your search on South Lake Union, the University District, and the Eastside biotech corridor, where life sciences, genomics, and pharmaceutical research employers concentrate most of their hiring. A background in molecular biology, biochemistry, or data-heavy research gives you a clear edge locally. Networking through the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association and targeting research hospitals like UW Medicine also opens doors that job boards alone won't.
Which companies hire scientists in Seattle?
Employers hiring scientists in Seattle right now include Amazon, TikTok, and Amazon Web Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Seattle's hiring pool is especially deep among biotech startups, global pharmaceutical companies with regional campuses, and research-intensive academic medical centers.
Are there remote scientist jobs in Seattle?
Yes, though remote availability varies considerably by specialty. Computational, data, and regulatory science roles are far more remote-friendly than bench or lab-based positions, which require on-site work by nature. About 21% of scientist openings tied to Seattle are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, with bioinformatics and research analytics roles making up the largest share of those flexible arrangements.
How can I get a scientist job in Seattle with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Seattle is a research assistant or junior scientist role at a university lab, particularly through the University of Washington or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, both of which hire early-career candidates for funded projects. Contract research organizations on the Eastside also bring on entry-level scientists for defined project terms. Hands-on lab skills and familiarity with common instruments matter more to Seattle employers than years of experience alone.
Which industries hire the most scientists in Seattle?
Most scientist openings in Seattle sit in Technology & Software, Retail, and E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Seattle's deep roots in genomics research, global health initiatives, and cloud-enabled life sciences make those sectors the dominant and most consistent sources of local hiring.
Related Jobs in Washington
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