Design Technologist II, Creative X

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Technologist II, Creative X

Company: Amazon

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

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Technology / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-06

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is at the nexus of design, engineering, and creative systems, focusing on building infrastructure, tools, and intelligent systems to enhance creative team efficiency and collaboration within Amazon Ads.

• You will be instrumental in developing solutions for rapid experimentation, systems thinking, and empowering other creative professionals through robust technological frameworks.

• Key responsibilities include creating design-to-production scaffolding, implementing agent-based systems, refining Generative AI (GenAI) powered creative workflows, and ensuring high-quality output.

• This is an opportunity to define and shape the Design Technology function within the Creative X organization, establishing its operating model from the ground up.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Design Technologist II" title and the emphasis on building "infrastructure, tools, and intelligent systems" suggest a role that bridges the gap between pure design and pure engineering, with a strong focus on operationalizing creative processes. The mention of "Creative X" and "Amazon Ads" indicates a fast-paced, innovative environment within a large tech company, likely requiring a blend of technical skill and creative problem-solving.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement systems that enable seamless prototyping within production constraints, ensuring creative concepts align with technical feasibility.

• Design and build agent-based systems to automate tasks, facilitate communication, and surface actionable insights for creative teams.

• Collaborate closely with Applied Scientists to refine and optimize Generative AI (GenAI) creative workflows, ensuring they meet stringent quality standards and business objectives.

• Rapidly prototype new tools and systems, with a clear path to shipping production-ready code that integrates into the existing creative ecosystem.

• Build the "connective tissue" that enhances the speed, intelligence, and reliability of the creative production process.

• Partner with UX Designers, Engineering teams, Applied Scientists, Product Management, and Design System teams to identify needs and deliver impactful solutions.

• Provide leadership with data-driven insights and automated visibility into creative operations and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on development, strategic system design, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on "production-ready code" and "systems thinking" indicates a need for robust engineering practices beyond just prototyping.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong foundation in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Media, or a related field is implied by the technical and design requirements.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in front-end technology, software engineering, or as a UX prototyper. Demonstrated experience in building tools, platforms, or infrastructure is crucial.

Required Skills:

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

• Proven experience designing and prototyping with industry-standard tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, or similar creative software suites.

• Proficiency in front-end programming languages, with a portfolio showcasing coding samples.

• Strong systems thinking capabilities, evidenced by building tools, platforms, or infrastructure that others use. Preferred Skills:

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

• Experience with source control systems, specifically Git, for collaborative development and version management.

• Experience building web applications using React and other modern web technologies.

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

• Aptitude for bridging the gap between design and engineering, effectively translating requirements and concepts between both disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between required and preferred skills suggests that candidates with a solid foundation in front-end development and prototyping tools are essential, while experience with specific languages like Python and frameworks like React, along with proven systems thinking, will significantly differentiate candidates. The emphasis on bridging design and engineering is a key indicator of the role's interdisciplinary nature.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant projects demonstrating your ability to build tools, platforms, or infrastructure that have improved efficiency or capabilities for other users.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the technical challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved.

• Include examples of design-to-production scaffolding, intelligent agent systems, or GenAI workflow integrations if applicable to your past work.

• Demonstrate proficiency in front-end programming languages and experience with prototyping tools like Figma or Adobe Creative Cloud. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to defining and optimizing creative workflows.

• Describe your experience with implementing and automating processes using technology.

• Explain how you measure the performance and impact of the systems and tools you build.

• Outline your methodology for collaborating with design and engineering teams to ensure successful process integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for "portfolio/case studies" for demonstrated systems thinking indicates that practical, project-based evidence of building scalable solutions is paramount for this role. Candidates should prepare to walk through their projects, highlighting process, technical implementation, and user impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Santa Monica, California: $131,800 - $178,300 USD annually

• New York, New York: $145,000 - $196,100 USD annually

• Seattle, Washington: $131,800 - $178,300 USD annually

Benefits:

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

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

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

• Medical Advice Line.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage.

• 401(k) matching program.

• Generous paid time off (PTO).

• Parental leave.

• Sign-on payments.

• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week is typical for this role, with potential for extended hours during critical project phases. The on-site nature suggests adherence to standard office hours, but flexibility may be offered based on team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are specific to location and reflect significant differences between the specified cities, with New York City commanding the highest range. The inclusion of sign-on payments and RSUs in addition to base salary indicates a competitive total compensation package. The benefits listed are extensive and align with a large, established tech company.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Cloud Computing, Digital Advertising, Consumer Electronics, Artificial Intelligence. Amazon operates across a vast array of sectors, with this specific role within Amazon Ads, a significant player in the digital advertising space.

Company Size: Amazon is a global technology giant with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide. This role is within a specialized team (Creative X Design Tech) focused on innovation within Amazon Ads.

Founded: Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, evolving from an online bookstore to a comprehensive e-commerce and technology powerhouse. The Creative X team likely embodies Amazon's culture of innovation, customer obsession, and a willingness to invent and simplify.

Team Structure:

• The Creative X Design Tech team is being built with a defined charter and scope, suggesting an opportunity to influence its formation and direction.

• You will work collaboratively with a diverse group of professionals including UX Designers, Engineering teams, Applied Scientists, Product Management, and Design System teams.

• The team structure is likely matrixed, with individuals reporting within functional areas while collaborating on specific projects and initiatives.

• There will be direct interaction with leadership, providing insights and automated visibility into operations. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: A core aspect of the role involves providing data-driven insights to leadership, necessitating strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role is centered around improving creative workflows through technology, requiring strategic planning, system design, and continuous optimization.

• Automation & Efficiency: A primary objective is to leverage technology to automate tasks and enhance efficiency across creative production processes.

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

Amazon Ads: https://advertising.amazon.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the team as "being built" implies a startup-like environment within a large corporation, offering significant opportunities for impact and ownership. The emphasis on data-driven decision-making and innovation aligns with Amazon's broader principles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Design Technologist II position is positioned at a mid-level to senior-mid level. It requires a solid foundation of experience (5+ years) and the ability to operate with a degree of autonomy while contributing to strategic initiatives. The role involves not just execution but also definition and shaping of the Design Technology function.

Reporting Structure: While the specific reporting line isn't detailed, the role involves close collaboration with various teams (UX, Engineering, Science, PM) and reporting insights to leadership. This suggests a role that interfaces broadly across different functional groups.

Operations Impact: The Design Technologist will have a direct impact on the efficiency, speed, and quality of creative production within Amazon Ads. By building tools, systems, and optimizing workflows, this role will enable creative teams to ship more effectively, ultimately contributing to the success of advertising campaigns and Amazon's advertising business.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deep expertise in areas like GenAI workflows, intelligent agent systems, or advanced front-end architecture for creative tools.

• Leadership: As the team grows, there will be opportunities to take on more senior technical leadership roles, mentor junior technologists, and potentially lead specific initiatives or sub-teams.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain extensive experience working with diverse teams across Amazon, broadening your understanding of product development, scientific research, and business operations.

• Innovation: Contribute to pioneering new ways of working in creative technology, potentially leading to patents or internal recognition for innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "II" in the title and the 5+ years of experience suggest this is not an entry-level role but one where individuals are expected to contribute significantly and start shaping processes. The growth opportunities are tied to both technical depth and potential leadership within a newly forming team.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration is expected. The specific office setup (e.g., open plan, dedicated workspaces) is not detailed but can be inferred to be conducive to collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): The position is available in three major tech hubs: Santa Monica (California), New York (New York), and Seattle (Washington). These locations offer access to vibrant tech communities and Amazon's significant presence.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace that fosters close collaboration with designers, engineers, and scientists, essential for rapid prototyping and system development.

• Access to Technology: As part of Amazon, you will likely have access to cutting-edge tools, software, and infrastructure necessary for advanced design technology work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with your immediate team, cross-functional partners, and leadership, facilitating knowledge sharing and alignment.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is the baseline. However, the fast-paced nature of Amazon Ads and the emphasis on rapid prototyping and shipping production-ready code may necessitate flexibility and occasional extended work hours, particularly around project deadlines or launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor for candidates to consider. The availability in multiple major cities provides geographical flexibility for those seeking to work in these specific tech hubs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interviews: Expect multiple rounds of interviews focusing on front-end development, system design, problem-solving, and coding challenges. Be prepared to discuss your approach to building tools and infrastructure.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will present and discuss your portfolio, focusing on case studies that demonstrate systems thinking, process improvement, and technical execution.

• Behavioral Interviews: Questions will assess your ability to collaborate, handle ambiguity, communicate effectively, and align with Amazon's Leadership Principles.

• On-site/Virtual Loop: A final series of interviews, potentially including meetings with hiring managers, team members, and senior stakeholders.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, highlighting projects that best showcase your systems thinking, front-end development skills, and experience building tools/platforms.

• Storytelling: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, the technical details (languages, tools, architecture), your specific contributions, and the measurable impact. Use diagrams where appropriate.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. For example, "reduced creative production time by X%," "enabled Y new creative formats," or "improved system reliability by Z%."

• Demonstrate Ambiguity Handling: If applicable, include projects where you tackled ill-defined problems and successfully delivered solutions.

• Design & Engineering Bridge: Be ready to explain how you translated design needs into technical requirements and vice-versa.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Exercises: Practice common front-end coding problems (e.g., algorithm implementation, data structure manipulation, UI component development).

• System Design: Prepare to discuss how you would design scalable, efficient systems for creative workflows, considering factors like performance, maintainability, and user experience.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Think about how you would approach specific challenges mentioned in the job description, such as building design-to-production scaffolding or integrating GenAI into workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review for systems thinking is critical. Candidates should prepare detailed case studies that go beyond a simple project description and delve into the strategic and technical aspects of their work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, etc.), potentially Sketch.

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

• Programming Languages: Python (for scripting, backend services, AI integration), JavaScript.

• Source Control: Git (GitHub, Bitbucket, or similar).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for tracking user engagement with built tools, performance monitoring of systems, and potentially A/B testing frameworks. Specific tools not listed but expect integration with Amazon's internal analytics platforms.

• Data visualization tools might be relevant for presenting insights to leadership. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how creative assets and workflows integrate with advertising platforms and potentially content management systems is beneficial.

• Automation tools will be key for building agent-based systems and streamlining workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical stack revolves around modern front-end development (React, JS) and backend scripting (Python), with proficiency in design tools like Figma and Adobe CC being essential. Experience with Git is a standard requirement for collaborative development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A fundamental Amazon principle. In this role, it translates to building tools and systems that genuinely solve problems and enhance the experience for creative teams.

• Invent and Simplify: Drive innovation by creating novel solutions and simplifying complex creative processes through technology.

• Bias for Action: Ability to prototype rapidly and ship production-ready code, demonstrating a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for the tools and systems you build, from conception through deployment and ongoing improvement.

• Deliver Results: Focus on achieving tangible outcomes and measurable improvements in creative workflow efficiency and quality.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment, working closely with diverse teams to gather requirements, iterate on designs, and integrate solutions.

• Process Review and Feedback: A culture that encourages open feedback loops to continuously improve tools, systems, and workflows.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings with team members to foster collective growth and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of Amazon's Leadership Principles is key. Candidates should familiarize themselves with these principles and be prepared to illustrate how they embody them through their work experience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity: The role involves working on a team that is "being built," meaning processes and specific needs may not be fully defined. This requires adaptability and the ability to drive clarity.

• High Quality Bar: Balancing rapid prototyping and shipping with meeting Amazon's high standards for production-ready code and scalable systems.

• GenAI Integration: Navigating the complexities and rapid evolution of Generative AI to create practical, high-quality creative workflows.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring that tools and systems effectively serve the needs of diverse teams (design, engineering, science) with potentially different priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• GenAI and Applied Science: Direct exposure to cutting-edge AI research and application within creative workflows.

• Scalable Systems Design: Opportunities to build and refine systems that operate at Amazon's scale.

• Design Technology Specialization: Deepen expertise in the intersection of design, engineering, and creative operations.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced engineers, scientists, and designers within Amazon.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. The ability to thrive in an ambiguous environment and contribute to defining new processes is a significant aspect of this role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex creative workflow you've optimized or automated. What was the problem, your solution, and the impact?" (Focus on systems thinking and quantifiable results)

• "How would you approach building a system that allows designers to prototype within production constraints? What are the key technical and design considerations?" (Assessing system design and cross-functional understanding)

• "Imagine you need to integrate a new GenAI model into an existing creative pipeline. What steps would you take, and what potential challenges would you anticipate?" (Evaluating problem-solving and GenAI workflow refinement) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody Amazon's 'Invent and Simplify' Leadership Principle in your work?" (Assessing alignment with company values)

• "Describe a time you had to bridge the gap between design and engineering. How did you facilitate communication and ensure alignment?" (Evaluating collaboration and communication skills)

• "How would you measure the success of the tools and systems you build for the Creative X team?" (Assessing impact measurement and data-driven approach) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Project Selection: Choose 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your systems thinking, front-end development, and ability to build impactful tools or infrastructure.

• Narrative Arc: For each project, clearly articulate the "why" (problem), the "what" (solution), the "how" (technical details), and the "so what" (impact/results).

• Visual Aids: Use diagrams, mockups, or live demos (if appropriate) to illustrate your work and make it more engaging.

• Quantify Impact: Be ready to present metrics showing efficiency gains, user adoption, or other tangible benefits.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to dive into the technical details of your implementation, including architecture, code structure, and tools used.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your portfolio as a series of case studies, not just a collection of projects. The interviewers will be looking for evidence of strategic thinking, technical problem-solving, and demonstrable impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Review your existing portfolio and select projects that most strongly demonstrate your experience in building tools, systems, or infrastructure, with a focus on process improvement and empowering users. Tailor your project descriptions to highlight systems thinking and technical execution relevant to creative workflows.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of front-end, engineering, or UX prototyping experience. Use keywords from the job description such as "Design Technologist," "front-end development," "systems thinking," "GenAI," "prototyping," and "Python/JavaScript." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on the problem, solution, technical approach, and measurable impact. Prepare for behavioral questions related to Amazon's Leadership Principles and technical questions on front-end development and system design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Amazon Ads' mission, the Creative X team's potential role, and Amazon's overall culture and leadership principles. Understand how a Design Technologist contributes to a large advertising organization.

⚠️ 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.