Design Technologist, Advertising UX, Design Systems

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Technologist, Advertising UX, Design Systems

Company: Amazon

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Technology / UX Engineering

Date Posted: April 30, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive innovation in the design system tooling for Amazon Advertising by developing AI-based ecosystems and advanced prototyping solutions.

• Bridge the gap between design and development by creating and maintaining web/native applications, services, and plugins that streamline workflows.

• Enhance the efficiency and quality of advertiser experience design by democratizing UX resources and automating inefficiencies through cutting-edge technology.

• Collaborate within a cross-functional team to ensure design intent translates into scalable, user-centered tools and services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Amazon's Advertiser User Experience (AUX) team, specifically focusing on the "Storm" design system. The core function of a Design Technologist here is to build tools and infrastructure that empower designers and developers to create consistent, on-brand advertiser experiences at scale, with a significant emphasis on integrating AI/ML capabilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, design, and deliver tooling solutions for the Storm design system to support a global user base of designers and developers.

• Develop AI-based ecosystems, including AI-powered writing guidelines and research agents, to accelerate product design and integrate customer feedback.

• Create and maintain new web/native-based applications, services, and plugins for design applications like Figma.

• Establish connections to 1st and 3rd party APIs/endpoints, ensuring robust functionality and seamless integration.

• Document and present technical solutions and workflow improvements to streamline transitions between design and engineering teams.

• Rapidly build and iterate on functional prototypes that accurately express design intent, utilizing appropriate tools and techniques.

• Translate design intent into working code, identifying and addressing usability issues to maintain high design quality.

• Partner with engineering teams to ensure interactive techniques and technologies are scalable and robust.

• Collaborate with design and research teams to create realistic prototypes for customer testing.

• Lead large-impact Design Technologist projects, potentially spanning multiple product areas or site sections.

• Set direction and lead teams in ambiguous environments, fostering innovation and problem-solving.

• Evaluate and document new creative and engineering standards or patterns emerging from DT work.

• Effectively present work and strategic proposals to all levels of leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of technical development (web/native apps, APIs, plugins), AI/ML integration (LLMs, agents), design system tooling, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on "leading large, wide impact DT projects" and "setting direction in the face of ambiguity" suggests a need for strong initiative, strategic thinking, and leadership potential, even if not explicitly a management role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent technical field, or 4+ years of relevant technical work experience.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of front-end technologist, engineer, or UX prototyper experience.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in front-end development with proficiency in programming languages such as React and TypeScript.

• Demonstrated ability to create end-to-end, user-centered design solutions and patterns across desktop and mobile devices, evidenced by an online portfolio or work samples.

• Experience with web, mobile web, and mobile app development, including both front-end and back-end capabilities (e.g., building APIs, services, cloud-based applications).

• Proficiency with design tools, specifically Figma, and modern front-end frameworks like React.

• Experience building applications that integrate Large Language Models (LLMs), AI/ML APIs, or agentic workflows.

• Strong UX intuition and ability to interpret design intent, identify usability issues, and ensure design quality.

Preferred Skills:

• TypeScript experience.

• Familiarity with agentic frameworks such as Strands Agents.

• Experience developing Figma Plugins and leveraging REST APIs.

• Knowledge of Kiro skills, powers, and agents.

• Experience using a metrics-driven approach to build, test, and iterate on AI agents, complex skills/steering files, or MCP servers.

• Proficiency in leveraging emerging AI tools and techniques to create novel solutions.

• Experience with documentation and presentation of technical solutions to diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a strong foundation in front-end development and UX principles, with a significant leaning towards modern JavaScript ecosystems (React, TypeScript) and design tooling (Figma). The inclusion of LLMs, AI/ML APIs, and agentic workflows points to a forward-looking role that requires hands-on experience with emerging AI technologies. The preference for specific Amazon internal tools (Strands Agents, Kiro) suggests a need for adaptability and a willingness to learn proprietary systems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate experience in creating great end-to-end, user-centered design solutions and patterns across desktop and mobile devices.

• Showcase functional prototypes that express design intent, highlighting the tools and techniques used.

• Provide examples of web/native applications, services, or plugins developed, detailing their purpose and impact.

• Include case studies that illustrate the integration of AI/ML capabilities or agentic workflows into user-facing applications.

Process Documentation:

• Document the design and development process for tooling solutions, from concept to delivery.

• Illustrate how workflows were streamlined or automated through the developed tools, quantifying efficiency gains where possible.

• Showcase the iterative process of building and testing prototypes, including user feedback integration.

• Detail the collaboration process with engineering and design teams to ensure successful implementation and adoption of solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this Design Technologist role, the portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase finished products but also the process behind them, particularly how design intent was translated into functional code, how AI/ML was integrated, and how prototypes were used for testing. Quantifiable improvements in efficiency or design quality resulting from the candidate's work will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $131,800 - $178,300 USD annually for Seattle, Washington.

Benefits:

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

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

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

• Medical Advice Line for health consultations.

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

• Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and parental leave policies.

• Sign-on payments and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of the total compensation package.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to Seattle, WA, and aligns with mid-level tech roles in major metropolitan areas. The extensive benefits package offered by Amazon is standard for large tech companies, with a notable inclusion of adoption/surrogacy reimbursement and stock units, which are common components of total compensation for mid-to-senior level tech roles. The mention of "40 hours" is a baseline; actual hours may vary based on project demands, a common characteristic of fast-paced tech environments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Cloud Computing, Digital Advertising, Artificial Intelligence, Consumer Electronics.

Company Size: Amazon is a multinational technology company with over 1.5 million employees worldwide, operating across numerous sectors.

Founded: 1994. Amazon has a long history of innovation, customer obsession, and a drive to invent and simplify.

Team Structure:

• The Advertiser User Experience (AUX) team is the strategic design center for Amazon Ads, composed of designers, technologists, researchers, front-end engineers, and program managers.

• This role is within the "Storm" design system team, a specialized unit within AUX focused on foundational UX, guidelines, and the design system itself.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasizes using customer feedback and metrics to inform design decisions and validate solutions.

• Customer Obsession: A core Amazon principle, ensuring all products and services are built with the end-user (advertisers, in this case) in mind.

• Invent and Simplify: A continuous drive to innovate and create efficient, scalable solutions.

• AI/ML Integration: A strategic focus on leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance capabilities and automate processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is characterized by its "Leadership Principles," such as Customer Obsession, Invent and Simplify, and Bias for Action. For operations and technology roles, this translates to a fast-paced, results-oriented environment where individuals are expected to take initiative, solve complex problems, and contribute to scalable solutions that impact millions of users. The AUX team's specific focus on advertiser experience means a deep dive into the needs of businesses using Amazon's advertising platforms.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Design Technologist. It involves significant individual contribution, leading specific projects, and influencing technical direction within the design system team. It's a step beyond junior roles, requiring independent problem-solving and the ability to mentor or guide others in technical execution.

Reporting Structure: The Design Technologist will report to a manager within the Advertiser User Experience (AUX) team, likely a Design Lead, Engineering Manager, or Program Manager. They will work closely with UX Designers, Front-End Engineers, Researchers, and Product Managers.

Operations Impact: The Design Technologist's work directly impacts the efficiency, consistency, and quality of advertiser experiences across Amazon Ads. By building and scaling the Storm design system's tooling, they enable thousands of designers and developers to create better products faster, ultimately influencing advertiser satisfaction, campaign performance, and Amazon's advertising revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI/ML integration, agentic workflows, front-end architecture, or design system tooling.

• Leadership Development: Progress to Senior Design Technologist roles, leading larger initiatives, mentoring junior team members, and influencing strategic technical decisions.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into roles within Front-End Engineering, Product Management, or specialized AI/ML development teams within Amazon.

• Skill Expansion: Gain experience with Amazon's proprietary tools and platforms, and contribute to the evolution of cutting-edge design and development technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Design Technologist" title, combined with the responsibilities, indicates a role that sits at the intersection of design and engineering. Growth opportunities will likely involve deepening technical expertise in areas like AI/ML or front-end architecture, or moving into more senior technical leadership roles within design systems or product development. The emphasis on leading projects and setting direction suggests a path towards senior individual contributor or technical lead roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, meaning the Design Technologist will work from an Amazon office location in Seattle. The environment is likely a modern, collaborative tech office designed to foster innovation and teamwork.

Office Location(s): Seattle, Washington, USA. Amazon has a significant presence in Seattle with multiple campuses and buildings that house various teams.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices typically feature open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and informal collaboration zones to facilitate interaction among team members.

• Technology-Rich Environment: Access to high-performance computing, development tools, and robust network infrastructure necessary for complex software development and AI/ML work.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Frequent opportunities to interact with designers, product managers, researchers, and engineers from different specialized teams within Amazon Ads.

Work Schedule: The role is based on a standard 40-hour work week. While there's an expectation of on-site presence, Amazon often allows for some flexibility in daily start/end times, provided project deliverables are met and team collaboration is maintained. Occasional longer hours may be required during critical project phases or launch periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being an on-site role in Seattle means being part of a vibrant tech hub. Amazon offices are designed for productivity and collaboration, providing the necessary tools and infrastructure. The emphasis on cross-functional teams suggests a dynamic environment where engineers and designers work closely together on a daily basis.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screen: A recruiter or hiring manager will conduct a brief call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Technical Phone Screen: A more in-depth technical interview focusing on front-end development, prototyping, and potentially AI/ML concepts.

This may involve coding challenges or architectural discussions.

• On-site/Virtual Loop: A series of interviews (typically 4-6) with various team members, including designers, engineers, and managers. These will cover:

  • Design System & Tooling: Questions about your experience with design systems, building tools, and Figma plugins.
  • Technical Skills: Deeper dives into React, TypeScript, API integration, and experience with AI/ML or LLMs.
  • Prototyping & UX Intuition: Demonstrating how you translate design into functional prototypes and your understanding of user-centered design.
  • Problem-Solving & Ambiguity: Case studies or hypothetical scenarios requiring you to devise solutions for complex problems with incomplete information.
  • Leadership & Collaboration: Situational questions assessing your ability to lead projects, influence others, and work effectively in a cross-functional team.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will present selected projects from your portfolio, explaining your role, the challenges, your solutions, and the impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role: front-end development, design system tooling, AI/ML integration, prototyping, and API usage.

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly articulate:

  • The Problem: What was the user or business need?
  • Your Role: What specifically did you contribute?
  • The Solution: What did you build or design? What technologies were used?
  • The Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced development time, enhanced user satisfaction).

• Highlight AI/ML & Tooling: Emphasize any projects involving AI/ML, LLMs, or the development of custom tools, services, or Figma plugins.

• Showcase Process: Explain your thought process, design iterations, and how you collaborated with others.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss technical decisions, trade-offs, and how you handled challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Front-End Coding: Practice common front-end coding challenges, focusing on JavaScript, React, and TypeScript.

• API Integration Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss how you would integrate different APIs or build services to connect systems.

• Design System Thinking: Understand how to build and maintain scalable design systems, and how tooling can support them.

• AI/ML Application: Think about practical applications of LLMs and AI in UX tooling and how you would prototype or build them.

• Amazon Leadership Principles: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's Leadership Principles and be ready to provide examples of how you've demonstrated them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at Amazon is rigorous and multi-faceted. For a Design Technologist role, expect a strong emphasis on both technical coding ability and design thinking, with a particular focus on how candidates leverage emerging technologies like AI/ML to solve complex problems within a design system context. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to clearly articulate their contributions and the impact of their work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and creating design system components. Proficiency in creating Figma plugins is a significant plus.

• React: The primary front-end framework for building interactive user interfaces and applications.

• TypeScript: Used for adding static typing to JavaScript, improving code quality, maintainability, and developer productivity.

• Node.js: Likely used for back-end services, API development, and build tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Internal Amazon analytics platforms (specifics not detailed but expected for performance tracking).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design system tools integrate with broader product development and CRM systems is beneficial.

• Experience with workflow automation tools or building custom automation solutions that connect different systems.

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for deploying front-end applications and services.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack revolves around modern front-end development (React, TypeScript) and design tooling (Figma). The role also necessitates experience with API integrations and a strong understanding of how to build scalable applications, potentially leveraging cloud services. The explicit mention of LLMs and AI/ML APIs indicates that experience with these technologies, and potentially frameworks like Strands Agents, is highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: Prioritizing the needs of advertisers and ensuring the design system and its tools directly benefit them.

• Invent and Simplify: Continuously seeking innovative ways to improve design and development processes through technology and automation.

• Bias for Action: Moving quickly to implement solutions and iterate based on feedback, even with incomplete information.

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for projects, from conception through delivery and ongoing maintenance.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing metrics and analytics to inform strategy, measure impact, and guide improvements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Working closely with UX Designers, Front-End Engineers, Researchers, and Program Managers to achieve shared goals.

• Open Communication: Encouraging clear, direct communication and feedback exchange within the team and with stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing technical insights, best practices, and learnings to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

• Empowerment: A culture that empowers individuals to experiment, take risks, and drive initiatives forward.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is deeply rooted in its Leadership Principles. For this role, "Customer Obsession" and "Invent and Simplify" are paramount, driving the creation of tools that directly enhance the advertiser experience and streamline development processes. The emphasis on "Bias for Action" and "Ownership" highlights the expectation for proactive problem-solving and accountability.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling the Design System: Ensuring the Storm design system and its associated tooling can effectively support the diverse and rapidly evolving needs of Amazon Advertising globally.

• Integrating Emerging AI: Staying ahead of the curve with AI/ML advancements and successfully integrating them into practical, scalable tools that genuinely improve workflows.

• Ambiguity Tolerance: Navigating complex, often ill-defined problems within a large organization and charting a clear path forward.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Bridging technical and design perspectives, ensuring buy-in and effective collaboration across different disciplines and product teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI/ML Expertise: Deepen skills in LLMs, agentic workflows, and other AI technologies through hands-on project work and internal Amazon resources.

• Design System Architecture: Gain advanced knowledge in building and scaling robust, enterprise-level design systems.

• Technical Leadership: Develop skills in leading complex technical projects, mentoring junior team members, and influencing technical strategy.

• Industry Exposure: Access to internal Amazon tech talks, potential for conferences, and continuous learning on cutting-edge technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the scale and complexity inherent in Amazon's advertising ecosystem and the rapid evolution of AI. Growth opportunities are strongly tied to mastering these complex areas and developing into a leader in design technology and AI-driven product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to build a tool or plugin to solve a specific design or development workflow problem. What was the problem, your solution, and the impact?" (Focus on process, technical choices, and measurable results.)

• "How would you approach integrating an LLM into a design system to assist with tasks like generating design variants or writing UI copy? What are the potential challenges and how would you mitigate them?" (Demonstrate understanding of AI/ML application in UX, and ability to handle complexity.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody Amazon's Leadership Principles, particularly Customer Obsession and Invent and Simplify, in your work?" (Prepare specific examples.)

• "Describe your experience working in a cross-functional team. How do you handle disagreements or differing priorities between design and engineering?" (Highlight collaboration and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation around clear narratives for each project, emphasizing the problem, your unique contribution, the technical execution, and the outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the value of your work (e.g., time saved, efficiency gained, adoption rates).

• Showcase Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss the technical architecture, code quality, and specific implementation details of your projects, especially those involving AI/ML or complex integrations.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with others and incorporated feedback into your solutions.

• Address Ambiguity: If a project involved ambiguity, explain how you navigated it and brought clarity to the solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong blend of technical expertise in front-end development and AI/ML, coupled with a deep understanding of design systems and user-centered design principles. Be ready to articulate your thought process, problem-solving abilities, and how you leverage technology to drive efficiency and innovation, all while aligning with Amazon's core leadership principles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Technologist position:

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights specific experiences with front-end development (React, TypeScript), UX prototyping, design systems, Figma, API integrations, and any AI/ML or LLM projects. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your strongest projects that showcase your ability to build tools, integrate AI, create prototypes, and work within a design system context. Ensure case studies are well-structured and data-driven.

• Practice your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and demonstrating impact. Be ready to answer technical questions about your work.

• Research Amazon's Leadership Principles: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's core values and prepare specific examples from your experience that demonstrate them, particularly Customer Obsession and Invent and Simplify.

⚠️ 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.