UX Designer, Whole Foods/Grocery/WWGS
π Job Overview
Job Title: UX Designer, Whole Foods/Grocery/WWGS Company: Amazon Location: Austin, Texas, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Date Posted: November 5, 2025 Experience Level: 4-6 years relevant experience (with preferred 2+ years in consumer web/mobile products)
π Role Summary
- This role is focused on designing user experiences and interfaces for internal teams, suppliers, and vendors within the Whole Foods Market and Amazon Grocery ecosystem, emphasizing efficiency and functionality in operations and supply chain processes.
- The UX Designer will be responsible for translating complex business needs and user requirements into intuitive and aesthetically pleasing digital solutions across various platforms.
- A key aspect of this role involves balancing ideal product visions with practical technical constraints, business objectives, and established operational processes.
- The position requires a strong understanding of user advocacy, ensuring that user needs are championed throughout the design and development lifecycle.
π Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Designer," the description strongly points towards a Product Designer role with a focus on enterprise and operational systems within the grocery sector. The emphasis on "supply and operation systems" and "internal teams, suppliers and vendors" positions this beyond typical B2C UX, requiring a deeper understanding of business process and enterprise-level design challenges. The company's focus on "quality and innovation within the grocery industry" suggests a need for designers who can appreciate and contribute to a mission-driven product.
π Primary Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive UX/UI analysis, design, and development services for new and ongoing initiatives, platforms, and delivery channels within the WWGS organization.
- Generate and translate innovative concepts into elegant and user-centric experiences and interfaces that effectively address both business imperatives and user goals.
- Create compelling design concepts and assets that visually represent the Whole Foods Market and Amazon Grocery brands across digital touchpoints, including mobile applications, responsive web interfaces, handheld devices, and point-of-sale (POS) systems.
- Develop and clearly communicate product structure, user flows, and information architecture through deliverables such as wireframes, interactive prototypes, site maps, and other relevant design tools.
- Strategically balance the pursuit of optimized product design with the realities of technical limitations, overarching business objectives, and existing operational processes to deliver effective user problem solutions.
- Act as a dedicated user advocate, championing user needs and perspectives to marketing stakeholders, fellow designers, product owners, and development teams throughout the entire design and development lifecycle.
- Validate design solutions through rigorous usability testing, analysis of user feedback, and interpretation of usage analytics, actively leading and participating in user research initiatives.
- Maintain a current and in-depth understanding of the latest trends and developments in UX design, relevant technologies, functional capabilities, and usability research.
- Consistently elevate the quality of design deliverables by actively participating in design reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback in critique sessions.
- Perform Quality Assurance (VQA) checks on all new screen designs to ensure adherence to Accessibility requirements (e.g., color contrast, font size) and to maintain consistency with established design patterns and brand guidelines.
π Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can operate across a broad spectrum, from high-level conceptualization to detailed visual design and accessibility compliance. The mention of "supply and operation systems" and "operational processes" indicates that the designer must be comfortable with enterprise-level workflows and potentially complex backend systems, not just customer-facing interfaces. The emphasis on VQA for Accessibility suggests a mature design process where quality and inclusivity are paramount.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in a relevant field such as Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related discipline, OR an equivalent combination of education and substantial relevant professional experience.
Experience:
- A minimum of 4-6 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design or related product design roles.
- Preferred candidates will possess at least 2 years of experience specifically with mass-market consumer web and mobile products.
- Demonstrated experience working effectively within collaborative team environments and directly partnering with developers for the seamless implementation of designs.
Required Skills:
- Expertise in UX/UI analysis, design, and development services across multiple platforms and initiatives.
- Proficiency in generating and translating concepts into user experiences and interfaces that meet both business and user needs.
- Ability to balance 'ideal' product designs with technical constraints, business objectives, and operational processes.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and concisely to diverse stakeholders.
- Familiarity with Accessibility requirements, including color contrast, tagging, font size, etc., and a commitment to inclusive design practices.
- Advanced ability to plan, estimate, organize, and monitor design projects, keeping multiple efforts on track creatively and against deadlines.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with enterprise products, architecture, and a keen eye for detail.
- Ability to recognize patterns and contribute to or build supply and operation systems.
- Passion for food, nutrition, and quality, with an understanding of the grocery industry's unique challenges and innovations.
- Experience with tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and other prototyping software, with a demonstrated ability to adapt to new tools rapidly.
- Proven ability to effectively present information and respond to questions in one-on-one and group settings.
- Understanding of customer, market, and industry trends, and the ability to apply business acumen to drive cross-functional efforts.
π Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of core design skills, enterprise-level thinking, and a collaborative mindset. The "4-6 years relevant experience" combined with the "2+ years mass-market consumer web/mobile products" suggests a mid-level to senior role that requires both foundational design expertise and practical application in consumer-facing digital products. The "enterprise products, architecture, and supply/operation systems" preference indicates a need for designers who can think systemically and understand the operational backbone of a large retail business.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- An available online portfolio is a mandatory requirement, showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects with a clear demonstration of problem-solving capabilities.
- Portfolio pieces should highlight the design process, from initial research and ideation through to final execution and iteration, with a focus on user-centered design principles.
- Demonstrate experience in designing for complex systems, enterprise applications, or operational workflows, illustrating how design solutions addressed specific business and user needs.
- Include examples that showcase an understanding of technical constraints and how design decisions were made in collaboration with engineering and product teams.
Process Documentation:
- Showcase examples of how you've translated user needs and business requirements into tangible design deliverables, such as wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
- Provide case studies that detail the implementation of designs, including collaboration with development teams and any design system contributions or adherence.
- Illustrate how you have incorporated feedback from usability testing, user research, and stakeholder reviews into iterative design improvements.
- Demonstrate an understanding of design for accessibility, including how you've addressed WCAG guidelines and ensured inclusive user experiences.
π Enhancement Note: For this enterprise-focused UX/Product Design role, a portfolio demonstrating a strong grasp of process is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design methodology, showing how they move from problem definition to solution. Highlighting projects that involved complex systems, operational efficiency, or B2B interactions will be particularly valuable. The emphasis on balancing "ideal product" with "technical constraints, business objectives, and operational processes" means the portfolio should reflect this pragmatic approach.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
- The base pay for this position ranges from $106,000 per year in the lowest geographic market to $184,000 per year in the highest geographic market within the US.
- This range is determined by factors such as market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Benefits:
- Medical: Comprehensive medical coverage options.
- Financial: Access to financial benefits, which may include retirement plans, savings programs, or financial wellness resources.
- Equity: Potential to receive equity in the form of stock options or grants, depending on the specific position.
- Sign-On Payments: Possibility of receiving sign-on bonuses as part of the total compensation package.
- A full range of other benefits are also available, as detailed on Amazon's employee benefits portal.
Working Hours:
- Standard full-time work schedule, typically around 40 hours per week, with potential for additional hours depending on project demands and deadlines.
π Enhancement Note: The salary range provided ($106,000 - $184,000 USD annually) is typical for a mid-level to senior UX/Product Designer in major US tech hubs. This is a broad range, and actual compensation will be highly dependent on the specific geographic market where the role is based and the candidate's demonstrated experience and skills. The mention of "total compensation" including equity and sign-on payments indicates a comprehensive package beyond base salary, common in large tech organizations like Amazon. The 40-hour work week is standard, but the fast-paced environment at Amazon often implies the need for flexibility and dedication.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry:
- E-commerce, Retail, Technology, Food & Beverage. Amazon operates across multiple sectors, with this specific role focusing on the grocery retail segment, specifically Whole Foods Market (WWGS). This intersection of technology and retail presents unique challenges and opportunities for design innovation.
Company Size:
- Amazon is a global technology giant with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale means access to vast resources, cutting-edge technology, and opportunities for impact across millions of customers and partners. However, it also implies navigating complex organizational structures and processes.
Founded:
- Amazon was founded in 1994. With a long history of disruption and innovation, the company fosters a culture that encourages experimentation, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless focus on customer obsession.
Team Structure:
- The role is within the World Wide Grocery Store (WWGS) Product Design team, a specialized group within Amazon's larger design organization.
- This team likely comprises Product Designers, UX Researchers, and potentially UI Developers, working collaboratively.
- The structure suggests a matrixed reporting line, with designers reporting to design leadership while working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and business stakeholders for specific initiatives.
Methodology:
- Amazon is renowned for its data-driven approach, utilizing A/B testing, user analytics, and customer feedback to inform design and product decisions.
- The design process emphasizes iterative development, rapid prototyping, and a focus on operational efficiency, particularly for enterprise-facing tools.
- Principles like "Customer Obsession," "Bias for Action," and "Invent and Simplify" are deeply embedded in the company's operational and design methodologies.
Company Website:
π Enhancement Note: Understanding Amazon's culture is key. Their "Day 1" philosophy, customer obsession, and rigorous data-driven approach shape every aspect of product development. For a UX Designer, this means being comfortable with extensive testing, iterating based on metrics, and advocating for the user within a highly structured, results-oriented environment. The WWGS team specifically will require an understanding of grocery operations and the unique needs of internal users, suppliers, and vendors.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level:
- This role appears to be at a mid-level to senior UX/Product Designer capacity, requiring 4-6 years of relevant experience. The scope involves contributing significantly to new initiatives and platforms, influencing design direction, and potentially mentoring junior team members. The focus on enterprise systems and operational processes indicates a specialization within the broader UX field.
Reporting Structure:
- The UX Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Lead within the WWGS Product Design team. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers (PMs), Software Development Engineers (SDEs), and business stakeholders across various departments involved in grocery operations and retail.
Operations Impact:
- The designs created will directly impact the efficiency, usability, and effectiveness of critical operational processes within the Whole Foods Market and Amazon Grocery businesses. This includes improving how internal teams manage inventory, orders, supplier relationships, and in-store operations, ultimately contributing to business objectives like cost reduction, increased throughput, and enhanced quality control.
Growth Opportunities:
- Specialization: Deepen expertise in enterprise UX, supply chain design, or retail operations technology within Amazon's vast ecosystem.
- Leadership: Progress into a Senior UX Designer or Lead Designer role, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to design strategy.
- Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into Product Management, UX Research leadership, or even program management roles within Amazon, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and business processes.
- Learning & Development: Access to Amazon's extensive internal training resources, workshops, and opportunities to attend industry conferences to stay abreast of the latest UX trends and technologies.
π Enhancement Note: The career path for a UX Designer at Amazon, especially within an operational-focused team like WWGS, offers significant opportunities for specialization and impact. The ability to influence core business operations through design is a unique growth avenue. The emphasis on "enterprise products, architecture, and supply and operation systems" suggests that excelling in this role could lead to more strategic design leadership positions focused on complex business challenges.
π Work Environment
Office Type:
- This role is designated as On-site in Austin, Texas. Amazon typically offers modern, well-equipped office spaces designed to foster collaboration and productivity.
Office Location(s):
- Austin, Texas, United States. This location is a significant tech hub, offering a vibrant ecosystem for professionals.
Workspace Context:
- Designed for collaboration, with likely access to shared work areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated project spaces.
- Equipped with standard office technology and software, including access to Amazon's internal design tools, communication platforms, and hardware necessary for design work.
- Opportunities for regular interaction with fellow designers, product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders, facilitating a dynamic and integrated work environment.
Work Schedule:
- The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Given Amazon's culture, there may be expectations for flexibility and dedication, particularly around critical project deadlines or launches.
π Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Austin means candidates should be prepared to work from a physical Amazon office. The description implies a highly collaborative environment, typical of tech companies, where designers work closely with various cross-functional teams. This setting is conducive to rapid iteration and problem-solving, requiring designers to be engaged and communicative.
π 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 & Presentation: Candidates will be asked to present their online portfolio, walking interviewers through key projects. This is a critical step where the candidate articulates their design process, problem-solving approach, and impact. Expect questions about design decisions, trade-offs, and user advocacy.
- Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical design exercise or a deep dive into a past project's case study may be assigned. This could involve solving a hypothetical problem relevant to grocery operations or analyzing a complex user flow.
- Behavioral Interviews: Expect questions designed to assess leadership principles, collaboration skills, and how candidates handle challenges, manage ambiguity, and drive results, aligned with Amazon's Leadership Principles.
- Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially business stakeholders to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of technical and business constraints.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your skills relevant to enterprise design, operational systems, and consumer-facing digital products. Highlight projects where you balanced user needs with business/technical constraints.
- Tell a Story: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role and responsibilities, the design process you followed, the solutions you proposed, and the measurable impact or outcomes. Use visuals effectively.
- Focus on Process: Emphasize your thought process, research methods, decision-making rationale, and how you iterated based on feedback and data.
- Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, increased task completion rates).
- Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle disagreements, your experience with accessibility, and your understanding of the grocery/retail domain.
Challenge Preparation:
- Understand the Domain: Research Amazon's grocery operations (Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh), common challenges in retail supply chains, and user needs for internal teams, suppliers, and vendors.
- Structure Your Approach: For any design challenge, clearly define the problem scope, identify target users, brainstorm solutions, prioritize features, and outline a user flow or wireframes.
- Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss the pros and cons of different design solutions and how you would prioritize based on business goals, technical feasibility, and user impact.
- Focus on Efficiency: Given the role's context, demonstrate how your designs can streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and improve operational efficiency.
π Enhancement Note: The interview process at Amazon is known to be rigorous and structured, heavily influenced by their Leadership Principles. For this UX Designer role, the portfolio review and potential design challenge will be crucial for demonstrating not just creative skill but also strategic thinking, problem-solving ability, and a deep understanding of user-centered design within a complex operational environment. Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with enterprise systems and how they balance multiple stakeholder needs.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Figma: Expected to be a primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design, given its industry prevalence and Amazon's likely adoption.
- Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for asset creation, visual design, and motion graphics.
- Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific project needs or legacy systems.
- Design System Tools: Familiarity with managing or contributing to design systems (e.g., using Figma libraries, Storybook, or similar) for ensuring consistency across platforms.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Internal Amazon Analytics Platforms: While not explicitly named, expect to work with proprietary tools for user behavior tracking, A/B testing results, and performance metrics.
- Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that can help interpret and present data insights, potentially including Tableau or similar for understanding user metrics.
CRM & Automation:
- Internal Systems: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data flows from various systems (potentially including aspects of enterprise resource planning or supply chain management software) into design considerations will be important.
- Workflow Tools: Experience with tools that map and support business workflows, as the role touches upon operational processes.
π Enhancement Note: Amazon leverages a wide array of internal tools, but proficiency in industry-standard design software like Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite is fundamental. The emphasis on "supply and operation systems" and "operational processes" implies that designers will need to understand how their work integrates with broader enterprise systems, even if they aren't directly configuring them. A strong understanding of how to leverage analytics for design decisions is also paramount.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Customer Obsession: A core Amazon principle, meaning starting with the customer and working backward. For this role, it translates to deeply understanding the needs of internal users, suppliers, and vendors.
- Bias for Action: Encourages making decisions and taking action quickly, even with incomplete information, and iterating based on results. Designers must be comfortable moving fast and adapting.
- Invent and Simplify: Fosters innovation by seeking simpler solutions to complex problems. Designers are expected to be creative problem-solvers who can streamline processes.
- Dive Deep: Requires understanding business problems at a fundamental level and using data to drive insights. Designers should be analytical and thorough.
- Earn Trust: Emphasizes integrity, transparency, and respectful interactions. Collaboration and open communication are key.
Collaboration Style:
- Highly collaborative and cross-functional, with a strong emphasis on clear communication and shared ownership.
- Designers work in close partnership with Product Managers and Engineers, often in agile or iterative development cycles.
- Expect regular design critiques and feedback sessions to ensure high-quality output and alignment across teams.
- A culture of constructive feedback exchange is encouraged to drive continuous improvement.
π Enhancement Note: The values of Amazon, particularly Customer Obsession, Bias for Action, and Invent and Simplify, are critical to understand. For a UX Designer in an operational context, customer obsession means focusing on the needs of internal users and partners. Bias for Action implies a need for agile design processes and quick iteration. Invent and Simplify means finding elegant solutions to complex operational challenges. The collaborative style is essential for navigating Amazon's large, matrixed organization.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Navigating Complexity: Designing for large-scale enterprise systems with intricate operational workflows and diverse user groups (internal teams, suppliers, vendors) presents significant complexity.
- Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Juggling the competing priorities and requirements of various stakeholders (e.g., operations, logistics, finance, technology) while maintaining a strong user focus.
- Data-Driven Iteration: Adapting to a highly data-driven environment where design decisions are constantly validated and iterated upon based on analytics and A/B testing results.
- Keeping Pace with Innovation: Staying current with rapidly evolving technologies and design best practices in both the UX field and the dynamic grocery/retail industry.
- Accessibility Compliance: Ensuring all designs meet stringent accessibility standards across multiple platforms and devices, which can add layers of complexity to the design process.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Specialized Training: Access to Amazon's extensive internal learning resources focused on UX, product design, enterprise systems, and the retail/grocery domain.
- Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced designers and product leaders within the WWGS team and the broader Amazon design organization.
- Industry Exposure: Potential to attend relevant industry conferences and workshops focused on UX, retail technology, and operational efficiency.
- Career Pathing: Clear pathways for advancement into senior design roles, design leadership, or related product development positions within Amazon.
π Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are directly tied to the complexities of enterprise-level design within a major retail operation. Success will require strategic thinking, strong analytical skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, data-informed environment. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering deep specialization and significant career progression within a leading global tech company.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you had to design for a complex operational process. What was the problem, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on your process, problem-solving, and impact.)
- "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints in your design process?" (Highlight your ability to make pragmatic trade-offs.)
- "Walk us through a project where you championed user needs to influence stakeholders or development teams." (Demonstrate your user advocacy and communication skills.)
- "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive?" (Prepare to discuss specific accessibility standards and your implementation methods.)
- "Tell us about a time you had to work with incomplete information or ambiguous requirements. How did you proceed?" (Show your ability to navigate uncertainty and drive clarity.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What do you know about Amazon's Leadership Principles, and how do they relate to UX design?" (Research and be ready to connect principles like Customer Obsession, Bias for Action, and Invent & Simplify to your work.)
- "What interests you about designing for the grocery industry and specifically for WWGS?" (Show genuine interest in the domain and the company's mission.)
- "How do you handle constructive criticism or design feedback from peers or leadership?" (Emphasize your receptiveness and iterative approach.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- STAR Method: Structure your project walkthroughs using the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method. Clearly define the context, your specific role, the actions you took, and the measurable results.
- Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, flow diagrams) to illustrate your process and solutions. Don't just show the final output; show the journey.
- Focus on Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss the decisions you made, the alternatives you considered, and why you chose a particular path, especially regarding technical feasibility, business goals, and user experience.
- Quantify Impact: Highlight any metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss potential impact or how you would measure success post-launch.
- Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation. Ask clarifying questions and be receptive to interviewer feedback during the presentation.
π Enhancement Note: Amazon interviews are rigorous and designed to assess not only design skills but also cultural fit through their Leadership Principles. For this role, interviewers will be looking for designers who can think strategically, solve complex problems, collaborate effectively, and are deeply committed to user advocacy within a business-critical operational context. Preparing specific examples that align with Amazon's principles and the operational nature of the WWGS team will be key.
π Application Steps
To apply for this operations-adjacent UX Designer position:
- Submit your application through the official Amazon Jobs portal via the provided URL.
- Curate Your Online Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, easily navigable, and showcases 3-4 projects that best highlight your experience with enterprise design, operational systems, user advocacy, and balancing complex requirements. Tailor project selection to emphasize process and impact.
- Optimize Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description (UX Design, UI Design, Figma, Prototyping, Accessibility, Enterprise Products, Operational Processes, Collaboration) and quantify your achievements with specific metrics where possible.
- Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected projects using the STAR method, focusing on your problem-solving approach, design decisions, collaboration process, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss trade-offs and your understanding of the grocery/retail domain.
- Research Amazon's Leadership Principles: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's core values and be prepared to discuss how your past experiences align with them, particularly in the context of user obsession, bias for action, and inventing/simplifying solutions.
β οΈ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions. The role is primarily UX/Product Design, with significant implications for operational processes within the grocery sector.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have a BA/BS degree and 4-6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Preferred qualifications include 2+ years of experience with mass-market consumer web/mobile products and collaborative team experience.