Amazon Data Scientist Internship: A Complete Guide (2024)

In this article

  • What does an intern at Amazon do?
  • What is the process to get a data science internship at Amazon?
  • Are interns working in data science at Amazon paid?
  • What’s it like to be an intern in data science at Amazon?

Amazon offers some of the technology industry’s most coveted and highly paid internships, many of which lead to permanent, full-time positions. Read on to learn more about Amazon’s data science internships and how to get a foot in the door.

Amazon accepted more than 8,000 interns in 2020, of which 8% were in data science and applied science. As one of the biggest data-driven companies in the world, its need for data science specialists rivals the likes of Facebook, Google, Apple, and Netflix—it employs data scientists, machine learning engineers, and data engineers across its retail business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), its virtual assistant Alexa, its production studios, and in the management of its growing workforce, which includes both technical workers and those who keep its supply chain running.

The company offers internships in two main tracks: technical engineering and research and business.

  • The former encompasses areas such as software development, hardware development, applied science, product development, data science, and research science
  • The latter includes operations management, sales and marketing, product management, program management, and retail/consumer leadership

Amazon boasts that its interns get to work on projects that actually see the light of day, whether it’s a customer-facing product like building new features for Amazon.com, or an internal product for improving the order fulfillment process. It also promotes that every intern is paired with a mentor and a manager to guide their development over the course of the internship and that supplemental training is offered in the form of classroom education and self-service resources.

What does an intern at Amazon do?

The skills and experience levels of data science interns vary depending on the kind of internship undertaken. For example, in a listing for a data science intern, Amazon requires that candidates be pursuing a Master’s or equivalent advanced degree from a top-tier technology school, with preferred qualifications in computer science, computer engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical discipline. A separate listing for a research scientist in its robotics division requires that candidates have a similar background to that of its data science applicants, in addition to enrollment in a Ph.D. program and at least two years of relevant academic research experience.

As far as minimum qualifications go, though, data science interns are expected to be familiar with programming languages such as SQL, Python, and Java, and scripting languages such as PHP or Perl. A knack for algorithm analysis, computational complexity, and creative problem-solving also doesn’t hurt.

With a sufficient technical foundation, Amazon’s data science interns are thrust into the deep end and work on real-world projects. When Na Zhang was an Amazon intern on the machine learning team, she worked on deep neural networks to identify fraudulent transactions and got to see first-hand how a company as large as Amazon handles terabytes of data and makes its systems more scalable. Boris Marchenko, who has worked alongside interns at Amazon, said that interns contribute directly to the main codebase and that, in addition to conducting their own research, they’re expected to implement their findings.

“We have two goals for our interns,” said Xin Luna Dong, a principal scientist at Amazon. “One is that they publish their work in top-tier conferences, and the other is that their work will eventually make it into production.”

According to Dong, eight out of ten of the 2019 intern projects resulted in a published research paper, and five of those projects have moved toward production.

Other common responsibilities of Amazon’s data science interns include using data analyses and statistical techniques to help the company guide its decision making, assisting in forecasting and prediction, collaborating with multiple teams while leading quantitative analysis in the development of solutions, and analyzing and solving business problems at their root.

What is the process to get a data science internship at Amazon?

Landing an internship at Amazon requires showing the application reviewers that you have both the technical chops to handle database querying challenges and the right attitude to deliver on its 14 leadership principles.

Below are steps to follow that can bring you closer to an Amazon internship.

  • Step 1: Build on your skills.

A baseline requirement for qualified applicants is knowledge of programming languages such as SQL or Python, and some experience in solving analytical problems using quantitative approaches (or equivalent). If your prior degree-program didn’t help you develop these skills, or you’re rusty, consider doing a refresher through independent study or a mentor-supported bootcamp.

  • Step 2: Build that CV and portfolio

While Amazon’s internship program lists many preferred qualifications, a strong CV and accompanying portfolio will help hiring managers see whether you have the drive and initiative to solve problems and complete projects. If you’ve contributed to research or worked with professors or graduate students on projects, share it. If you’ve worked on your own projects by wrangling publicly available data sets, document it.

Aashish Jain, an Amazon research scientist who initially landed a job at Amazon as a data scientist, said that during his application process, hiring managers were interested not only in what skills he had, they wanted to get a sense of how he approached problem-solving by looking at his prior projects.

“They look at how you would work if you were given a problem,” Jain said. “They also want to know what you have done in the past because that tells them about your problem-solving skills.”

While Jain was interviewing for a full-time role instead of an internship, the same principle applies—if you’re competing against thousands of applicants for a role, a strong portfolio will set your application apart.

  • Step 3: Consider the leadership principles

Amazon takes its 14 leadership principles seriously. In addition to evangelizing them within the organization, the principles—which include customer obsession, ownership, learning and being curious, insisting on the highest standards, thinking big, and diving deep—also come up during the hiring process, according to current and former interns and employees. When choosing projects and case studies to include in a portfolio, consider how they demonstrate an understanding or a practice of the 14 leadership principles. When preparing for the internship interview itself, consider how your responses and the narrative you craft about yourself and your experiences best reflect those principles.

  • Step 4: Shine in the interview

If you make it to the first general interview, which is typically conducted over the phone, then you want to be prepared on multiple fronts: showing that you are deeply familiar with and understand Amazon’s mission and a suite of products, and being able to discuss your background and previous work.

If you make it to subsequent rounds, expect to be tested on your technical skills—former interns have had to use SQL and Python to provide solutions to product analytics questions, and have also been tested on their knowledge of statistics, architecting machine learning solutions, and architecting A/B testing solutions. You can also expect behavioral questions related to the leadership principles.

Are interns working in data science at Amazon paid?

Amazon interns are among the most highly paid in the technology industry. The median monthly intern salary is $7,725, according to Glassdoor.

Given that “frugality” is one of the company’s leadership principles, though, Amazon offers fewer perks and benefits than some of its competitors. Former interns have shared that they received a housing stipend and, for those who work from the company’s Seattle campus, a transportation card. Beyond that, most of the benefits are related to career development and training, with the company hosting intern-specific events, offering formal training opportunities, and a supportive team environment.

What’s it like to be an intern in data science at Amazon?

The experience of being a data science intern varies depending on the team with which an intern works. That said, data science interns at Amazon commonly report that they get to work on projects that end up going into production. For example, Meghana Palukuri, a Ph.D. student in computational science, engineering, and mathematics said that during her internship at Amazon, she delved deeper into natural language processing, and for her project, she built a product embedding space for making substitute product recommendations. During the company’s Alexa Skills Hackathon, Palukuri also worked with four other interns to build an “intern chat” for Alexa to enhance the pre-onboarding experience for future interns.

Amazon interns also get access to a variety of workshops that are relevant to their disciplines, can attend panels and speaker series that are also attended by full-time employees, and are encouraged to connect with fellow interns in their cohorts to establish a sense of community.

“I built connections with other interns, listened to their experiences during the internship, and learned about the research projects they were working on both at university and Amazon,” said Alesia Chernikova, who was an Amazon intern in 2020. “It was beneficial for me to look at things not only from the inside, but also understand it from the perspectives of others.”

Since you’re here…Are you a future data scientist? Investigate with our free step-by-step guide to getting started in the industry. When you’re ready to build a CV that will make hiring managers melt, join our 4-week Data Science Prep Course or our Data Science Bootcamp—you’ll get a job in data science or we’ll refund your tuition.

Amazon Data Scientist Internship: A Complete Guide (2024)

FAQs

Are Amazon internships hard to get? ›

With fingers in many pies, Amazon has something for everyone, allowing you to work alongside top industry professionals and get the chance to accelerate and grow your career. Luckily, the process of getting a spot on their internship programme isn't as difficult as you might have thought.

Is an Amazon internship prestigious? ›

One of the most common paths into the company is via Amazon's extensive internship program. Ranked as the 5th Most Prestigious Internship by Vault.com, the Amazon program offers opportunities to students interested in software engineering, data science, product management, human resources, sales, and much more.

How much does a data scientist make at Amazon? ›

The average base salary of an Amazon data scientist is $127,000, with cash bonuses and stock options bringing the total compensation closer to $185,000, according to the Salary Project.

How do I prepare for a data science internship? ›

5 Tips to Finding Your First Data Science Internship
  1. Acquire the right skills. As a data scientist, you're expected to possess a variety of complex skills. ...
  2. Customize each data science application. ...
  3. Create a portfolio. ...
  4. Practicing for interviews is crucial. ...
  5. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback.
Dec 3, 2020

Do Amazon interns get laptops? ›

Day 1 (May 27, 2019): New Hire Orientation

You receive your company laptop and other equipment, take your badge photo and get your badge at the end of the day, and sit through an orientation presentation (with free breakfast and lunch provided by Gourmondo).

How many interns does Amazon hire every year? ›

The record says that Amazon doesn't abide by every year for hiring interns. But, they usually opt for more than 5,000 every year. 2020 was indeed an unusual year in the history of the last 100 years. Besides several drawbacks, the year produced a unique advantage too.

What is Amazon's acceptance rate? ›

Fewer than 2% of applicants get hired at Amazon.

If you're wondering how to get a job at Amazon, the key is preparation.

Does Amazon provide housing for interns? ›

As an Amazon intern, he pays $500 for housing, which includes biweekly housekeeping, breakfast and dinner Monday through Friday and a free bus pass.

Which company internship is best? ›

  • #1. NASA Research Internship Program. SCORE 9.399. ...
  • #2. Google Internship Program. SCORE 9.381. ...
  • #3. Apple Summer Internship Program. SCORE 9.334. ...
  • #4. Microsoft Engineering Internships. SCORE 8.992. ...
  • #5. Goldman Sachs Global Summer Internship. ...
  • #6. Tesla Internship Program. ...
  • #7. SpaceX Internship Program. ...
  • #8. J.P. Morgan Internship Programs.

Is Amazon a good company to work for as a data scientist? ›

Amazon is considered one of the top workplaces for data scientists, offering both competitive salaries and exciting opportunities to shape products and services used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

What level is data scientist II at Amazon? ›

Data Scientist II - Search Science and AI (Level 5)

Is data scientist highest paying job? ›

The average salary for a data scientist is Rs. 698,412 per year. With less than a year of experience, an entry-level data scientist can make approximately 500,000 per year. Data scientists with 1 to 4 years of experience may expect to earn about 610,811 per year.

How do I get a data science internship with no experience? ›

If you're interested in getting a data science internship, but have no prior experience, it's key to play to your strengths and show that you're eager to learn. You can search for data science internships on Handshake to first get a feel of the requirements that they usually list for their interns.

How do I get my first data science internship? ›

Tips on applying
  1. Apply in advance. Internships can be competitive, so it's helpful to make a good first impression by applying well in advance of the deadline. ...
  2. Apply to more than one internship. ...
  3. Create a portfolio. ...
  4. Lean into your network. ...
  5. Get a recommendation letter ready. ...
  6. Fine-tune your resume and cover letter.
Jun 22, 2022

What can I expect at a data science intern interview? ›

You should expect them to ask about your interest in the role and company, why you think you'd be a good fit, and questions related to your past experiences. In the rare case, you may also be asked one or two simple technical questions.

Do we need to return laptop after internship? ›

No. Like any employee, these are returned on their last day.

What is the onboarding process for Amazon? ›

Unlike other companies where onboarding takes place after the employee joins on the first day, Amazon conducts pre-employment onboarding. The amazon email access, employee credentials, and important documents are sent to the employees before they even enter the door.

What is SDE intern in Amazon? ›

Our interns write real software and collaborate with a select group of experienced software development engineers (SDEs) who guide interns on projects that matter to our customers. As an intern, you will be matched to a manager and a mentor.

How long is your internship Amazon? ›

Types of Internships at Amazon India

Most internship last for a duration of 3 weeks and a lot of recruitment for the company comes from pre-placement offer extended to the interns.

What interview questions does Amazon ask? ›

Top 3 Amazon interview questions
  • What would you do if you found out your closest friend at work was stealing? ...
  • Describe your most difficult customer and how you handled it. ...
  • Tell me about a time you were 75 percent through a project and had to pivot quickly. ...
  • Behavioral questions. ...
  • Leadership questions.

How many interns does Amazon hire every summer? ›

We're talking 10,000 interns from 45 countries, each eager to kickstart their career with an Amazon internship.

Is it hard to get hired at Amazon? ›

Getting a job at Amazon is very competitive and it can be quite a challenge to earn the position you are aiming for. However, there are over 20,000 job positions available with the giant company and it is definitely possible to land your dream job.

Are Amazon interviews hard? ›

Amazon's interview process can be grueling. However, the good news is that it's fairly consistent. Because we know the structure of the interview beforehand, it makes it much easier to prepare and minimizes surprises.

What percentage of Amazon applicants get an interview? ›

How To Nail Your Next Tech Interview. Popularly known as “the Loop”, Amazon's on-site interview process consists of a series of interview rounds that test your core technical skills. Since only 3% of candidates get through these rounds, doing thorough on-site interview preparation is necessary.

Do all Amazon interns get paid the same? ›

The typical Amazon Intern salary is $25 per hour. Intern salaries at Amazon can range from $1 - $182 per hour. This estimate is based upon 314 Amazon Intern salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.

Does Amazon pay for relocation for interns? ›

Interns receive competitive pay. (Amazon recently ranked No. 5 on Glassdoor's highest paid internships.) Interns working in the hybrid model also receive a paid relocation stipend to spend during the 12-16 weeks (on average) in their internship's city.

Where do Amazon employees live? ›

According to an employee survey, more than 70% of Amazon employees live in the city of Seattle, so biking is a popular option.

What is the highest paying internship? ›

The 25 highest-paying internships in 2022, ranked
  • An engaging gig. Google. ...
  • Charged up. Getty Images. ...
  • Security shift. Palo Alto Networks. ...
  • PayPal perks. PayPal. ...
  • Big-Citi life. Getty Images. ...
  • Team Morgan. J.P. Morgan. ...
  • The eBay way. eBay. ...
  • On the money. BlackRock.
May 27, 2022

Is IBM internship good? ›

Great Internship Program

I recently completed an internship with IBM and I loved it! Although it was completely virtual, the HR team made sure to host plenty of events for us and ensured the onboarding process went smoothly. I also really liked the project I worked on!

How competitive are internships? ›

Statistics show that 65% of students that land a job as fresher had at least 2 internships on their Resume. Also, 70% of students who do an internship, usually get hired as full-time employees.

Do Amazon hire data scientist? ›

Amazon is referred to as one of the top companies for data scientists, offering both handsome salaries and exciting career opportunities. Read on to learn how to get onboard as a data scientist at Amazon. The demand for data scientists is growing unprecedently across the world.

Which is easy data science or AWS? ›

AWS training Services are easier to manage since data centers do not need to be maintained. Using operating systems, programming models, and databases that are already widely known to companies and startups. AWS training a hybrid solution to multiple problems.

Do data scientists get bonuses? ›

The average bonus for a Senior Data Scientist is $18,132 which represents 12% of their salary, with 80% of people reporting that they receive a bonus each year. Senior Data Scientists make the most in San Francisco, CA at $171,514, averaging total compensation 13% greater than the US average.

What does a data scientist at Amazon do? ›

They may write programs, apply machine learning techniques to create models, and develop new algorithms. Data scientists not only understand the problem but can also build a tool that provides solutions to the problem. It's not unusual to find business analysts and data scientists working on the same team.

How much does a senior data scientist at Amazon make? ›

The average Amazon Senior Data Scientist earns $164,114 annually, which includes a base salary of $125,296 with a $38,818 bonus. This total compensation is $34,903 more than the US average for a Senior Data Scientist.

How much does a senior research scientist at Amazon make? ›

The typical Amazon Senior Research Scientist salary is $166,300 per year. Senior Research Scientist salaries at Amazon can range from $142,251 - $296,980 per year. This estimate is based upon 28 Amazon Senior Research Scientist salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.

Is data scientist a stressful job? ›

To put it in a precise manner, Data analysis is a difficult task. Amongst all else, the colossal volume of work, deadline constraints, and job demand from multiple sources and levels of management make a data scientist job stressful.

Do Google hire data scientist? ›

At Google, data scientists may be hired on one of several job ladders. If your talent skews toward the engineering side, you may want to pursue the standard software engineer track and ask for a more analytical role — if it skews towards numbers, you may want to pursue the quantitative analyst track.

Who earns more data scientist or CA? ›

According to TeamLease, a staffing solutions company, data scientists with around 5 years' experience are earning over 75 lakh per annum as compared to 8-15 lakh for CAs and 5-8 lakh for engineers with the same experience level.

Can I become a data scientist as a fresher? ›

Data science communities can be a good stepping stone for freshers. You can discover new ideas, showcase your projects, learn from experts, and even find new job opportunities.

Is it easy to get job after data science? ›

Short answer: Not so easy!

After quite a bit of struggle and several rejections, finally, I was able to get some positive responses for my applications. I will talk about those stressful months of job search and how I was able to find a job.

Is it easy to get job in data science? ›

While it is relatively hard to get a data science job, it might be easier to get a job as a business analyst or data analyst in an analytics company. I would suggest taking any job relating to analysis or reporting or something related to data.

How do I become a Google data science intern? ›

What is the process to get a data science internship at Google?
  1. Step 1: Build on your skills. ...
  2. Step 2: Build that CV and portfolio. ...
  3. Step 3: Think about your “Googleyness” ...
  4. Step 4: Shine in the interview.
Jul 8, 2020

Do interns get paid? ›

Pay. You'll notice that many internships opt to pay an hourly wage or salary. But you might also find some that pay weekly or monthly stipends. The average hourly wage of an intern tends to fall between $15.67 and $19.51 for freshmen and seniors in college, respectively.

Why should you be hired for data science internship? ›

I have a good foundation of knowledge of all the required subjects. Though I may be a fresher, I am a very quick learner and also I am highly trainable. These two skills allow me to learn new techniques, skills very fast and they also help me to adjust in quickly.

How do I prepare for a data science internship? ›

5 Tips to Finding Your First Data Science Internship
  1. Acquire the right skills. As a data scientist, you're expected to possess a variety of complex skills. ...
  2. Customize each data science application. ...
  3. Create a portfolio. ...
  4. Practicing for interviews is crucial. ...
  5. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback.
Dec 3, 2020

Are data science interviews hard? ›

Data science interviews can be particularly difficult due to the many proficiencies that you'll have to demonstrate (technical skills, problem solving, communication) and the generally high bar to entry for the industry.

How do I crack Amazon Applied science interview? ›

Amazon Data Scientist Interview Prep | Interview Coach - YouTube

What is Amazon's acceptance rate? ›

Fewer than 2% of applicants get hired at Amazon.

If you're wondering how to get a job at Amazon, the key is preparation.

What are the most prestigious internships? ›

  • #1. NASA Research Internship Program. SCORE 9.399. ...
  • #2. Google Internship Program. SCORE 9.381. ...
  • #3. Apple Summer Internship Program. SCORE 9.334. ...
  • #4. Microsoft Engineering Internships. SCORE 8.992. ...
  • #5. Goldman Sachs Global Summer Internship. ...
  • #6. Tesla Internship Program. ...
  • #7. SpaceX Internship Program. ...
  • #8. J.P. Morgan Internship Programs.

What does an Amazon SDE intern do? ›

Collaborate with experienced cross-disciplinary Amazonians to conceive, design, and bring innovative products and services to market. Design and build innovative technologies in a large distributed computing environment, and help lead fundamental changes in the industry.

How difficult is Facebook internship? ›

It's no secret that the Facebook Internship program is incredibly prestigious. It pays double what other internships do and it's 10x as hard to get into. Securing a full-time offer after that is a whole different story! The competitive nature of this program is evident around every corner.

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