Simulation & Modeling Applied Scientist, Prime Air Flight Sciences High Fidelity Methods

The Applied Scientist will own the end-to-end lifecycle of simulation models for drone systems and flight physics, from development and deployment through verification and maintenance. They will determine the right modeling approach for physical phenomena, design experiments, and apply uncertainty quantification to validate model fidelity. The role directly informs aircraft design, system verification, certification, and business decisions within Prime Air.

Responsibilities

• The Applied Scientist in this role will own the end-to-end lifecycle of simulation models—from development and deployment through verification and ongoing maintenance. This begins with gathering downstream customer needs, selecting the most suitable modeling approach and level of fidelity, and coordinating the generation of input data. It extends through model training, development and maintenance of software interfaces, and verification of model accuracy.
• A core aspect of this role is determining the right modeling approach for a given physical phenomenon. The scientist will need a working understanding of the physics and systems being modeled, including vehicle aerodynamics, propeller performance, multibody dynamics, atmospheric physics, electric powertrain components, and guidance and navigation system (GNS) sensors. They will design experiments to generate the data needed to build and verify models, and apply uncertainty quantification and statistical analyses to validate model fidelity.

Requirements

• PhD, or Master's degree and 4+ years of science, technology, engineering or related field experience
• Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
• Experience with flight vehicle simulation development, aircraft system identification or simulation verification & validation (V&V)
• Solid understanding of software design principles ### Preferred qualifications

Nice to have

• Experience with flight test planning, instrumentation and data reduction techniques
• Experience with high-fidelity aerodynamics prediction methods including wind tunnel testing, and computation fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Knowledgeable about fixed-wing and/or rotorcraft flight physics
• Experience with uncertainty quantification in the context of computational models

Benefits

• 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.