Applied Scientist, Safe Control, Amazon Robotics, Compass

Description
We are seeking an Applied Scientist to join Compass. In this role, you will develop the core Control Barrier Function (CBF) algorithms that form the mathematical foundation of the Compass safety system. You will ensure they don't just work in theory but perform reliably on real robots under real-world conditions. You will push the boundaries of concepts central to CBFs: computing robust invariant sets, designing hybrid system formulations that handle contact transitions and mode switches, and developing backup-set approaches that leverage learned policies and multiple controllers. A key challenge of this role is bridging the gap between the mathematics of set invariance and the realities of hardware, including sensor noise, model uncertainty, computational budgets, and discrete state transitions. You will ensure that these algorithms are not only provably correct but also implementable within a safety-critical architecture that must be certified by a third-party. You wil...