Senior UX Researcher, Connect Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher, Connect Design

Company: Amazon

Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States; Seattle, Washington, United States; New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: March 18, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end UX research programs for AI-native business applications within AWS, driving significant impact on product strategy and customer adoption.
• Conduct a broad spectrum of research methodologies, from rapid evaluative studies to in-depth foundational research, to de-risk product and design decisions.
• Partner closely with cross-functional teams including Design, Product Management, Engineering, and Applied Science to ensure customer evidence shapes both immediate priorities and long-term vision.
• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable recommendations that influence roadmaps, enhance usability, and build customer trust in innovative solutions.
• Contribute to the growth of the research practice by mentoring junior researchers and elevating research craft and impact across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Amazon Web Services (AWS), focusing on AI-native business applications. The "Connect Design" title suggests a focus on how users connect with and utilize these AI-powered tools, emphasizing the integration of design principles with user research outcomes. The emphasis on "de-risking product and design decisions" and "increasing confidence" highlights the strategic importance of this role in guiding product development and investment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive, end-to-end research programs across a designated product area, encompassing study design, participant recruitment, moderation, data analysis, synthesis, and the communication of findings to stakeholders.
• Execute a diverse range of research methodologies, including but not limited to: field research, ethnography, lab-based user testing, remote usability testing, paper prototype testing, iterative prototype testing, concept validation, and comprehensive survey design.
• Collaborate effectively with senior cross-functional stakeholders (Design, Product, Engineering, Applied Science) to inform product strategy, evaluate new concepts and prototypes, and identify opportunities for improving live customer experiences.
• Define and shape research plans for ambiguous and complex problem spaces, leveraging strong methodological judgment to select the most appropriate research approaches based on the decision context, product development stage, and associated risks.
• Proactively identify unmet customer needs, product gaps, potential adoption barriers, and trust issues early in the development lifecycle to help teams reduce ambiguity and de-risk strategic investments.
• Translate intricate research findings into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations that demonstrably improve product usability, drive customer adoption, foster trust, and elevate overall customer experience quality.
• Influence product roadmaps and prioritization decisions by ensuring customer evidence is consistently visible, credible, and actionable at critical junctures.
• Develop deep domain expertise within the product area through continuous study of customer workflows, competitive products, industry trends, and evolving AI capabilities.
• Mentor and guide junior UX researchers, contributing to the team's collective growth by raising the overall quality, consistency, and impact of research practices.
• Explore and implement innovative ways to leverage AI within the research and product development process to enhance speed, depth, or quality of insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of tactical execution and strategic influence. "End-to-end research programs" and "defining research plans for ambiguous problem spaces" indicate a need for autonomy and strategic thinking. The inclusion of "AI in the research and product development process" points to a forward-looking role, expecting candidates to be innovative in their approach to leveraging new technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of proven success and demonstrated impact in leading User Research projects from inception to completion.
• Extensive hands-on experience in a wide array of research methodologies, including: field research, ethnography, lab-based user testing, remote testing, paper prototype testing, iterative prototype testing, concept testing, and survey design.
• Demonstrated experience with all facets of the research process: study design, participant recruitment, moderation, data analysis, and comprehensive reporting.

Required Skills

• UX Research Leadership: Proven ability to lead complex, end-to-end UX research programs with significant impact.
• Methodological Expertise: Mastery across a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods (ethnography, interviews, usability testing, surveys, journey mapping, etc.).
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect research findings to product strategy, identify key business questions, and influence product roadmaps.
• Communication & Synthesis: Exceptional skill in synthesizing complex data into clear, compelling narratives and actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.
• Problem Solving: Aptitude for navigating ambiguity, defining research problems in complex spaces, and applying sound methodological judgment.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to build strong partnerships with Design, Product Management, Engineering, and Applied Science teams.

Preferred Skills

• Master's degree in Human Factors, HCDE, Cognitive Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience conducting UX research within a technical domain, such as software development, network development, or IT infrastructure.
• Experience conducting UX research in non-US markets, understanding cultural nuances and global user behaviors.
• Proven experience working within highly Agile or Scrum development environments, adapting research to fast-paced iterations.
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and their application in user-facing products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years" experience level combined with the expectation to "lead complex programs" and "shape the research approach for a broader problem space" suggests this is a senior-level individual contributor role with significant autonomy and strategic input. The emphasis on "methodological judgment" and "navigating ambiguity" points to candidates who can think critically and independently.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing a range of past work, including detailed study plans, comprehensive research reports, user personas, and journey maps.
• Highlight projects where research directly informed critical product or design decisions, leading to measurable improvements in user experience, adoption, or business outcomes.
• Present case studies that illustrate your ability to translate complex qualitative and quantitative findings into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

Process Documentation

• Showcase examples of well-structured research plans that clearly define objectives, hypotheses, methodologies, participant criteria, and analytical approaches.
• Provide samples of research reports that effectively synthesize findings, highlight key insights, and offer concrete, data-backed recommendations for product and design improvements.
• Illustrate your approach to documenting and communicating research findings in a way that is easily digestible and actionable for cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., using dashboards, presentations, or concise summaries).

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, as it will be the primary means of demonstrating practical experience and impact. Candidates should prepare to discuss specific projects in detail, focusing on their thought process, methodological choices, and the tangible outcomes of their research. The "AI-native" context suggests that showcasing experience with emerging technologies or complex systems within the portfolio would be advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range

• Sunnyvale, California: $167,400 - $226,500 USD annually
• New York, New York: $167,400 - $226,500 USD annually
• Seattle, Washington: $152,200 - $205,900 USD annually

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, prescription drug benefits, Basic Life & AD&D insurance, with options for supplemental life plans.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company matching to support long-term financial goals.
• Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off policy for work-life balance and personal well-being.
• Parental Leave: Support for new parents with comprehensive parental leave benefits.
• Additional Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage.
• Stock Options: Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of the overall compensation package, aligning employee success with company performance.

Working Hours

• Standard full-time workweek of approximately 40 hours, with flexibility expected to meet project demands and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are specific to the listed US locations, reflecting Amazon's tiered compensation structure based on cost of living and market demand. The comprehensive benefits package, including RSUs and extensive health/wellness support, is standard for senior roles at large tech companies like Amazon.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Software Development)

Company Size: Very Large (Over 1,000,000 employees globally)

Founded: 1994

Company Description: Amazon is a global leader in e-commerce, cloud computing (AWS), digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. The company is known for its relentless focus on customer obsession, innovation, and operational excellence. AWS, in particular, is a major driver of Amazon's growth, providing a broad range of scalable, reliable, and inexpensive cloud computing services.

Team Structure

• The UX Research team is likely embedded within product development groups, working closely with Design, Product Management, and Engineering.
• As a Senior UX Researcher, you will likely report to a UX Research Manager or a Director of UX/Design, with direct collaboration across multiple product teams.

Methodology

• Amazon's culture emphasizes data-driven decision-making and a strong customer focus. Research insights are critical for validating hypotheses and ensuring products meet customer needs.
• The approach to research is often pragmatic, balancing rigor with speed to inform fast-paced development cycles, particularly within Agile/Scrum frameworks.
• Innovation is a core tenet, encouraging experimentation and the exploration of new technologies like AI to enhance customer experiences and internal processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is characterized by its Leadership Principles, which guide decision-making and behavior. Candidates should familiarize themselves with these principles (e.g., Customer Obsession, Bias for Action, Dive Deep, Invent and Simplify) as they are integral to how teams operate and how performance is evaluated, especially relevant for a role influencing product direction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC)

This role is a senior-level individual contributor position. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead complex research initiatives independently. The focus is on driving impactful research outcomes rather than managing a team directly, though mentorship of junior researchers is a key expectation.

Reporting Structure

You will likely report to a UX Research Manager or a Director overseeing UX Research within the AWS product area. You will work closely with Senior Product Managers, Senior UX Designers, and Engineering Leads, forming a core product team.

Operations Impact

The research conducted in this role directly influences the development of AI-native business applications, impacting how businesses leverage cloud services. Your insights will be critical in shaping product strategy, ensuring customer adoption, and ultimately contributing to AWS's market leadership and revenue growth. The success of AI-native products hinges on their usability and perceived value, making this research role pivotal.

Growth Opportunities

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven product research, specific AWS services, or advanced research methodologies.
• Leadership: Transition into a Principal UX Researcher role, leading larger, more ambiguous research programs, or move into UX Research Management.
• Cross-functional Mobility: Potentially move into related roles in Product Management, Design Strategy, or Applied Science, leveraging deep customer understanding.
• Skill Development: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, participate in Amazon's internal training programs, and learn from world-class researchers and engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Connect Design" aspect and the focus on AI-native applications suggest a growth path into specialized areas of UX research that are at the forefront of technology. The ability to mentor and influence research practices also points towards potential leadership development within the research function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily on-site in Amazon's modern office spaces designed for collaboration.

Office Location(s)

• Sunnyvale, California
• Seattle, Washington

Workspace Context

• Amazon offices are typically equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to support research activities, including usability labs and collaboration spaces.
• The environment fosters a fast-paced, innovative culture where data-driven decisions and rapid iteration are common.
• Expect a high degree of collaboration with diverse teams, requiring effective communication and the ability to present findings clearly and persuasively.

Work Schedule

• The role is full-time, with standard working hours generally aligning with local business hours. However, the fast-paced nature of product development at Amazon may require flexibility to meet project deadlines, including occasional extended hours or weekend work if critical project milestones are approaching.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "on-site" nature and Amazon's emphasis on collaboration, candidates should be prepared for an environment that thrives on in-person interaction, although hybrid models are increasingly common in tech. The specific office locations are major tech hubs, offering a vibrant professional community.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process

• Recruiter Screen: Initial conversation to assess basic qualifications, interest, and fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, leadership capabilities, and alignment with the role's strategic objectives.
• Portfolio Review & Deep Dive: Presentation of selected research projects, focusing on methodology, insights, impact, and strategic thinking. This is a critical stage where you'll discuss your portfolio in detail.
• Bar Raiser Interview: An interview conducted by an Amazon employee outside the hiring team, focused on assessing alignment with Amazon's Leadership Principles and overall potential.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with potential collaborators (e.g., Senior UX Designers, Product Managers, Engineers) to assess collaboration style, communication, and domain understanding.
• Final Decision: Based on all feedback.

Portfolio Review Tips

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your end-to-end research leadership, methodological diversity, and demonstrable impact, particularly relevant to AI-native or complex business applications.
• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the methods used, key insights, the resulting decisions or actions, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved adoption, reduced friction, increased customer satisfaction). Quantify impact wherever possible.
• Showcase Thought Process: Be prepared to discuss why you chose specific methodologies, how you navigated challenges, and how your research influenced strategic direction.
• Structure for Clarity: Organize your presentation logically. Use visuals effectively to illustrate findings and processes. Ensure a clear narrative flow.
• Demonstrate Ambiguity Navigation: Highlight projects where you had to define research questions in unclear spaces or work with limited information.

Challenge Preparation

• While not always a formal "challenge," be prepared for behavioral questions related to the Leadership Principles and situational questions about complex research scenarios.
• Practice articulating your research process and impact concisely and compellingly.
• Research Amazon's AI initiatives and AWS's business application landscape to demonstrate informed interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Bar Raiser" interview is a unique Amazon process designed to maintain hiring standards. Understanding and preparing for this specific interview format is crucial. A strong portfolio that clearly demonstrates impact and strategic thinking is paramount for advancing in the Amazon hiring process for research roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools

• Research Platforms: Tools for remote usability testing, survey creation, and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, specialized internal tools).
• Collaboration Suites: Tools for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence).
• Data Analysis Software: Statistical software for quantitative analysis (e.g., SPSS, R, Python libraries) and qualitative analysis tools (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo, or internal equivalents).
• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools used by designers for prototyping (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to understand and test early-stage concepts.

Analytics & Reporting

• Data Visualization: Tools for creating clear and compelling data visualizations (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or internal Amazon visualization tools).
• Behavioral Analytics: Familiarity with tools that track user behavior on live products (e.g., Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, or internal AWS analytics platforms).

CRM & Automation

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how customer data is managed and utilized within CRMs (like Salesforce) or internal customer databases is beneficial for context.
• Familiarity with workflow automation concepts may be helpful, especially as the role involves improving processes and potentially leveraging AI for research efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon often uses proprietary internal tools for many functions, including research platforms and analytics. While candidates should highlight proficiency with industry-standard tools, they should also emphasize their ability to learn and adapt to new technologies quickly. The mention of "AI in the research and product development process" suggests an openness to exploring AI-powered research assistance tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values

• Customer Obsession: A relentless focus on understanding and meeting customer needs is paramount. Research must always be grounded in customer realities.
• Bias for Action: Amazon values speed and decisiveness. Researchers are expected to deliver timely, actionable insights to keep product development moving.
• Invent and Simplify: Encourage innovation and finding elegant solutions to complex problems, including in research methodologies and product design.
• Dive Deep: Thorough analysis and understanding of customer behavior and business context are critical for delivering credible insights.
• Ownership: Taking responsibility for research programs from start to finish and driving their impact.

Collaboration Style

• Highly collaborative and cross-functional. Researchers work in tight-knit teams with designers, product managers, and engineers.
• Emphasis on clear, direct communication and constructive feedback.
• Research findings are shared broadly to ensure alignment and inform decision-making across the product lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's Leadership Principles are the bedrock of its culture. Candidates should demonstrate how their work and approach align with these principles, particularly Customer Obsession, Bias for Action, and Invent and Simplify, as these directly relate to the responsibilities of a Senior UX Researcher.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges

• Balancing Speed and Rigor: Delivering high-quality, impactful research insights within Amazon's fast-paced development cycles.
• Navigating Ambiguity: Defining research questions and approaches in complex, evolving product spaces, particularly with new AI technologies.
• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively translating research findings into actionable changes and gaining buy-in from senior leaders and cross-functional partners.
• Scaling Research: Ensuring research efforts can keep pace with the rapid growth and expansion of AWS services and product offerings.
• Integrating AI: Exploring and implementing AI ethically and effectively within the research process and for the end products.

Learning & Development Opportunities

• Internal Training: Access to Amazon's extensive internal learning resources, workshops, and best practice sharing sessions for UX research and AI.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by and mentor other researchers, fostering professional growth.
• Industry Exposure: Encouragement to attend relevant industry conferences and participate in knowledge-sharing forums.
• Innovation Labs: Potential exposure to cutting-edge AI research and development within AWS.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic and demanding nature of the role, requiring adaptability, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal skills. The growth opportunities underscore Amazon's commitment to employee development, especially in cutting-edge fields like AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions

• "Tell me about a time you had to conduct research in a highly ambiguous product space. How did you define the problem, what methods did you use, and what was the impact?" (Focus on your approach to defining research questions and navigating uncertainty).
• "Describe a situation where your research findings contradicted initial product assumptions. How did you present this information, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare to showcase your ability to deliver difficult feedback constructively and influence decisions).

Company & Culture Questions

• "How do you embody Amazon's Leadership Principle of 'Customer Obsession' in your research practice?" (Prepare specific examples.)
• "Describe a time you had to 'Invent and Simplify' a research process or tool to achieve better outcomes." (Showcase innovation and efficiency.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy

• Project Selection: Choose projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, significant impact, and relevance to AI-native business applications.
• Narrative Arc: For each project, structure your story clearly: the business problem/opportunity, your research objectives, your methodology (and rationale), key insights, how these insights influenced decisions, and the measurable results.
• Data Visualization: Use clear, impactful visuals to present data and findings. Ensure they are easy to understand for a diverse audience.
• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, challenges faced, how you measured impact, and how you collaborated with cross-functional teams. Be prepared to discuss your thought process in detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing specific examples that directly map to Amazon's Leadership Principles is critical. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase not just your research skills but also your strategic thinking and ability to drive tangible business outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience with complex product areas, AI-related technologies, and end-to-end research leadership. Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases impact and strategic contributions.
• Resume Optimization: Integrate keywords such as "UX Research," "AI-native," "foundational research," "ethnography," "product strategy," and "cross-functional collaboration" naturally throughout your resume, focusing on quantifiable achievements.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process and impact using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), with a strong emphasis on outcomes. Prepare to discuss your approach to navigating ambiguity and influencing stakeholders.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Amazon's Leadership Principles, AWS's current AI initiatives, and the broader landscape of cloud-based business applications to demonstrate your understanding and strategic alignment.

⚠️ 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.