Design Technologist, Creative X

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Technologist, Creative X

Company: Amazon

Location: New York, New York, United States; Santa Monica, California, United States; Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Technology / Creative Systems Engineering

Date Posted: June 23, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the development of innovative infrastructure, tools, and intelligent systems within the Amazon Ads Creative X team to enhance creative team efficiency and output.

• Drive rapid experimentation and systems thinking to build empowering solutions that bridge design and engineering disciplines.

• Contribute to the definition and shaping of the Design Technology function and operating model within the organization.

• Develop and refine GenAI-powered creative workflows, ensuring high-quality delivery and seamless integration into existing creative ecosystems.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a foundational member of a newly forming Design Technology team within Amazon Ads. The emphasis on "building the connective tissue" and shaping the operating model suggests a high degree of autonomy and strategic influence, requiring candidates who can operate effectively in ambiguity and drive new initiatives from inception. The "Creative X" designation implies a focus on cutting-edge creative solutions and experimental technologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Architect and build robust systems enabling rapid prototyping within production constraints, ensuring scalability and reliability.

• Design and implement agent-based systems to facilitate intelligent automation and streamline cross-functional workflows.

• Collaborate closely with Applied Scientists to refine and optimize Generative AI (GenAI) workflows for creative content generation and manipulation.

• Develop production-ready code for tools and platforms, demonstrating a strong ability to transition from prototype to deployable solutions.

• Partner with UX Designers, Engineering teams, Product Management, and Design System teams to understand needs and deliver impactful technology solutions.

• Provide data-driven insights and automated visibility to leadership, informing strategic decisions regarding creative technology investments.

• Translate complex design concepts into functional engineering solutions and vice-versa, acting as a key liaison between creative and technical disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of front-end development, system architecture, AI integration, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on "agent-based systems" and "GenAI creative workflows" points towards a forward-thinking role that requires expertise in emerging technologies. The expectation to "prototype rapidly, ship production-ready code" indicates a need for both innovative ideation and rigorous engineering practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Computer Science, Engineering, Design Technology, or a related field is implied by the technical requirements.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in front-end technology, software engineering, or as a UX prototyper. Demonstrated experience in designing or architecting systems, with a focus on patterns, reliability, and scaling.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of front-end technologist, engineer, or UX prototyper experience.

• Proficiency in front-end programming languages, with demonstrable coding samples.

• Experience designing and prototyping using industry-standard tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, or similar.

• Strong understanding of systems thinking and experience building tools, platforms, or infrastructure for others to use.

• Ability to effectively bridge the gap between design and engineering, communicating fluently in both domains. Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of Python and Javascript for scripting, automation, and web development.

• Proficiency with source control systems, specifically Git.

• Experience designing or architecting new and existing systems, focusing on design patterns, reliability, and scaling.

• Familiarity with Cloud platforms, particularly AWS.

• Experience with database systems, including SQL and NoSQL.

• Knowledge of AI tools for development productivity and experience refining GenAI workflows.

• Experience contributing to open-source projects.

• Proficiency in additional programming or scripting languages such as C/C++/C#, Node.JS, Java, PHP, Ruby.

• Experience building web applications with React and modern web technologies.

• Proven ability to handle ambiguous or undefined challenges through strong problem-solving skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a dual expertise in both design tooling and software engineering. The "5+ years" requirement, coupled with the emphasis on systems thinking and architecture, suggests a mid-to-senior level role. The preferred skills indicate a strong preference for full-stack capabilities with a modern technology stack, including cloud and AI. The requirement for "coding samples" and "portfolio/case studies" is critical for demonstrating practical application of skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated ability to build and deploy production-ready code for tools or platforms that empower other users.

• Case studies showcasing the design and implementation of systems that improve workflow efficiency, collaboration, or creative output.

• Examples of rapid prototyping that led to impactful solutions, highlighting the process from ideation to implementation.

• Evidence of designing or architecting systems, detailing design patterns, considerations for reliability, and scaling strategies. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of workflows designed and optimized, particularly those involving creative production pipelines or cross-functional collaboration.

• Examples of implementing and automating processes using custom-built tools or intelligent systems.

• Metrics and analysis demonstrating the performance improvements and ROI achieved through implemented systems or optimized processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Technologist role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to showcase not just code, but the entire lifecycle of building solutions that solve real-world problems for creative teams. Candidates should be prepared to present specific case studies detailing the problem, their approach, the technology used, the implementation challenges, and quantifiable results. The emphasis on "systems thinking" and "empowering others" means demonstrating how their work has had a multiplicative effect.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $145,000 - $196,100 USD annually (for New York, NY location)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription)

• Basic Life & AD&D Insurance with option for Supplemental life plans

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Mental Health Support

• Medical Advice Line

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage

• 401(k) matching program

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Parental Leave

• Sign-on payments

• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time)

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary range is specific to New York, NY. Candidates applying in Santa Monica, CA, or Seattle, WA, should anticipate that salary ranges may differ based on local market conditions and cost of living. Amazon's compensation structure often includes a significant component of stock (RSUs) in addition to base salary, which should be factored into overall compensation expectations. The comprehensive benefits package is typical for large technology organizations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Cloud Computing, Digital Advertising, Artificial Intelligence, Consumer Electronics. Amazon operates across a vast spectrum of industries, with this role specifically within Amazon Ads, focusing on technological innovation in the advertising space.

Company Size: Amazon is a multinational technology company with over 1.5 million employees globally (as of recent reports), placing it among the largest corporations worldwide. This size offers immense resources and opportunities but also necessitates navigating large organizational structures.

Founded: 1994. Amazon's long history and continuous evolution demonstrate a culture of innovation, customer obsession, and a drive for long-term growth.

Team Structure:

• The CrX Design Tech team is a newly formed unit, implying a startup-like environment within a large corporation, offering opportunities to define processes and culture.

• The team will likely consist of Design Technologists, potentially reporting to a Design Technology Lead or Director, with close collaboration across UX Design, Engineering, Applied Science, and Product Management.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected to be high, as the role sits at the nexus of design, engineering, and science. Methodology:

• The team will likely employ agile methodologies for rapid development and iteration.

• A strong emphasis will be placed on data-driven decision-making, utilizing performance metrics and user feedback to guide development.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies will be central, focusing on efficiency gains for creative teams.

• Automation and efficiency practices will be key to the team's success, leveraging technology to solve complex problems.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within Amazon means adhering to its "Leadership Principles," which are fundamental to its culture. Candidates should familiarize themselves with these principles (e.g., Customer Obsession, Ownership, Bias for Action, Invent and Simplify) as they heavily influence decision-making and performance evaluation. The "Creative X" designation suggests an experimental and innovative focus, potentially with a faster pace than some other Amazon divisions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level Design Technologist. It requires significant independent contribution, system design capabilities, and the ability to influence the direction of the team. It's a hands-on role that also involves strategic thinking about technology's role in creative production.

Reporting Structure: The Design Technologist will likely report to a Design Technology Manager or Director. They will work closely with peers in UX Design, Engineering, and Applied Science, and collaborate with Product Management and leadership.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to improving the efficiency, scalability, and quality of creative production within Amazon Ads. By building better tools and systems, the Design Technologist will enable creative teams to deliver more impactful advertising campaigns faster, ultimately contributing to revenue generation and customer engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like GenAI for creative, advanced prototyping, or scalable design systems.

• Leadership: Progress into a Senior Design Technologist role, Tech Lead, or management positions within Design Technology or related engineering fields.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Transition into roles within core engineering, product management, or applied science teams, leveraging the broad technical and strategic experience gained.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through internal training, AWS certifications, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies within Amazon.

📝 Enhancement Note: The opportunity to shape a new team's operating model from the ground up is a significant growth driver. Candidates who excel here can demonstrate strong initiative, strategic thinking, and leadership potential, opening doors to architecting future technology initiatives within Amazon Ads.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a need for physical presence in one of the specified Amazon corporate offices. These environments are typically designed for collaboration, innovation, and productivity.

Office Location(s): New York, NY; Santa Monica, CA; Seattle, WA. These are major tech hubs, offering vibrant work environments and access to talent.

Workspace Context:

• Amazon offices are designed to foster collaboration, often featuring open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and dedicated project spaces.

• Access to state-of-the-art hardware, software, and internal Amazon development tools and platforms (like AWS) will be readily available.

• Opportunities for informal collaboration with diverse teams (UX, Engineering, Science, Product) are abundant, encouraging knowledge sharing and cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility often available depending on team and project needs. However, the on-site requirement means a consistent presence in the office is necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is on-site, Amazon often fosters a culture where individuals can manage their time effectively to balance project demands with personal needs. The emphasis on "Bias for Action" suggests that productivity and results are highly valued.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application, focusing on alignment with basic qualifications and relevant experience.

• Technical Phone Screen: Expect a technical interview to assess front-end skills, coding proficiency, and problem-solving abilities.

This may involve live coding exercises.

• On-site/Virtual Loop: A series of interviews (typically 4-6) covering:

  • Coding & System Design: Deep dives into your technical expertise, architecture skills, and ability to design scalable systems.
  • Behavioral Interviews: Questions based on Amazon's Leadership Principles, assessing your past experiences and how you handle various work situations.
  • Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session to walk through your case studies and demonstrate your impact.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Discussions with potential peers from UX, Engineering, and Product to assess fit and communication style.

• Debrief & Offer: Hiring team discusses feedback, and an offer is extended if successful.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your experience in building tools, platforms, or systems that solve creative/engineering challenges.

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate: The Problem, Your Role & Approach, The Solution (technical details and design decisions), Challenges Faced, and Quantifiable Results/Impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Prepare live demos or interactive prototypes if possible. Ensure code samples are clean, well-commented, and accessible (e.g., via GitHub).

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Explicitly explain how your solutions were designed for scalability, reliability, and maintainability, especially if they were used by others.

• Bridge Design & Engineering: Be prepared to discuss how you translated design requirements into technical specifications and vice-versa.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Challenges: Practice algorithms, data structures, and object-oriented design problems. Be comfortable coding in JavaScript, Python, and potentially React.

• System Design: Prepare to discuss designing scalable and reliable systems, considering trade-offs, and applying design patterns. Think about designing a system for prototyping, an agent-based tool, or a GenAI workflow.

• Leadership Principles: Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for each of Amazon's Leadership Principles. Focus on examples demonstrating ownership, bias for action, invent and simplify, and working backward from the customer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is critical for this role. Candidates should treat it as a presentation of their most impactful work. Be ready to dive deep into technical details, architectural decisions, and the business impact of their projects. Understanding Amazon's Leadership Principles is non-negotiable for behavioral interviews.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), potentially other specialized design or rapid prototyping tools.

• Front-end Development: React, modern JavaScript (ES6+), HTML5, CSS3.

• Programming Languages: Python (for scripting, backend, AI), Javascript (Node.js for backend/tooling), potentially others like Java, C++, C#, PHP, Ruby.

• Source Control: Git is essential.

• Cloud Platforms: AWS (Amazon Web Services) is highly preferred, including services like EC2, S3, Lambda, etc.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for tracking system performance, user adoption, and workflow efficiency. Specific tools may vary, but proficiency in data analysis and visualization is key.

• Internal Amazon analytics platforms. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how tools integrate and automate workflows is important. Experience with workflow automation tools or APIs is beneficial.

• Experience with integrating various systems and ensuring data synchronization across platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is broad, reflecting the hybrid nature of the role. Strong proficiency in front-end development (especially React), Python/JavaScript for backend and scripting, and familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS) are foundational. Experience with AI/ML tools and GenAI workflows is a significant plus, given the role's charter.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of creative teams, ensuring tools and systems are user-centric.

• Invent and Simplify: A drive to innovate and find elegant, efficient solutions to complex problems, often leveraging new technologies like GenAI.

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for projects from conception to deployment and ongoing maintenance, demonstrating accountability.

• Bias for Action: A proactive approach to problem-solving, prioritizing execution and rapid iteration over lengthy analysis paralysis.

• High Standards: A commitment to delivering high-quality, production-ready code and robust systems, ensuring reliability and performance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working seamlessly with designers, engineers, scientists, and product managers, fostering open communication and shared understanding.

• Process Review & Feedback: Actively participating in code reviews, design critiques, and workflow assessments, providing and receiving constructive feedback.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing learnings, best practices, and technical insights with team members and the broader organization to elevate collective capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is driven by its Leadership Principles. Candidates must demonstrate how their values and work style align with these principles in their interactions and decision-making. The emphasis on "Invent and Simplify" and "Bias for Action" is particularly relevant for this role, which involves building new technologies and processes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity: Navigating the undefined aspects of a newly forming Design Technology team and defining its scope and operating model.

• Technical Complexity: Integrating cutting-edge technologies like GenAI into production workflows while maintaining quality and reliability standards.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring that technology solutions effectively meet the diverse needs of various creative and technical teams.

• Scalability & Performance: Building systems that can scale to support a large organization like Amazon Ads and maintain high performance under load.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Skill Development: Opportunities to gain deep expertise in AI/ML, cloud architecture, advanced front-end frameworks, and emerging creative technologies.

• Industry Exposure: Engaging with leading minds in design technology, AI, and creative engineering through internal forums and potentially external conferences.

• Leadership Training: Access to Amazon's extensive internal training programs for leadership development and career advancement.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced engineers, scientists, and design leaders within Amazon.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and opportunity lie in establishing the Design Technology function. Candidates who thrive in this environment can significantly shape their career trajectory and make a lasting impact on how creative work is done at Amazon Ads.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you built a tool or platform that was adopted by others. What was the problem, your solution, and the impact?" (Focus on systems thinking, user adoption, and quantifiable results.)

• "How would you approach designing a system that allows non-technical users to create complex visual assets using AI?" (Assess your understanding of GenAI workflows, user experience for non-technical users, and system architecture.)

• "Walk us through a complex technical challenge you faced when bridging design and engineering. How did you overcome it?" (Demonstrate problem-solving, communication, and technical expertise.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody Amazon's Leadership Principles, such as 'Invent and Simplify' or 'Bias for Action,' in your work?" (Prepare specific examples using the STAR method.)

• "How do you ensure your technology solutions align with user needs, especially when dealing with creative teams?" (Highlight customer obsession and user-centric design thinking.)

• "Given you'll be part of a new team, how would you contribute to defining its culture and operating model?" (Show initiative, strategic thinking, and collaborative spirit.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame your case studies as narratives of problem-solving and impact, not just technical descriptions.

• Quantify Everything: Use metrics (e.g., time saved, % increase in output, reduction in errors) to demonstrate the value of your work.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect questions about your architectural decisions, trade-offs made, specific code implementations, and why you chose certain technologies.

• Show Enthusiasm for Amazon: Connect your skills and interests to Amazon's mission and the specific challenges within Amazon Ads.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for Amazon is rigorous. Candidates should thoroughly research Amazon's Leadership Principles and prepare concrete examples for each. The portfolio presentation is a key component, so practicing the narrative and technical explanations is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Technologist position:

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in front-end development, system design, prototyping, AI/GenAI workflows, and cross-functional collaboration with design and engineering teams. Prepare 2-3 detailed case studies showcasing your most impactful projects.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific technical skills (React, Python, JavaScript, AWS, Figma, etc.), and achievements related to building tools or platforms. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice answering behavioral questions based on Amazon's Leadership Principles using the STAR method. Prepare for technical questions on coding, system design, and your portfolio walkthrough.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's culture, Leadership Principles, and the specific goals of the Amazon Ads Creative X team. Understand how your skills can contribute to their mission.

⚠️ 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.