Applied Scientist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Applied Scientists combine advanced research with practical implementation, making them strong candidates for H-1B visa and O-1 visa sponsorship. The role typically requires a PhD in computer science, machine learning, statistics, or related field, which easily satisfies specialty occupation requirements. Major tech companies regularly sponsor Applied Scientists, with approval rates generally high due to clear degree-to-role alignment.
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DESCRIPTION
Stores Economics and Science (SEAS) is an interdisciplinary science and engineering team in Amazon's Stores organization with a peak-jumping mission: we apply expertise in science and engineering to move from local to global optima in methods, models, and software. We pursue this mission by leveraging frontier science; collaborating with partner teams; and learning from the tools, experience, and perspective of others. We scale by solving problems, first in the small to prove concepts, and then in the large by building scalable solutions. We also help other teams within Amazon scale by hiring and developing the best and embedding them in other business units.
In 2026, we are focused on economics and science in areas related to (1) lowering cost-to-serve, (2) optimizing selection, and (3) emerging machine learning. We also have some ongoing and highly-leveraged collaborations that help partner teams inside Amazon short-circuit months of R&D or otherwise look around corners. We are looking for an Applied Scientist to build and deliver state-of-the-art science and engineering solutions to improve our Stores business. In this role, you will work in a team of scientists and engineers with backgrounds in machine learning, NLP, IR, statistics, and economics to identify bottlenecks in our business, conceive new ideas to overcome those challenges, and deploy scientific solutions in partnership with product teams. Your responsibilities include developing and maintaining the scientific models, benchmarks, and services. Graduate education or hands-on experience in machine learning, optimization, causal inference, Bayesian statistics, deep learning, or other quantitative scientific fields is a big plus. To be successful in this role, you should be a quick learner and comfortable with a high degree of ambiguity.
Key job responsibilities
The successful candidate will lead large-scale science initiatives from research to production and translate complex business problems into mathematical frameworks. They will design and implement large-scale algorithms for complex supply chain and marketplace problems, and design incentive-compatible mechanisms for marketplace challenges.
The ideal candidate will have a strong publication record in top-tier conferences/journals (INFORMS, EC, WINE, ICML, NeurIPS, etc.) and experience coordinating cross-functional projects. Hands-on experience building science solutions to mechanism design problems (e.g., optimal auction design, welfare maximization under constraints, incentive compatible coordination), with expertise in statistical learning and algorithm development.
Leadership responsibilities include influencing technical strategy and roadmaps for complex initiatives, influencing senior stakeholders and shaping technical direction, and fostering team growth.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of building models for business application experience
- 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.
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, Palo Alto - 171,600.00 - 222,200.00 USD annually
USA, NY, New York - 172,400.00 - 223,400.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 142,800.00 - 193,200.00 USD annually
See all 398+ Applied Scientist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Applied Scientist
Emphasize your PhD and research publications
Applied Scientist roles strongly favor PhD holders. Highlight your dissertation research, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations to demonstrate the advanced knowledge that justifies H-1B specialty occupation requirements.
Target companies with established ML research divisions
Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta regularly sponsor Applied Scientists. These companies understand the role's requirements and have streamlined visa processes for research-focused positions with clear business applications.
Document your track record of research-to-product translation
Applied Scientists bridge research and implementation. Showcase projects where your research led to deployed systems, improved algorithms, or measurable business impact to strengthen your visa petition.
Consider the O-1 visa if you have exceptional research credentials
If you have significant publications, citations, conference awards, or recognition in AI/ML research, the O-1 extraordinary ability visa offers advantages over H-1B including no lottery and faster processing.
Prepare for technical interviews that demonstrate specialized knowledge
Visa interviews may include questions about your research methodology and how it applies to the role. Be ready to explain complex algorithms and statistical methods in accessible terms.
Highlight interdisciplinary expertise in your petition
Applied Scientists often work across domains like computer vision, NLP, or robotics. Document how your cross-disciplinary knowledge creates unique value that requires specialized H-1B talent rather than general programmers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for Applied Scientist H-1B sponsorship?
Most Applied Scientist positions require a PhD in computer science, machine learning, statistics, mathematics, or closely related field. Some roles accept a Master's with extensive research experience, but PhD holders have significantly stronger H-1B visa petitions due to the advanced specialization required for research-to-product development.
Which companies sponsor Applied Scientists for visas?
Major tech companies including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Netflix regularly sponsor Applied Scientists. Research-focused startups and companies in autonomous vehicles, healthcare AI, and fintech also sponsor, though they may have less experience with the visa process than established tech giants.
How do Applied Scientist H-1B approval rates compare to other roles?
Applied Scientist positions generally have high H-1B approval rates due to clear specialty occupation requirements. The PhD requirement and specialized research knowledge make it easy to demonstrate that the role requires theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge in computer science or mathematics.
How to find Applied Scientist jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Applied Scientist positions with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international talent with sponsoring employers. Focus on tech companies, research institutions, and AI startups that commonly hire Applied Scientists on H-1B, O-1 visa, or EB-2 visas. These roles are in high demand at companies developing machine learning, data science, and research products.
Can I get sponsored as an Applied Scientist with only industry experience?
While possible, it's challenging without advanced degrees. USCIS typically expects Applied Scientists to have PhD-level research training. If you only have industry experience, you'd need to demonstrate extraordinary depth in machine learning research, publications, or patents that substitute for formal academic credentials.
Should I apply for O-1 instead of H-1B as an Applied Scientist?
Consider O-1 if you have exceptional research credentials like high-impact publications, significant citations, conference awards, or recognition as a leading researcher in AI/ML. O-1 has no lottery, faster processing, and allows more flexibility, but requires demonstrating extraordinary ability rather than just specialty occupation requirements.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Applied Scientist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.