UX Designer, Data Center Automation

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer, Data Center Automation
Company: Amazon
Location: Bellevue, Washington, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Operations Technology / User Experience
Date Posted: 2025-07-30
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on enhancing the user experience for complex internal operational tools within AWS Data Centers, specifically targeting automation processes.
• The UX Designer will drive design strategy and deliver intuitive solutions for intricate product challenges, directly impacting operational efficiency and reducing human error.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including product managers, software engineers, and research teams, is central to translating insights into actionable design outcomes.
• A key responsibility involves developing and maintaining scalable design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across a suite of internal products.
• The position offers the opportunity to influence product development from conception through iteration, measuring impact, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title specifies "UX Designer," the context of "Data Center Automation" and the mention of "operational efficiency," "incremental performance gains," and "reducing human error" strongly suggest this role is deeply embedded within an operations framework, focusing on internal tools that streamline complex, mission-critical processes. The emphasis on "customer-obsessed design processes" likely refers to the internal users (operations staff) rather than external customers. This role bridges the gap between user experience design and operational effectiveness within a large-scale infrastructure context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Strategy & Solution Development: Guide the overall design strategy for data center automation tools, translating complex business needs and user requirements into intuitive, user-centered design solutions.
• User Research & Insight Translation: Partner closely with product managers and research teams to analyze user insights, conduct user interviews, and translate findings into actionable design recommendations and user flows.
• Prototyping & Iteration: Create high-fidelity prototypes using tools like HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, CSS, Flash, or Axure to effectively communicate design concepts and facilitate user testing and feedback loops.
• Design System Management: Develop, maintain, and champion scalable design systems that ensure visual and interaction consistency across all data center automation products and platforms.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Foster strong, collaborative relationships with product management, engineering, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation of designs and alignment on project goals.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Mentor and support junior designers, providing guidance on design best practices, process, and professional development to elevate the team's overall capabilities.
• Performance Measurement & Optimization: Contribute to the measurement and analysis of UX performance, identifying areas for improvement to drive incremental gains in operational efficiency and user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "translating research insights into actionable design solutions" and "fostering collaborative relationships" points to a role that requires strong communication and influence skills, crucial for driving adoption of new designs within operational environments. The mention of "mentoring" suggests this role may have a lead or senior component within the design team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional design experience, with at least 3 years specifically focused on delivering design solutions as a UX Designer or Interaction Designer.

Required Skills:

• User Experience Design: Proven ability to design user-centered experiences for complex applications, with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design processes.
• Prototyping Proficiency: Demonstrated experience in creating interactive prototypes using tools such as HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, CSS, Flash, Flash Catalyst, or Axure.
• Design Strategy & Systems: Expertise in developing and maintaining design systems, style guides, and component libraries to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to effectively partner with product managers, engineers, and researchers to translate requirements into impactful design solutions.
• User Research Acumen: Skill in synthesizing user research findings and customer feedback into actionable design improvements and strategic recommendations.
• Portfolio Presentation: An available online portfolio that clearly demonstrates design process, problem-solving skills, and successful project outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Mass-Market Consumer Products: Prior experience designing for mass-market consumer web or mobile products, providing insights into user behavior and engagement strategies.
• Direct Implementation Collaboration: Experience working directly with developers to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of UX designs.
• Data-Driven Design: Familiarity with using data analytics and performance metrics to inform design decisions and measure the impact of UX changes.
• Automation & Operations Context: Understanding of operational workflows, automation processes, and the specific needs of users in industrial or data center environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Basic Qualifications" clearly state 5+ years of design experience and 3+ years in a UX/Interaction Design role. The "Preferred Qualifications" add valuable context, suggesting that experience with consumer-facing products can be beneficial, likely due to the transferable skills in user engagement and intuitive interface design, even when applied to internal tools. The emphasis on prototyping tools is a specific technical requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Process Showcase: Demonstrate a complete UX design lifecycle, from initial research and concept development through wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final implementation.
• Problem-Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge addressed, the design approach taken, and the rationale behind key design decisions.
• Impact & Results Orientation: Quantify the impact of your designs, using metrics related to user efficiency, task completion rates, error reduction, or adoption where possible.
• Systemic Thinking: Showcase examples of how you've contributed to or utilized design systems, demonstrating an understanding of consistency, scalability, and component-based design.
• Collaboration Evidence: Include examples of effective collaboration with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, research) and how this partnership influenced the final product.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Present case studies that illustrate your ability to map, analyze, and redesign complex operational workflows to improve efficiency and reduce friction.
• User-Centered Design Methodology: Detail the specific user research techniques employed (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing) and how user feedback was integrated into the design process.
• Prototyping & Iteration Cycles: Showcase the evolution of your designs through iterative prototyping, highlighting how feedback was incorporated to refine the user experience.
• Design System Contribution: If applicable, include examples of contributions to design systems, showing how components were designed, documented, and implemented across various projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an operations-focused UX role, a portfolio should not just showcase aesthetic design but also the practical impact on user efficiency and process improvement. Demonstrating an understanding of system design (design systems) is crucial for scalability in large organizations like Amazon. Evidence of collaboration and the ability to articulate quantitative results will be key differentiators.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated salary range for this position in Bellevue, Washington, is between $106,000 and $184,000 per year. This range reflects the cost of labor across different US geographic markets, with Bellevue being among the higher-paying locations. The final salary will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the specific market conditions.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Financial Well-being: Access to financial planning resources, retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k), and potentially stock options or bonuses depending on the specific role and compensation package.
• Employee Programs: A wide array of employee benefits and programs designed to support overall well-being and professional development.
• Work-Life Integration: Amazon emphasizes a supportive culture that aims for work-life harmony, though specific benefits related to time off or flexible work arrangements would need to be confirmed.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time position. While the role is on-site, there may be expectations for flexibility to meet project deadlines or address urgent operational needs within the data center environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's compensation structure is described as "total compensation," implying that the base salary is only one component. Equity, sign-on bonuses, and other forms of compensation may be provided. The salary range provided is broad, as is typical for large companies, and actual compensation will be highly dependent on the candidate's specific qualifications and the internal leveling of the role. The benefits listed are general; a candidate should inquire about specifics during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cloud Computing, Information Technology, E-commerce, Logistics, and Artificial Intelligence. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leader in the cloud infrastructure space, supporting a vast array of global services.
Company Size: Amazon is a multinational technology conglomerate with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide, making it one of the largest companies globally. This scale means significant opportunities for impact but also requires navigating complex organizational structures.
Founded: Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, initially as an online bookstore. Its evolution into a tech giant with diverse offerings, including AWS, highlights a culture of continuous innovation and expansion into new markets.

Team Structure:

• BRIDGE Team: This role is part of the AWS Data Center BRIDGE team, which is responsible for the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure.
• Cross-Functional Environment: The UX Designer will work within a highly cross-functional environment, collaborating with software engineers, hardware engineers, network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, and operations managers.
• Reporting Dynamics: While specific reporting lines are not detailed, UX Designers typically report into a Design leadership structure, often matrixed with product and engineering teams for project execution.

Methodology:

• Customer Obsession: A core Amazon leadership principle, driving a focus on understanding and meeting user needs, even for internal tools.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Emphasis on using data analytics, performance metrics, and A/B testing to inform design choices and measure success.
• Iterative Development: A continuous cycle of building, measuring, and learning, with a focus on rapid iteration and improvement based on feedback and data.
• Operational Excellence: A commitment to efficiency, reliability, and scalability in all aspects of infrastructure and tool development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is heavily influenced by its Leadership Principles. Understanding these principles, particularly "Customer Obsession," "Invent and Simplify," and "Bias for Action," is critical for success. The scale of Amazon means that designs must be scalable and efficient, often requiring a deep understanding of systemic thinking and automation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-senior level (5-10 years of experience), indicating significant autonomy and responsibility. The UX Designer is expected to guide design strategy and mentor junior team members, suggesting potential for growth into lead or principal designer roles within operations technology.
Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a design lead or manager within the AWS Data Center organization and will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads on specific projects. This collaborative structure allows for exposure to various facets of product development and operational management.
Operations Impact: The work directly influences the efficiency, safety, and reliability of AWS data centers globally. By improving the UX of automation tools, the designer contributes to reducing human error, increasing operational throughput, and ultimately lowering costs, which has a direct impact on AWS's ability to serve its customers and maintain its market leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Track: Potential to grow into a Senior UX Designer, Lead UX Designer, or Principal UX Designer role, taking on more strategic responsibilities and leading larger design initiatives.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in UX for complex operational systems, automation, and large-scale infrastructure management.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Exposure to product management, program management, and engineering roles within AWS could open doors to lateral moves or broader career paths within Amazon.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through internal training, access to industry conferences, and working with cutting-edge technologies in cloud infrastructure and automation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon typically offers robust internal career development paths. For a UX Designer in this space, growth could involve specializing in a particular area of data center operations (e.g., power management, cooling systems, network automation) or moving into management or strategic product roles. The emphasis on "Invent and Simplify" suggests a culture that rewards proactive problem-solving and innovation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is on-site in Bellevue, Washington, indicating a traditional office-based work environment. Amazon offices are typically modern, with collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation and teamwork.
Office Location(s): The primary location is Bellevue, Washington, a major tech hub in the Seattle metropolitan area, known for its vibrant tech scene and concentration of major technology companies.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Expect open-plan office spaces, meeting rooms equipped with advanced AV technology, and dedicated areas for brainstorming and cross-functional collaboration.
• Technology Integration: Access to high-performance computing resources, industry-standard design software, and robust internal communication and collaboration tools.
• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for informal and formal interaction with fellow designers, product managers, and engineers, fostering a dynamic and supportive work environment.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, likely adhering to standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time), Monday through Friday. However, given the nature of data center operations and Amazon's global reach, there may be an expectation of flexibility to support critical projects or address urgent issues as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being on-site in Bellevue places the UX Designer in proximity to other AWS teams and talent, facilitating collaboration. The office environment is likely designed to support the "Bias for Action" leadership principle through readily available collaboration tools and spaces.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Expect a detailed review of your online portfolio. This may be followed by a design challenge, either take-home or conducted during an interview session, focusing on a complex operational problem.
• Technical Interviews: Interviews with hiring managers, senior designers, product managers, and engineers to evaluate your technical skills, design process, problem-solving abilities, and experience with prototyping and design systems.
• Behavioral Interviews: Questions designed to assess alignment with Amazon's Leadership Principles, focusing on past experiences related to collaboration, innovation, customer obsession, and bias for action.
• Final Round: Potentially a final interview with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Operations UX: Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to design for complex, internal-facing operational tools or systems where efficiency and usability are paramount.
• Highlight Process & Rationale: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, explaining why you made certain decisions, the research conducted, and how you iterated based on feedback.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on user efficiency, task completion, error reduction, or other relevant operational KPIs.
• Demonstrate System Thinking: Include examples of your work with design systems, style guides, or component libraries, showcasing your understanding of scalability and consistency.
• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations to tell a compelling story about the problem, your solution, and the outcome, making it easy for interviewers to follow your thought process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with data center operations, automation concepts, and the types of challenges faced by operational staff.
• Focus on Process & Efficiency: For any design challenge, emphasize how your proposed solution improves workflow, reduces steps, minimizes errors, or enhances overall operational efficiency.
• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss design trade-offs, articulate the reasoning behind your choices, and justify your approach based on user needs and business goals.
• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your work and solutions concisely and clearly, ensuring you can effectively communicate complex ideas within a given timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon interviews are known for their rigor and focus on behavioral questions tied to Leadership Principles. Candidates should prepare specific examples from their past experience that illustrate these principles in action, particularly in the context of operations or complex system design. The portfolio is a critical component and should be tailored to showcase relevant skills for this specific role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP, Balsamiq. Experience with specific tools like HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, and CSS for interactive prototypes is also required.
• Design Systems: Familiarity with creating, maintaining, and utilizing design systems and style guides (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight).
• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Amazon Chime for team communication and project coordination.
• Project Management: JIRA, Confluence for task tracking, documentation, and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Looker for analyzing user behavior data and presenting design performance metrics.
• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal AWS analytics tools for tracking user interactions and product performance.
• A/B Testing Tools: Familiarity with tools and methodologies for conducting A/B tests to optimize UX designs.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX designs integrate with or impact CRM data management and sales/operations processes can be beneficial (e.g., Salesforce).
• Workflow Automation Tools: Awareness of tools used for process automation within operations (e.g., scripting languages, specific middleware) can provide context for design integration.
• Integration Tools: Understanding of APIs and how different systems connect is valuable for designing seamless user experiences within a complex tech ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern UX design tools (Figma, Sketch) is expected, but the explicit requirement for HTML/CSS/JavaScript prototyping indicates a need for more technically adept designers who can create functional prototypes. Familiarity with design systems is crucial for scalability within Amazon's vast product portfolio.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession (Internal Users): A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the needs of the internal users who operate the data centers, ensuring their workflows are efficient and intuitive.
• Invent and Simplify: A drive to innovate and find simpler, more effective solutions to complex operational challenges through thoughtful design.
• Bias for Action: A proactive approach to identifying problems and opportunities, taking initiative to design and implement solutions without unnecessary delay.
• Ownership: Taking responsibility for the entire UX lifecycle of the products, from initial concept to post-launch iteration and improvement.
• Dive Deep: A commitment to thoroughly understanding the intricacies of data center operations and automation processes to inform design decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Emphasis on close collaboration with product managers, engineers, and researchers, fostering a shared understanding of goals and challenges.
• Data-Informed Discussions: Utilizing data and user insights as the foundation for design discussions and decision-making.
• Constructive Feedback: A culture that encourages open and honest feedback among team members to collectively improve design quality and project outcomes.
• Agile & Iterative: Working in an agile or iterative manner, with frequent check-ins and opportunities to adapt designs based on evolving requirements and learnings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's Leadership Principles are the bedrock of its culture. Success in this role requires not just design skills but also the ability to embody these principles in daily work and interactions. The emphasis on "Invent and Simplify" and "Dive Deep" is particularly relevant for a role focused on operational automation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Operations: Designing for intricate, high-stakes operational environments requires a deep understanding of technical systems and user workflows, where errors can have significant consequences.
• Balancing User Needs with System Constraints: Finding intuitive UX solutions that also adhere to strict technical, security, and operational constraints within a large-scale infrastructure.
• Driving Adoption of New Designs: Gaining buy-in and ensuring consistent adoption of new UI/UX patterns across a diverse set of operational tools and user groups.
• Pace of Innovation: Keeping pace with the rapid advancements in cloud technology and automation, requiring continuous learning and adaptation of design approaches.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunity to become an expert in the UX of data center operations and automation, a niche but critical area within cloud computing.
• Advanced Tooling & Technology: Exposure to and utilization of cutting-edge design and automation technologies used by AWS.
• Mentorship Programs: Access to experienced designers and leaders within Amazon who can provide guidance and career development support.
• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, participate in user research communities, and contribute to the broader UX and operations technology fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working in large-scale, mission-critical operational environments. Overcoming these challenges offers significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development, particularly in areas like systems thinking and UX for specialized industries.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process Deep Dive: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio projects in detail, explaining your problem-definition, research methods, ideation process, prototyping techniques, and how you measured success. Focus on your approach to complex operational problems.
• Leadership Principles Application: Have specific examples ready that demonstrate how you've embodied Amazon's Leadership Principles, such as "Customer Obsession" (for internal users), "Invent and Simplify," "Dive Deep," and "Bias for Action," in your past roles.
• Design System Philosophy: Discuss your experience with design systems – how you've contributed to them, maintained them, and ensured their adoption. Articulate the benefits of design systems for scalability and consistency.
• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare to answer questions about how you collaborate with product managers and engineers, handle design disagreements, and incorporate feedback from cross-functional teams.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding of AWS: Research AWS's mission, its role in the cloud computing landscape, and the importance of data center operations.
• UX for Operations: Articulate your understanding of the unique challenges and considerations when designing UX for internal operational tools versus consumer-facing products.
• Team Dynamics: Be ready to discuss how you contribute to a team environment, your preferred collaboration style, and how you handle mentorship or receiving feedback.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Prioritize Relevance: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your ability to handle complex operational problems, drive efficiency through design, and utilize design systems.
• Quantify Impact: Clearly present any metrics or data that demonstrate the positive outcomes of your design work (e.g., reduced task time, fewer errors, increased adoption).
• Tell a Compelling Narrative: Structure each project presentation as a story: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the results. Emphasize your decision-making process.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you would adapt your solution to different scenarios or constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus heavily on demonstrating alignment with Amazon’s Leadership Principles through concrete examples. The ability to articulate a structured design process and quantify the impact of design work is crucial. Candidates should also be ready to discuss their experience with design systems and their understanding of operational workflows.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations technology UX position:

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal for the "UX Designer, Data Center Automation" role.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date and highlights projects relevant to complex systems, process improvement, or internal tools. Tailor the project selection and descriptions to emphasize your ability to design for operational efficiency and user-centricity within technical environments.
• Resume Optimization: Craft a resume that clearly articulates your years of experience, specific UX/Interaction Design accomplishments, proficiency in prototyping tools, and any experience with design systems or operational contexts. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and showcasing your portfolio with a focus on impact and user-centricity. Prepare specific examples that align with Amazon's Leadership Principles.
• Company Research: Gain a deeper understanding of Amazon's culture, its Leadership Principles, and the role of AWS in the cloud infrastructure market. Familiarize yourself with the concept of data center automation and its importance.

⚠️ 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.