Research Scientist, WW Sustainability
DESCRIPTION
Join us at the cutting edge of Amazon's sustainability initiatives to work on environmental and social advancements to support Amazon's long term worldwide sustainability strategy. At Amazon, we're working to be the most customer-centric company on earth. To get there, we need exceptionally talented, bright, and driven people.
The Worldwide Sustainability (WWS) organization capitalizes on Amazon's scale & speed to build a more resilient and sustainable company. We manage our social and environmental impacts globally, driving solutions that enable our customers, businesses, and the world around us to become more sustainable.
Sustainability Science and Innovation (SSI) is a multi-disciplinary team within the WW Sustainability organization that combines science, economics, statistics, machine learning, product development, analytics, and engineering expertise. We use this expertise to identify, develop and evaluate the science and innovations necessary for Amazon, customers, and partners to meet their long-term sustainability goals and commitments.
We are seeking an experienced Research Scientist to play a key role in our work to achieve our long-term sustainability and climate commitments. In this role, you will lead the development of economic, statistical, and machine learning/AI-based models that will drive critical decarbonization investment decisions for Amazon Sustainability. You will leverage complex data from diverse internal and external sources, developing state-of-the-art models informed by techno-economics, physical and engineering-based models, or economic theory.
The successful applicant will lead by example, pioneering science-vetted, data-driven approaches, and working collaboratively to implement strategies that align with Amazon's long-term sustainability vision. You will be at the forefront of exploring and resolving complex sustainability issues, bringing innovative ideas to the table, and making meaningful contributions to projects across SSI's portfolio. This role not only demands technical expertise but also a strategic mindset and the agility to adapt to evolving sustainability challenges through self-driven learning and exploration.
In this position, you will deeply partner with peer scientists, sustainability specialists, economists, data engineers, product managers, and engineers. Your work will be crucial in evaluating the cost and efficacy of different strategies for reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainability outcomes. You'll also build mechanisms to help key stakeholders understand, inspect, and apply your results, as well as make iterative improvements.
Key job responsibilities
- Develop and implement advanced theoretical, statistical, and empirical prediction models to make projections over various time horizons, incorporating techno-economic, physical, engineering-based, and economic theory principles.
- Conduct comprehensive analyses to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and impact of various carbon emission reduction strategies and sustainability initiatives.
- Design and implement robust mechanisms to facilitate stakeholder understanding, inspection, and application of research results, enabling continuous improvement.
- Develop key performance metrics, benchmarks, and A/B testing methodologies to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of carbon abatement options.
- Communicate complex findings and recommendations to senior business leaders and the broader scientific community, influencing cross-functional stakeholders through clear, high-quality technical deliverables.
- Lead early-stage strategic sustainability initiatives, driving stakeholder engagement to scale high-value projects across the organization.
- Leverage complex data from diverse internal and external sources to drive critical decarbonization investment decisions for Amazon Sustainability.
About the team
Diverse Experiences:
World Wide Sustainability (WWS) values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.
Inclusive Team Culture:
It’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
Mentorship & Career Growth:
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
Work/Life Balance:
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree (or Bachelor's degree + 5 years of equivalent experience) in Statistics, Economics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
- 5+ years of experience as an statistician, economist, or data scientist with experience building optimization models, economic models (e.g., supply and demand systems), and statistical/ML modeling for complex problem-solving
- Proficiency in Python, data querying languages (e.g., SQL), and data visualization tools
- Demonstrated experience in analyzing large, complex datasets and deriving actionable insights
- Background or working knowledge in sustainability, environmental science, or related fields
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD degree in Statistics, Economics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field. Focus on sustainability-related research or applications is a plus.
- Proven track record of developing and implementing advanced econometric or machine learning models that have driven significant business decisions or policy changes
- Expertise in applying cutting-edge techniques such as deep learning, reinforcement learning, or advanced methodology in causal inference to solve complex sustainability challenges
- Demonstrated experience in techno-economic modeling or life cycle assessment related to carbon emissions or renewable energy systems
- Strong programming skills in Python, with a portfolio of projects showcasing proficiency in statistical machine learning, uncertainty quantification, and large-scale optimization
- Published research or patents in areas relevant to environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, or clean energy technologies
- Excellent communication skills, evidenced by a track record of presenting complex technical findings to senior executives and influencing cross-functional teams to drive sustainability initiatives
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.
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 compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $136,000/year in our lowest geographic market up to $212,800/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.