Sr. UX Researcher, Applied AI Solutions

Amazon Web Services (AWS); Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

RSUs

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc. in Arlington/Herndon area seeks a Senior UX Researcher to shape AI-native business applications.

You will lead high-impact studies that uncover customer needs, evaluate concepts, and improve live experiences, partnering with Design, Product, Engineering, and Applied Science to inform near-term decisions and long-term direction. You will mentor junior researchers, guide research programs, and translate findings into clear recommendations that influence

Qualifications

• 5+ years of proven success leading User Research projects with demonstrated impact.
• Experience with field research, ethnography, lab-based user testing, remote testing, and surveys.
• Portfolio with study plans, reports, and personas.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end research programs, including study design, recruitment, moderation, analysis, synthesis, and reporting.
• Conduct rapid evaluative studies and foundational interviews, diaries, and mixed-methods programs.
• Partner with senior cross-functional stakeholders to inform product strategy and improve live experiences.
• Define plans for ambiguous problem spaces and choose the right research approach.
• Identify unmet customer needs, adoption barriers, and trust issues early to reduce risk.
• Translate findings into actionable recommendations that improve usability and trust.
• Influence roadmaps by making customer evidence visible and credible at key moments.
• Build deep domain expertise through ongoing study of workflows, competitors, and trends.
• Mentor junior researchers and raise research quality and impact across the team.
• Explore thoughtful AI applications in research and product development to improve speed and depth.

Skills

UX Research

User Research

Qualitative research

Quantitative data analysis

Field research

Ethnography

Moderation

Study design

Recruiting

Survey design

Education

Bachelor's degree in HCDE, Human Factors, Cognitive Psychology or related field

Master's degree in Human Factors, HCDE, Cognitive Psychology or equivalent

Job description

DescriptionWe are seeking a Senior UX Researcher to help shape the future of AI-native business applications at AWS. In this role, you will lead high-impact research across a product area, helping teams understand customer needs, evaluate emerging concepts, and improve live experiences. Your work will reduce ambiguity, de-risk product and design decisions, and increase confidence that we are building solutions customers will adopt, trust, and find valuable.

DescriptionWe are seeking a Senior UX Researcher to help shape the future of AI-native business applications at AWS. In this role, you will lead high-impact research across a product area, helping teams understand customer needs, evaluate emerging concepts, and improve live experiences. Your work will reduce ambiguity, de-risk product and design decisions, and increase confidence that we are building solutions customers will adopt, trust, and find valuable.
You will partner closely with Design, Product, Engineering, and Applied Science to ensure customer evidence informs both near-term product decisions and longer-term direction. You will lead tactical and foundational research in ambiguous spaces, apply strong methodological judgment, and translate complex findings into clear recommendations that influence roadmaps, priorities, and customer outcomes.
This role is a strong fit for a researcher who can independently lead complex programs, shape the research approach for a broader problem space, and raise the quality of decision-making through credible, actionable insight.

Key job responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end research programs across a product area, including study design, recruitment, moderation, analysis, synthesis, and communication of findings
• Drive a broad range of research, from rapid evaluative studies to foundational interviews, surveys, diary studies, journey research, and mixed-methods programs
• Partner with senior cross-functional stakeholders to inform product strategy, evaluate concepts and prototypes, and improve live customer experiences
• Define research plans for ambiguous problem spaces and use strong methodological judgment to select the right approach for the decision, product stage, and level of risk
• Help teams reduce ambiguity and de-risk investments by identifying unmet customer needs, product gaps, adoption barriers, and trust issues early
• Translate research findings into clear recommendations that improve usability, adoption, trust, and overall customer experience quality
• Influence roadmaps and prioritization by ensuring customer evidence is visible, credible, and actionable at the right moments
• Build deep domain expertise through ongoing study of customer workflows, prototypes, competitive products, and industry trends
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to raising the quality, consistency, and impact of research across the team
• Explore thoughtful ways to use AI in the research and product development process where it improves speed, depth, or quality

About The Team

The AWS Applied AI Solutions team is at the forefront of AI innovation, designing and building the next generation of intelligent business applications. We work closely with global Product, Engineering, Science, Marketing, and Business Development teams to deliver compelling AI-powered experiences that transform how businesses operate. Our research team plays a critical role in ensuring these AI solutions are not just technically advanced, but truly meet customer needs and drive meaningful business outcomes.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of proven success leading User Research projects with demonstrated impact experience
• 5+ years of hands-on work with: field research, ethnography, lab-based user testing, remote testing, paper prototype testing, iterative prototype testing, concept testing, and survey design experience
• Bachelor's degree in HCDE, Human Factors, Cognitive Psychology, or a related field
• Experience in leading User Research projects with demonstrated impact
• Experience with field research, ethnography, lab-based user testing, remote testing, paper prototype testing, iterative prototype testing, concept testing, and survey design
• Experience with all aspects of research (study design, recruiting, moderation, analysis, reporting)
• Experience with behavioral data collection, quantitative data analysis, and statistics
• Have a portfolio demonstrating past work experience and deliverables (e.g., study plans, reports, personas)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Factors, HCDE, Cognitive Psychology or equivalent
• Experience in a technical field (software development, network development, IT, other related)
• Experience with UX Research in non-US markets
• Experience working in a highly Agile/Scrum environment

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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, CA, Sunnyvale - 167,400.00 - 226,500.00 USD annually

USA, NY, New York - 167,400.00 - 226,500.00 USD annually

USA, VA, Arlington - 152,200.00 - 205,900.00 USD annually

USA, VA, Herndon - 152,200.00 - 205,900.00 USD annually

USA, WA, Seattle - 152,200.00 - 205,900.00 USD annually

Company

Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc.

Job ID: A10542004