Design Technologist III, Robotics Simulation

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Technologist III, Robotics Simulation

Company: Amazon

Location: Bellevue, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Robotics Simulation / 3D Pipeline Engineering

Date Posted: September 11, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation of high-fidelity, simulation-ready 3D content for Amazon Robotics by bridging 3D craft and pipeline engineering.

• Own the design and technical direction for key aspects of the 3D asset pipeline, ensuring scalability and visual/physics accuracy.

• Develop and automate workflows for CAD conversion, geometry optimization, and USD composition to meet stringent simulation requirements.

• Integrate cutting-edge 3D techniques, such as Gaussian Splatting and generative AI, into production pipelines.

• Set and advocate for 3D asset standards, while mentoring junior technical artists and engineers on best practices for USD and geometry processing.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior-level Design Technologist (III) within Amazon Robotics, focusing on the critical intersection of 3D content creation and simulation pipeline engineering. The emphasis on "simulation-ready USD content with high visual and physics fidelity" indicates a deep need for technical artistry combined with robust engineering principles to support the development of advanced robotics and AI. The mention of "emerging techniques" suggests a forward-looking team that values innovation and experimentation within production environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Convert complex CAD assemblies (e.g., SolidWorks) into simulation-ready Universal Scene Description (USD) assets, ensuring clean geometry, accurate materials, appropriate colliders, and correct articulation.

• Perform and automate geometry cleanup and optimization tasks, including tessellation, culling, mesh simplification, UV mapping, and Level of Detail (LOD) generation to enhance performance and fidelity.

• Author and compose USD assets using references, payloads, and variants, enabling efficient loading of only necessary components for various simulation consumers.

• Develop and refine materials, shading, and lighting to ensure consistent rendering and accurate representation of assets across different renderers and simulation environments.

• Build, harden, and maintain tools and pipelines for 3D content production, incorporating clear feedback mechanisms and validation against defined asset quality gates.

• Proactively integrate emerging 3D technologies like Gaussian Splatting, neural reconstruction, generative 3D, and LLM-orchestrated scene building into production workflows as they mature and prove viable.

• Collaborate closely with Applied Scientists and Software Development Engineers (SDEs) to ensure assets meet downstream training and simulation requirements, iterating on collision geometry and fidelity based on empirical feedback.

• Define and champion 3D asset standards across the team, providing mentorship and guidance to junior technical artists and engineers on USD composition and geometry processing best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on 3D asset creation and pipeline development. The emphasis on "simulation-ready USD assets" and "high visual and physics fidelity" points to a need for deep understanding of how 3D assets are used in complex simulation environments, particularly in robotics. The requirement to "integrate emerging 3D techniques" suggests a role that is not only about maintaining current processes but also about exploring and implementing future technologies. Mentoring junior members and setting standards are key indicators of a senior-level contribution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Design, Engineering, Computer Science) or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 6 years in front-end technologist, engineer, UX prototyper, or a related technical role, with a demonstrated track record of owning 3D asset pipelines or workflows and establishing quality standards.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in one or more scripting or programming languages commonly used for 3D tooling, with a strong emphasis on Python.

• Working knowledge of Universal Scene Description (USD), including its composition methods (references, payloads, variants) and programmatic authoring capabilities.

• Hands-on experience transforming CAD or other source assets into clean, renderable, and simulation-ready 3D content.

• Solid understanding of 3D fundamentals, including mesh topology, tessellation, UV mapping, PBR materials, collision geometry, and Level of Detail (LOD) generation.

• Experience with digital content creation (DCC) tools such as Maya, Houdini, or Substance, and familiarity with 3D engines like Unreal Engine, Unity, or web engines like Three.js.

• Ability to write prototype and pipeline code that is understandable and producible by Software Development Engineers (SDEs), facilitating seamless handoffs.

• Proven ability to develop visually polished, engaging, and highly fluid UX prototypes.

• Experience collaborating effectively with UX, Product, and technical partners. Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of databases and AWS database services, including ElasticSearch, Redshift, and DynamoDB.

• Experience with Machine Learning (ML) tools and methodologies.

• Specific experience with CAD-to-simulation or CAD-to-USD workflows, including SolidWorks to USD/URDF conversion, articulation and joint authoring, and collider generation.

• Familiarity with NVIDIA Omniverse and Isaac Sim, or other physics simulators such as MuJoCo or PhysX.

• Experience with geometry-processing tools or libraries like Trimesh, Open3D, PyMeshLab for mesh repair, decimation, and convex decomposition.

• Exposure to emerging 3D techniques such as Gaussian Splatting, Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs), or generative/LLM-orchestrated 3D content creation.

• Experience building look-development and lighting workflows, and matching real-time output to path-traced references.

• Demonstrated experience mentoring technical artists or engineers and driving asset standards across a team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Basic Qualifications" include a broad "front-end technologist, engineer, or UX prototyper" experience, which is a bit unusual for a 3D technical art role. However, the subsequent points clarify the specific 3D and pipeline engineering focus. The "Design Technologist III" title implies a senior individual contributor role. The preferred qualifications point towards a desire for candidates who can leverage cloud infrastructure (AWS) and emerging AI/ML technologies within their 3D pipeline work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a diverse range of projects that demonstrate expertise in 3D asset creation, pipeline development, and simulation-ready content generation.

• The portfolio should highlight specific examples of CAD conversion, geometry optimization, USD authoring, material/look development, and the creation of tools or pipelines.

• Include case studies that detail the problem, your approach, the tools and technologies used, and the quantifiable impact or improvements achieved in terms of efficiency, fidelity, or scalability.

• Demonstrate proficiency in scripting and programming (e.g., Python) by including examples of tools, scripts, or pipeline components you have developed.

• Showcase your ability to translate design intent into technically sound 3D assets for simulation and rendering purposes. Process Documentation:

• Provide clear documentation or examples of your approach to designing and implementing 3D asset pipelines, emphasizing workflow efficiency and automation.

• Showcase your experience in defining and enforcing 3D asset quality standards, including examples of validation processes or checks.

• Illustrate your methods for integrating new technologies or techniques into existing production workflows, with a focus on practicality and scalability.

• Detail your approach to collaborating with engineering teams for the productionization of tools and pipeline components.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Design Technologist" title and the emphasis on both design sensibility and technical pipeline work, the portfolio should clearly articulate the candidate's ability to bridge these two areas. For a senior role (III), expect a focus on leadership in process design and implementation, not just execution. Demonstrating an understanding of how 3D assets impact downstream simulation and AI training is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $154,200 - $208,600 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Prescription insurance.

• Basic Life & AD&D insurance with options for supplemental life plans.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Mental Health Support services.

• Medical Advice Line.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for healthcare and dependent care.

• Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage.

• 401(k) plan with employer matching.

• Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Parental leave.

• Additional compensation components include sign-on payments and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week, aligning with typical full-time employment. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility in balancing on-site and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific to the USA, WA, Bellevue location. The inclusion of sign-on payments and RSUs indicates a competitive total compensation package typical for senior technical roles at large tech companies like Amazon. The extensive benefits list covers a broad spectrum of employee well-being and financial security.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Logistics.

Company Size: Amazon is a global technology conglomerate with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide. The Robotics division, and specifically the Robotics Simulation team, will be a smaller, specialized unit within this vast organization.

Founded: Amazon was founded in 1994, establishing a long history of innovation and growth, particularly in leveraging technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. The Robotics division has grown significantly to support its massive fulfillment network.

Team Structure:

• The Robotics Simulation team is a multidisciplinary group comprising Software Development Engineers (SDEs), Applied Scientists, and Technical Artists.

• This role operates within Amazon Robotics, contributing to the Physical AI development through simulation infrastructure.

• Design Technologists serve as a crucial bridge, connecting 3D craft with the engineering pipeline, ensuring the creation of simulation-ready 3D content essential for downstream processes like policy training and synthetic data generation. Methodology:

• The team focuses on building simulation infrastructure that powers Physical AI development, including photorealistic synthetic data generation and GPU-accelerated training environments.

• They enable robots to be designed, trained, and validated in simulation before physical hardware is developed.

• The work is grounded in traditional 3D craft and pipelines, alongside the integration of emerging technologies.

Company Website: https://www.amazon.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is known for its customer obsession, bias for action, and innovation. Within Amazon Robotics, the culture likely emphasizes rigorous engineering, data-driven decision-making, and a fast-paced environment. The Robotics Simulation team, in particular, operates at the cutting edge of AI and robotics, requiring a blend of creativity, technical depth, and collaborative problem-solving.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Design Technologist III, indicating a senior individual contributor position. It requires significant experience and the ability to lead technical direction within specific areas of the 3D asset pipeline. The role involves not just execution but also strategic input on standards, tools, and emerging technologies.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, a Design Technologist III typically reports to a manager or lead within the Robotics Simulation team. They would likely collaborate closely with SDEs and Applied Scientists, influencing their work through the quality and fidelity of the simulation assets and tools provided.

Operations Impact: The Design Technologist's work is fundamental to the success of Amazon Robotics' Physical AI initiatives. High-fidelity simulation assets and robust pipelines are critical for training AI models, generating realistic synthetic data, and ensuring effective sim-to-real transfer. Errors or limitations in 3D content directly impact the performance and reliability of trained robots, making this role's contribution pivotal to product development and validation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced 3D techniques, simulation technologies, and specific robotics applications.

• Pipeline Leadership: Transition into roles focused on architecting and managing larger-scale 3D content pipelines or simulation environments.

• Cross-functional Influence: Become a key technical advisor to Applied Science and SDE teams, guiding the integration of 3D capabilities into broader AI/robotics projects.

• Mentorship & Team Growth: Further develop leadership skills by mentoring junior technical artists and engineers, contributing to team knowledge and best practices.

• Innovation: Lead the research and implementation of new 3D technologies, potentially shaping the future of simulation at Amazon Robotics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "III" designation strongly suggests a senior individual contributor role with expectations of technical leadership, mentorship, and strategic input. The growth opportunities focus on deepening technical expertise, taking on more significant pipeline responsibilities, and influencing broader AI/robotics development, aligning with typical career paths for senior technical artists and engineers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work arrangement. This implies a mix of on-site work at the Amazon Robotics office in Bellevue, Washington, and remote work. The on-site component is crucial for collaborative tasks, team meetings, and access to specialized hardware or studio environments.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Bellevue, Washington, USA. This area is a major technology hub, offering access to a vibrant tech community and talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to foster collaboration between technical artists, software engineers, and applied scientists, facilitating the seamless integration of 3D assets into complex simulation and AI training pipelines.

• Expect access to industry-standard 3D software, development tools, and potentially specialized hardware for rendering or simulation tasks.

• Opportunities for frequent interaction with cross-functional teams working on cutting-edge robotics and AI projects.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with the hybrid model allowing for flexibility in managing time between home and office. This structure supports focused individual work while maintaining team cohesion and collaborative effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role suggests a balance between focused individual work (potentially at home) and collaborative, in-person team activities (at the Bellevue office). This is common for roles requiring both deep technical work and close collaboration with diverse engineering disciplines.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and interest in the role.

• Technical Interviews: Expect multiple rounds of technical interviews focusing on 3D fundamentals, scripting (Python), USD, pipeline development, and problem-solving. These may include coding challenges or technical discussions.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session will likely involve presenting and discussing your online portfolio. Be prepared to walk through specific projects, detailing your contributions, technical challenges, solutions, and impact.

• System Design/Pipeline Challenge: You might be asked to discuss how you would approach designing or optimizing a specific part of the 3D asset pipeline or to solve a simulated technical problem.

• Behavioral Interviews: Questions will assess your ability to collaborate, mentor, handle ambiguity, and align with Amazon's Leadership Principles.

• Hiring Manager/Team Lead Interview: A final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with the team's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize those showcasing CAD conversion, USD, pipeline engineering, optimization, and visual/physics fidelity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and contributions, the technical challenges encountered, your innovative solutions, and the quantifiable outcomes (e.g., efficiency gains, improved simulation accuracy).

• Showcase Technical Depth: Be ready to discuss your code (Python scripts, pipeline tools), your understanding of USD composition, and your approach to geometry optimization and material PBR.

• Highlight Leadership: As a Design Technologist III, emphasize projects where you set standards, mentored others, or led the development of significant pipeline components.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, and how your work directly impacts downstream simulation and AI training.

Challenge Preparation:

• Python Proficiency: Practice common Python scripting tasks relevant to 3D data manipulation, file I/O, and automation.

• USD Concepts: Review USD composition, referencing, variants, and programmatic authoring. Be ready to discuss how to structure complex scenes.

• Geometry Optimization: Understand techniques for mesh simplification, tessellation, LOD generation, and collider creation.

• Pipeline Thinking: Think about common bottlenecks in 3D asset pipelines and how to address them through automation and tool development.

• Amazon Leadership Principles: Familiarize yourself with the principles and prepare examples of how you've demonstrated them in past roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior technical role at Amazon is typically rigorous, involving multiple stages that test technical depth, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit. The portfolio is a critical component, so candidates must be prepared to present it comprehensively, demonstrating not just technical ability but also strategic thinking and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• 3D Content Creation: Maya, Houdini, Substance, or similar Digital Content Creation (DCC) tools.

• 3D Engines: Unreal Engine, Unity, or web-based engines like Three.js for rendering and real-time applications.

• CAD Software: Experience with CAD conversion, particularly from tools like SolidWorks, is essential.

• Scripting & Programming: Python is a primary requirement for tooling and pipeline development. Familiarity with shader or engine-specific languages may also be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• USD: Universal Scene Description for scene composition, data exchange, and asset management.

• Geometry Processing: Tools or libraries such as Trimesh, Open3D, PyMeshLab for mesh repair, decimation, and optimization.

• Version Control: Git or similar systems for managing code and pipeline assets.

CRM & Automation:

• AWS Services: Knowledge of relevant AWS services like ElasticSearch, Redshift, DynamoDB for data management and potentially cloud-based rendering or simulation workflows.

• Simulation Platforms: NVIDIA Omniverse, Isaac Sim, or other physics simulators (MuJoCo, PhysX) are highly desirable.

• Emerging Technologies: Experience or familiarity with Gaussian Splatting, NeRFs, and generative AI for 3D content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack reflects a blend of traditional 3D production tools and cutting-edge simulation and pipeline technologies. Proficiency in Python and USD is non-negotiable, while experience with specific simulation platforms and cloud services will be a significant advantage. The emphasis on "emerging 3D techniques" indicates a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: While this role is technical, the ultimate goal is to enable robotics development that serves Amazon's customers, whether through efficient fulfillment or innovative new services.

• Bias for Action: A proactive approach to problem-solving and tool development, driving progress even with incomplete information.

• Invent and Simplify: Continuously seeking innovative ways to improve the 3D asset pipeline and simulation fidelity, while also simplifying complex processes.

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for the quality, performance, and scalability of the 3D assets and tools developed.

• Deliver Results: A focus on achieving tangible outcomes that directly support the goals of the Robotics Simulation team and Amazon Robotics.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with SDEs and Applied Scientists to understand their needs and ensure 3D assets and tools seamlessly integrate into their workflows.

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct and honest feedback, especially during the portfolio review and technical discussions, to foster continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing expertise on USD, 3D best practices, and emerging technologies with team members, particularly through mentorship.

• Process Improvement Culture: A willingness to iterate on workflows, tools, and standards based on feedback and performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's core Leadership Principles heavily influence its company culture. For this role, expect a culture that values deep technical expertise, data-driven decision-making, and a strong collaborative spirit within a fast-paced, innovative environment. The "Design Technologist" role inherently requires bridging creative and engineering cultures.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Design and Engineering: Effectively translating artistic vision and design requirements into technically robust, production-ready assets and pipelines that meet strict engineering standards.

• Scalability of Pipelines: Developing tools and workflows that can efficiently process a large volume of complex CAD data into high-fidelity USD assets for large-scale simulation.

• Integrating Emerging Tech: Successfully adopting and integrating rapidly evolving 3D technologies (e.g., Gaussian Splatting, generative AI) into established production workflows while maintaining stability and performance.

• Balancing Fidelity and Performance: Optimizing 3D assets for both visual/physics accuracy and real-time simulation performance, which often involves trade-offs.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring that the 3D assets and simulation environments meet the diverse and often highly technical requirements of Applied Scientists and SDEs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced 3D Techniques: Opportunities to become an expert in cutting-edge areas like neural rendering, generative 3D, and advanced simulation physics.

• Robotics & AI Integration: Deepen understanding of how 3D simulation directly impacts robot learning, control, and physical AI development.

• Pipeline Architecture: Gain experience in designing and implementing complex, scalable 3D asset pipelines, potentially leveraging cloud infrastructure.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership and teaching skills by mentoring junior team members and contributing to the team's technical growth.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Potential for participation in industry events and specialized training to stay abreast of the latest advancements in 3D technology and simulation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working at the intersection of advanced 3D art, engineering, and AI in a large tech company. The growth opportunities focus on becoming a leader in specialized technical domains and contributing to the forefront of robotics simulation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex CAD assembly you've worked with and how you approached converting it into a simulation-ready USD asset. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and USD specifics).

• "How would you design a pipeline for automating the generation of Level of Detail (LOD) models from high-poly CAD data? What tools and scripts would you consider?" (Tests pipeline design, automation, and technical knowledge).

• "Discuss a time you had to integrate a new or experimental 3D technology into a production workflow. What was your approach, and what were the results?" (Assesses innovation, adaptability, and risk management).

• "How do you ensure that visual fidelity and physics accuracy are maintained when optimizing 3D assets for real-time simulation?" (Probes understanding of trade-offs and technical execution). Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do your skills and experience align with Amazon's Leadership Principles, particularly 'Invent and Simplify' and 'Ownership'?" (Prepare specific examples).

• "Describe your experience collaborating with Software Development Engineers and Applied Scientists. How do you ensure effective communication and alignment?" (Focus on cross-functional teamwork).

• "What are your thoughts on the role of synthetic data in training robots, and how does high-fidelity 3D content contribute to its effectiveness?" (Tests understanding of the team's mission).

• "How do you approach setting and advocating for technical standards within a team?" (Assesses leadership and mentorship potential). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing a progression of skills. Use clear titles and concise descriptions.

• Highlight Your Role: For each project, explicitly state what you did. If it was a team effort, clarify your specific contributions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics. Did your optimization reduce load times by X%? Did your pipeline increase asset creation speed by Y%? Did improved collision geometry lead to fewer simulation failures?

• Demonstrate Technical Process: Be ready to discuss your workflow, the tools used, the specific scripts or code you wrote, and any challenges overcome in the technical implementation.

• Connect to Simulation: For every project, explain how it contributes to creating "simulation-ready" content or improving the overall simulation pipeline for robotics.

Challenge Preparation:

• Python Scripting: Practice writing Python scripts to manipulate 3D data (e.g., reading/writing common formats, basic mesh operations, file system operations).

• USD Structure: Be prepared to discuss or even sketch out how you would structure a complex scene in USD using references, variants, and payloads.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think about common issues in 3D pipelines (e.g., broken geometry, incorrect UVs, material mismatches) and how you would diagnose and fix them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions will likely probe both deep technical expertise in 3D and pipeline engineering, as well as an understanding of how this work contributes to the broader goals of Amazon Robotics. Preparing specific examples tied to Amazon's Leadership Principles and demonstrating a clear understanding of the simulation pipeline are critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal via the provided URL.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features projects that directly demonstrate your experience with CAD conversion, USD authoring, geometry optimization, pipeline development, and creating simulation-ready 3D assets. Tailor the project selection and descriptions to highlight relevance to robotics simulation.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 6+ years of experience in relevant technical roles. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "USD authoring," "Python," "CAD conversion," "pipeline engineering," "simulation," "robotics"). Quantify your achievements with specific metrics where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review Amazon's Leadership Principles and prepare specific examples from your career that illustrate them. Practice discussing your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on technical challenges, solutions, and impact. Be ready for technical questions on Python, USD, and 3D fundamentals.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's mission in robotics and AI, and understand the importance of simulation. Research the Robotics Simulation team's objectives and how your role contributes to them.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.