Principal UX Designer, Ads, CreativeX, Creative Studio, Ads, CreativeX, Creative Studio

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer, Ads, CreativeX, Creative Studio Company: Amazon Location: Seattle, Washington, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Operations Date Posted: September 19, 2025 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design vision and strategy for Amazon's Creative Studio, an AI-powered suite of creative tools for brands and creators.
• Drive hands-on, end-to-end UX design execution, from initial concept and wireframing to polished prototypes and production-ready assets.
• Leverage deep knowledge of generative AI and agentic systems to craft intuitive, high-quality user experiences that transform advertising creation workflows.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, applied science, research, and product management, to align on goals and ensure successful product delivery.
• Champion inclusive, responsible, and scalable AI-driven design practices within a fast-paced, startup-like environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "UX Designer," the emphasis on "transforming advertising," "AI-powered creative tools," and "agentic creative solutions" positions this role within a specialized area of product operations focused on enhancing creative workflows and driving operational efficiency for advertisers and creative professionals. The "Principal" title indicates a leadership and strategic impact expected in this function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion the overall design vision, strategy, and user experience for the Creative Studio, with a specific focus on integrating generative AI and agentic capabilities.
• Lead the design process from ideation through to execution, creating wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final visual designs for new and existing features.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and data analysis to gather insights and inform iterative design improvements, ensuring the tools meet the evolving needs of creatives.
• Design elegant, intuitive, and trustworthy user interfaces that seamlessly integrate into existing advertising and creative production workflows, enhancing efficiency and output quality.
• Collaborate with engineering and applied science teams to understand technical constraints and opportunities, translating complex AI functionalities into user-friendly experiences.
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the advertising asset creation process and the challenges faced by creative professionals to advocate for their needs effectively.
• Mentor junior designers, share best practices, and foster a culture of innovation, speed, creativity, and a bias for action within the design team.
• Ensure design solutions are inclusive, responsible, and scalable, adhering to ethical AI principles and Amazon's design standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution, typical of a Principal-level role within a product-focused operations team. The emphasis on AI, agentic solutions, and advertising workflows points to a specialized operational impact on creative production efficiency and quality.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in UX/Product Design, with a proven track record of leading design efforts in complex or technical domains.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering end-to-end user experiences for successfully shipped products, showcasing a full product lifecycle understanding.
• Experience designing tools or systems that incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) functionalities, with a deep understanding of their potential and limitations.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional design thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning abilities, with a strong portfolio demonstrating this.
• Polished interface craftsmanship and a high standard for visual design and interaction detail.
• Proficiency in creating impactful prototypes using industry-standard tools.
• Familiarity with creative production tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, motion graphics software, or 3D modeling tools.
• A strong interest in and understanding of the workflows and challenges inherent in advertising asset creation.
• Ability to operate independently, manage ambiguity, self-direct work, and execute with speed and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with a proven ability to tell compelling design stories and influence diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Experience applying user research methodologies to drive iterative design decisions and validate design concepts.
• Deep curiosity about and practical familiarity with generative AI technologies and their applications.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience prototyping with front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Exposure to agentic systems, conversational interfaces, or workflows powered by Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Familiarity with responsible AI principles, including safety, fairness, transparency, and ethical considerations in design.
• Proven mentorship and leadership skills, with the ability to guide and develop other designers while remaining hands-on with design tasks.
• A genuine passion for empowering creative professionals through beautifully crafted, high-velocity tools that enhance productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a strong foundation in UX principles combined with specialized knowledge in AI and creative production tools, aligning with the operational goal of enhancing creative workflows. The "10+ years" requirement signifies a senior, strategic, and potentially lead-operational role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing exceptional design thinking, demonstrating a deep understanding of user-centered design principles applied to complex problem spaces.
• Examples of end-to-end design execution for shipped products, including problem definition, user research insights, iterative design processes, and final user interfaces.
• High-quality prototypes that effectively communicate interaction models, user flows, and the overall user experience, particularly for AI-driven features.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the impact of your design solutions on user goals and business objectives, quantifying improvements where possible.
• Evidence of designing or working with systems that incorporate AI/ML, showcasing an understanding of how to integrate these technologies into user-friendly interfaces.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrations of your process for exploring and validating new interaction models, especially those related to generative AI and agentic systems.
• Examples of how you have incorporated user research and feedback into iterative design cycles to refine and optimize user experiences.
• Documentation or case studies that illustrate your approach to designing for creative production workflows, highlighting an understanding of efficiency and output enhancement.
• Examples of how you champion and implement inclusive, responsible, and scalable design practices, particularly within the context of AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific to demonstrating a strategic and practical approach to designing complex, AI-driven systems within a creative operations context. This indicates a need to showcase process maturity and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The base pay for this position ranges from $147,600/year in the lowest geographic market to $244,000/year in the highest geographic market. This range is determined by factors such as market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, financial, and other benefits.
• Potential for equity and sign-on payments as part of the total compensation package, depending on the specific position offered.
• Access to Amazon's employee benefits programs, which aim to support employees' well-being and professional growth.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available based on project needs and team dynamics within Amazon's operational framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to US geographic markets and reflects a senior-level position. The inclusion of equity and sign-on payments suggests a role with significant impact and potential for long-term reward, common in high-impact operational leadership positions. The "40 hours" is a baseline, with the understanding that senior roles often entail additional commitment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Technology, Digital Advertising, Artificial Intelligence Company Size: Amazon is a large, global technology company with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale offers extensive resources and opportunities for impact. Founded: 1994. Amazon has a long history of innovation and customer obsession, which shapes its operational culture.

Team Structure:

• CreativeX operates as a nimble, interdisciplinary organization comprising engineers, scientists, designers, and researchers, functioning much like a startup within Amazon.
• The team values experimentation, customer obsession, and high-velocity shipping, fostering an agile and results-oriented environment.
• As a Principal UX Designer, you would likely be a key design leader within this team, potentially influencing the direction of multiple squads or projects related to the Creative Studio.

Methodology:

• The team emphasizes a data-driven approach, utilizing customer feedback and performance metrics to inform product development and operational improvements.
• Rapid prototyping, A/B testing, and iterative development are core methodologies to ensure continuous innovation and alignment with customer needs.
• A strong focus on operational efficiency and delivering high-quality, real-world experiences quickly is paramount.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of CreativeX as a "startup within Amazon" highlights a culture that balances the stability of a large corporation with the agility and innovation of a startup, which is highly relevant for designers looking to make a significant impact on operational workflows.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Principal" level UX Designer role, signifying a senior individual contributor position with significant influence and leadership responsibilities within the product design and operations domain. It implies a strategic impact on how creative operations are executed and scaled through technology. Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, a Principal Designer typically reports to a Design Manager, Director of Design, or a Product Lead, and works closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Applied Scientists. They are expected to influence and mentor other designers. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the operational efficiency and creative output of brands and creators by providing advanced AI-powered tools. Success means enabling more efficient, higher-quality advertising asset creation, which has a direct correlation to marketing campaign performance and revenue generation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in AI Design: Opportunity to become a thought leader and expert in designing AI-driven creative tools, a rapidly growing field.
• Strategic Influence: Shape the product roadmap and design strategy for a key initiative within Amazon's advertising technology.
• Mentorship and Team Development: Grow leadership skills by mentoring other designers and contributing to the design practice within CreativeX.
• Cross-functional Expertise: Deepen understanding of AI/ML, engineering processes, and product management by working closely with diverse teams.
• Career Progression: Potential to move into management roles, lead larger design initiatives, or specialize further in AI UX within Amazon.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on how this senior design role contributes to operational excellence in creative production and offers significant avenues for professional development within cutting-edge technology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. Office Location(s): Seattle, Washington, United States, and New York, New York, United States.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as "startup-like," emphasizing agility, experimentation, and a bias for action, which fosters a dynamic and collaborative workspace.
• Designers are expected to work closely with engineering, applied science, and research teams, promoting a highly collaborative and cross-functional atmosphere.
• Access to Amazon's extensive resources, tools, and a broad network of professionals will support the design and development of innovative creative tools.

Work Schedule:

• While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the "startup-like" environment and the nature of tackling complex, cutting-edge problems may require flexibility and a commitment to meeting project deadlines. The focus is on delivering high-quality solutions quickly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and startup-like culture suggest a dynamic and collaborative work environment where operational efficiency and rapid iteration are valued.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application and portfolio for basic qualifications and alignment with the role’s requirements.
• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Expect a deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on design thinking, process, and impact. You may be given a design challenge or asked to present a case study related to AI-driven creative tools or advertising workflows.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Multiple rounds of interviews with the hiring manager, potential peers (other designers, product managers, engineers), and stakeholders to assess your design skills, collaboration style, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.
• Leadership/Principal Level Interview: A final interview, often with a senior leader or principal-level individual, to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your design process, problem-solving skills, and impact, with a strong emphasis on AI, generative tools, or complex creative workflows.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration), the challenges you faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Highlight how you navigated ambiguity and operated independently.
• Showcase AI/Generative Design: If possible, include projects that demonstrate your experience with AI/ML or generative design concepts and their application in user interfaces.
• Highlight Collaboration: Provide examples of how you collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams (engineering, product, research) to bring designs to life.
• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to present your portfolio and specific case studies concisely and engagingly, anticipating questions about your design decisions and rationale.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with current trends in generative AI, creative tools, advertising technology, and agentic systems.
• Think Through Workflows: Consider common creative and advertising workflows and how AI could optimize them.
• Focus on User Needs: Emphasize how your proposed solutions address specific user pain points and deliver tangible value to creative professionals.
• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process, design decisions, and the reasoning behind your proposed solutions, focusing on clarity and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process demands a strong demonstration of both design craft and strategic thinking, with a particular focus on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by AI in creative operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, given industry trends and Amazon's likely stack), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), potentially specialized tools for motion or 3D depending on creative output.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or internal Amazon equivalents for workflow tracking and team communication.
• User Research & Testing: Platforms for remote usability testing, user surveys, and data analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms to understand user behavior within the Creative Studio and identify areas for optimization.
• Data visualization tools for presenting research findings and design impact to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how creative tools integrate with broader marketing and advertising platforms is beneficial.
• Familiarity with workflow automation principles as applied to creative production pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in core UX design tools is essential, with a strong emphasis on understanding how these tools integrate into broader creative production and advertising technology stacks, aligning with operational efficiency goals.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A foundational Amazon principle, meaning a relentless focus on understanding and meeting the needs of creative professionals using the tools.
• Bias for Action: Encouraging swift execution and learning from real-world results, rather than extensive planning without action.
• Innovation & Curiosity: A drive to explore new technologies like generative AI and agentic systems and apply them to solve user problems in novel ways.
• Ownership and Accountability: Taking responsibility for design outcomes and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, impactful solutions.
• Inclusivity and Responsibility: Designing with a focus on fairness, safety, and ethical considerations, particularly when working with AI technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with engineering, applied science, research, and product management to achieve shared goals.
• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where ideas are shared freely, feedback is constructive, and diverse perspectives are valued.
• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: Actively contributing to the growth of the design team through mentorship and sharing expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture emphasizes a proactive, results-oriented approach to operational improvement through design, deeply rooted in Amazon's core principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working with cutting-edge AI technologies means dealing with evolving capabilities, undefined best practices, and uncharted design territories.
• Balancing Innovation and Stability: Integrating novel AI features while ensuring a stable, reliable, and intuitive user experience for a diverse creative audience.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively communicating complex design concepts and user needs to technical and product teams to ensure buy-in and successful implementation.
• Mentoring and Leading: Balancing hands-on design work with the responsibilities of mentoring junior designers and providing strategic direction.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Generative AI: Gain unparalleled experience in designing and implementing generative AI solutions for creative workflows.
• Industry Leadership: Position yourself as a leader in the emerging field of AI-powered creative tools and operations.
• Exposure to Advanced Technologies: Work at the forefront of AI development within a leading technology company.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, attending industry conferences, and potentially pursuing advanced certifications related to AI and UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent in pioneering new technology within a large organization, offering significant opportunities for skill development and career advancement in specialized operational areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Vision & AI Strategy: Be prepared to discuss your vision for how AI and agentic systems can revolutionize creative production workflows and how you would translate this vision into actionable design strategies for the Creative Studio.
• Handling Ambiguity: How do you approach design problems when the technology is new, user needs are not fully defined, or the path forward is unclear? Provide examples from your portfolio.
• Collaboration and Influence: Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders with differing opinions on a design direction, especially concerning new technologies like AI.
• Measuring Design Impact: How do you measure the success and operational impact of your design solutions, particularly those involving AI or significant workflow changes?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Amazon's Principles: How do Amazon's Leadership Principles, such as Customer Obsession and Bias for Action, relate to your approach to UX design and operations?
• CreativeX Mission: What excites you about CreativeX's mission to transform how brands and creators bring ideas to life with AI?
• Team Dynamics: How do you contribute to a positive and productive team environment, especially in a fast-paced, startup-like setting?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, emphasizing how you identified user needs, explored solutions, iterated based on feedback, and arrived at the final design.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your design solutions on user behavior, efficiency, or business outcomes. For AI projects, focus on improvements in speed, quality, or creative output.
• Highlight AI Expertise: Showcase specific examples of how you've applied AI/ML principles or designed for AI-powered features, explaining the unique design considerations involved.
• Storytelling: Frame your project presentations as compelling narratives that highlight problem-solving, innovation, and successful collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design craft but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a solid understanding of AI's operational implications within the creative industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused design position:

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and clearly showcases projects demonstrating your expertise in UX design, AI integration, and creative production workflows. Select projects that best align with the responsibilities outlined.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of experience, leadership in complex design domains, familiarity with creative tools, and any experience with AI/ML or generative design. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and impact using specific examples from your portfolio. Prepare to discuss your understanding of generative AI and its application in creative operations.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's culture, its approach to innovation, and the specific mission of CreativeX. Understand how this role contributes to the broader operational goals of enabling creators.

⚠️ 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.