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Affective Computing Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Affective Computing information

What is the difference between Affective Computing vs Human-Computer Interaction Specialist?

AspectAffective ComputingHuman-Computer Interaction Specialist
Required CredentialsComputer science, psychology, AI certificationsComputer science, design, psychology degrees
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, AI startupsDesign firms, tech companies, research institutions
Industry UsageAI development, emotion recognition systemsUser experience design, interface development

While both roles involve understanding human behavior and technology, Affective Computing focuses on developing systems that recognize and respond to human emotions, often using AI and sensor data. Human-Computer Interaction Specialists design and improve user interfaces to enhance usability and user experience. The two fields overlap in understanding user needs but differ in their primary goals and technical focus.

What is affective computing?

Affective computing is a field within computer science and artificial intelligence that focuses on developing systems and devices capable of detecting, interpreting, and responding to human emotions. It combines knowledge from psychology, cognitive science, and engineering to enable computers to recognize emotional cues such as facial expressions, voice tone, and physiological signals. The goal of affective computing is to create more natural and effective interactions between humans and machines, improving user experience in areas like healthcare, education, and customer service.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Affective Computing Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Affective Computing Specialist, you need a strong foundation in computer science, machine learning, psychology, and data analysis, often supported by advanced degrees in related fields. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python or R), emotion recognition APIs, signal processing tools, and relevant certifications is common. Exceptional problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and communication skills set top professionals apart in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for accurately interpreting human emotions through technology and developing systems that effectively respond to users’ affective states.

How does an Affective Computing professional typically collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate emotion recognition technologies into products?

Affective Computing professionals often work closely with interdisciplinary teams that include software engineers, UX designers, psychologists, and data scientists. Their main responsibility is to bridge the gap between emotional intelligence algorithms and practical applications, ensuring that emotion recognition features are both accurate and user-friendly. Collaboration involves frequent meetings to discuss user needs, data collection protocols, and ethical considerations, as well as iterative testing and refinement of models within the product development cycle. This teamwork fosters innovative solutions but also requires strong communication skills and adaptability to balance technical possibilities with user experience.
What cities in New York are hiring for Affective Computing jobs? Cities in New York with the most Affective Computing job openings:
Infographic showing various Affective Computing job openings in New York as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, and 12% Remote job distribution.
Human-Robot Interaction Applied Scientist , Fauna

Human-Robot Interaction Applied Scientist , Fauna

Amazon

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,974 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

We are seeking a Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Applied Scientist to develop cutting-edge interactions that make robots feel alive, personal, and fun. In this role, you will focus on verbal and non-verbal conversational systems, social dynamics, memory, and long-term relationship formation between robots, their environments, and the people they interact with. Your contributions will be essential in advancing robotics by enabling expressive, socially intelligent, and trustworthy interactions between robots and humans.
Key job responsibilities
- Develop interactive systems that leverage large language models, multimodal inputs and outputs, reinforcement learning from human feedback, or other advanced techniques to achieve fluid, engaging, and socially appropriate robot behavior
- Design and implement intelligent conversational systems that handle turn-taking, grounding, interruption, and incorporates context drawn from a robot's physical environment and shared history with a user
- Integrate perceptual sensor streams including gaze, facial expression, gesture, posture, and more to understand social context and produce coherent, lifelike interactions.
- Develop memory and personalization systems that allow robots to form lasting relationships with individual users, learn their environments, and adapt their behavior over weeks and months
- Stay updated on advancements in HRI, NLP, multimodal AI, and cognitive and social science to apply cutting-edge techniques to robot interaction challenges
- Lead technical projects from conception through production deployment
- Mentor junior scientists and engineers
- Bridge research initiatives with practical engineering implementation
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD or equivalent research experience, or Master's degree and 6+ years of industry or academic research experience
- 3+ years of industry or academic research experience
- Strong publication record at major HRI/ML/AI/HCI conferences
- Experience designing, running, and analyzing user studies with real human participants
- Experience programming in Python or related language
- Demonstrated track record of leading technical projects
- Experience mentoring junior scientists/engineers
- Strong understanding of one or more of: dialogue systems, multimodal interaction, social signal processing, affective computing, or cognitive modeling
- Experience applying machine learning (LLMs, multimodal models, reinforcement learning, imitation learning, or related techniques) to interactive or socially situated systems
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- History of impactful first-author publications at major conferences
- Experience deploying interaction systems on physical robots or other embodied platforms
- Experience with LLM-based agents, tool use, planning, or grounding language in perception and action
- Experience with long-term memory, personalization, or user modeling for conversational agents
- History of technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration
- Experience bridging research with practical engineering implementation in robotics or consumer AI products
- Extensive programming skills in Python and PyTorch/JAX
- Experience integrating perception systems (e.g., vision, audio, and touch sensors) into interaction pipelines
- Familiarity with safety, privacy, and ethical considerations for socially interactive AI systems
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
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.
USA, NY, NEW YORK - 183,800.00 - 248,700.00 USD annually
USA, NY, New York - 183,800.00 - 248,700.00 USD annually

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About Amazon

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Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US