Manager, Design Technologist, Elevated Shopping Experience

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager, Design Technologist, Elevated Shopping Experience

Company: Amazon

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Technology / Creative Technology Management

Date Posted: August 18, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and develop a high-impact team of Design Technologists focused on cutting-edge generative AI tools and creative workflows.

• Drive technical innovation within éShop to create elevated customer shopping experiences through AI-powered solutions.

• Establish operational mechanisms, priorities, and end-to-end ownership for team deliverables, from concept to production.

• Foster a culture of autonomy, inclusivity, and continuous improvement within the Design Technology team.

• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Product, Engineering, Science, and Operations, to translate business needs into scalable, production-ready solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly specialized, focusing on the intersection of design, technology, and generative AI for customer experience enhancement, rather than traditional design production. The emphasis on "Design Technologist" suggests a deep technical understanding combined with creative problem-solving and team leadership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Design Technologists specializing in AI tools, creative workflows, automation, and backend innovation.

• Define and manage team priorities, capacity, and resource allocation, balancing short-term delivery with long-term strategic objectives.

• Remove operational blockers and establish structures that enable the team to independently own and deliver projects end-to-end.

• Collaborate with creative, product, engineering, science, operations, and platform teams to conceptualize and implement scalable solutions.

• Manage project scope, commitments, escalations, and technical tradeoffs, considering usability, quality, scalability, governance, and production readiness.

• Develop and implement clear workflows, service level agreements (SLAs), operating mechanisms, and best practices for the Design Technology team.

• Ensure seamless integration of developed tools with existing systems, including planning for adoption, maintenance, measurement, and continuous improvement.

• Drive data-informed decision-making by establishing measurable customer outcomes, quality standards, and operational performance metrics.

• Coach team members, support their career growth, manage performance transparently, and cultivate an inclusive and autonomous team culture.

• Simplify processes, enhance operational metrics, and ensure the team's contributions receive clear visibility and recognition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on people management, strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and operational excellence within a technology-driven creative context. The role requires managing complex technical projects with a focus on AI and customer experience.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in design, computer science, engineering, human-computer interaction, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience as a Design Technologist, Creative Technologist, or equivalent role, focusing on building production-quality prototypes at the intersection of design and engineering.

• Minimum of 3 years of direct people management experience, including hiring, performance management, and team development.

• Demonstrated ability to work on large, ambiguous problems with limited guidance and deliver tangible results. Required Skills:

• Proficiency with AI and generative interfaces, including node-based workflows and agentic systems.

• Ability to build functional prototypes using real model APIs and production data.

• Strong experience in coordinating cross-functional inputs, meeting deadlines, and effectively managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Deep understanding of creative workflows, automation, and backend innovation for customer-facing experiences.

• Proven people management skills, including coaching, performance feedback, and fostering team development.

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to align diverse teams towards common goals. Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of multi-model systems, agent orchestration, evaluation frameworks, and human-in-the-loop review processes.

• Familiarity with generative AI systems such as image generation, video generation, LLM-powered interfaces, or agentic workflows.

• Experience working with workflow orchestration, system integrations, or backend service dependencies.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards, design systems, and the integration of UX research findings.

• Proven ability to leverage generative AI tools to enhance workflow efficiency, including effective prompting and evaluation practices.

• Ability to proactively identify opportunities where generative AI can significantly enhance products, workflows, or customer experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level (10+ years total, with 7+ in technical roles and 3+ in management) indicates a senior leadership position. The emphasis on AI, prototyping, and specific technical proficiencies (node-based workflows, APIs) is crucial for candidates to highlight.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase of production-quality prototypes demonstrating the intersection of design and engineering, particularly involving AI or generative technologies.

• Examples of developed AI tools, creative workflows, or automation solutions that have been integrated into existing systems or production environments.

• Case studies detailing the process of identifying ambiguous problems, developing solutions with limited guidance, and delivering measurable results.

• Documentation of technical decisions, tradeoffs, and considerations for usability, scalability, governance, and operational readiness for developed systems.

• Evidence of managing and optimizing workflows, potentially including node-based systems or agentic architectures. Process Documentation:

• Detailed descriptions of how you've established and improved workflows, operating mechanisms, and best practices for technical teams.

• Examples of how you've ensured tools integrate with larger systems, including plans for adoption, maintenance, and performance measurement.

• Documentation of your approach to driving data-informed decisions through measurable outcomes, quality standards, and operational performance metrics.

• Case studies illustrating your ability to manage scope, commitments, and technical tradeoffs effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should heavily feature projects demonstrating practical application of generative AI, workflow automation, and the ability to bridge the gap between creative concepts and scalable technical solutions. It should also showcase leadership in process definition and improvement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $186,600 - $252,500 USD annually

Benefits:

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

• Prescription drug coverage.

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

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

• Medical Advice Line for healthcare guidance.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for healthcare and dependent care.

• Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage.

• 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) for vacation, sick leave, and personal days.

• Generous Parental Leave policies.

• Sign-on payments.

• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of the compensation package.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for New York, NY, USA. Amazon's compensation structure includes base salary, sign-on bonuses, and RSUs, offering a comprehensive total compensation package. The benefits listed are extensive and cover health, financial planning, and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Technology, Retail

Company Size: Extremely Large (Amazon is one of the world's largest companies with over 1.5 million employees globally). This scale implies robust processes, extensive resources, and opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: 1994. Amazon's long history and continuous innovation culture are key aspects.

Team Structure:

• The Design Technology team is part of the broader éShop organization, which is responsible for creating elevated product content and shopping experiences globally.

• This team likely operates within a matrixed structure, collaborating closely with creative, product management, engineering, applied science, and operations teams.

• The Manager will report to the éShop Innovation Lead, indicating a direct line of influence on strategic direction. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core Amazon principle, applied here through measuring customer outcomes, quality, and operational performance.

• Emphasis on innovation, particularly in AI and generative technologies, to enhance customer experiences and internal workflows.

• Focus on end-to-end ownership, enabling teams to manage projects from ideation through to scalable production.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed for sprint planning, capacity management, and iterative development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is known for its "Leadership Principles," which emphasize customer obsession, ownership, innovation, and frugality. Candidates are expected to embody these principles. The éShop organization's focus on creative production and technology integration is central to this role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Managerial role, specifically leading a specialized technical team (Design Technologists). It sits at a senior level, requiring both technical depth and people leadership. The focus on "elevated shopping experience" and AI innovation suggests a forward-looking, strategic position within Amazon's e-commerce operations.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the éShop Innovation Lead. This position will likely have direct reports who are Design Technologists, and will collaborate extensively with peers and leaders in Product, Engineering, and Creative.

Operations Impact: The Design Technology team's work directly impacts the customer's perception and interaction with products on Amazon. By developing AI-powered tools and workflows for content creation and experience design, this role contributes to customer engagement, conversion rates, and overall shopping satisfaction, thereby influencing revenue and brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in generative AI, multi-model systems, agentic workflows, and the application of these technologies in e-commerce.

• Leadership Development: Advance into larger management roles, potentially leading multiple teams or broader innovation initiatives within éShop or other Amazon organizations.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to the long-term vision and strategy for AI-driven customer experiences at Amazon.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Gain broad exposure to various Amazon businesses and technologies, opening doors to roles in product management, engineering leadership, or applied science management.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique blend of technical leadership and creative innovation, with significant potential for growth within Amazon's vast ecosystem. The emphasis on emerging AI technologies provides a strong foundation for future career development in a rapidly evolving field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment at Amazon's New York City location. This suggests a collaborative setting conducive to team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and direct interaction with colleagues.

Office Location(s): New York, New York, United States. Amazon has a significant presence in New York City, offering access to a vibrant tech and creative community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace designed to foster teamwork, with opportunities for regular interaction with direct reports, peers, and stakeholders across different departments.

• Technology Access: As a leading tech company, Amazon provides employees with state-of-the-art tools, hardware, and software necessary for design, development, and collaboration. This likely includes powerful workstations and access to Amazon's internal cloud infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: The role involves leading daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and regular team syncs, ensuring continuous communication and problem-solving within the Design Technology team.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. While Amazon emphasizes results and operational efficiency, the on-site nature implies adherence to typical business hours, with flexibility managed by the team leader.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in New York City suggests a hands-on leadership role. Candidates should be prepared for a collaborative office environment that supports Amazon's fast-paced, results-oriented culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and interest in the role.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on leadership experience, team management philosophy, technical background in AI/generative design, and problem-solving approach.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Interviews with Design Technologists, Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially the éShop Innovation Lead. These will assess technical depth, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Technical Deep Dive / Case Study: Expect a session where you might present a past project, discuss your approach to a hypothetical AI/workflow challenge, or demonstrate your prototyping capabilities. This is crucial for evaluating your Design Technology expertise.

• Leadership Principles Interview: A dedicated interview focusing on Amazon's Leadership Principles, using behavioral questions to gauge how you've demonstrated these principles in past roles.

• Final Round: May involve senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss overall team strategy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI & Generative Focus: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects involving generative AI, node-based workflows, agentic systems, and API integrations.

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Detail projects where you managed work from concept through to production-ready solutions, emphasizing problem identification, solution development, and outcome measurement.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Include examples of how you've led teams, managed priorities, removed blockers, and fostered growth in team members.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements, adoption rates, customer satisfaction).

• Explain Technical Tradeoffs: Be prepared to discuss the technical decisions you made, the tradeoffs considered (usability, scalability, governance), and the rationale behind them.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI/Generative Workflow Design: Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing a new AI-powered workflow for content generation or customer experience enhancement.

• Team Management Scenarios: Be ready to address questions about performance management, conflict resolution, resource allocation, and building an inclusive team.

• Technical Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about debugging complex technical issues, managing technical debt, or integrating disparate systems.

• Amazon Leadership Principles: Thoroughly research and prepare STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) examples for each of Amazon's Leadership Principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at Amazon is rigorous and deeply focused on both technical competency and cultural alignment. A strong portfolio demonstrating hands-on experience with AI and leadership in process management is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Generative AI Platforms: Familiarity with various generative AI models and platforms (e.g., for image, text, video generation).

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools for building functional prototypes using APIs and production data. This could include custom scripting, frameworks, or specialized platforms.

• Node-Based Workflows: Proficiency with visual programming or node-based systems for creating complex workflows (e.g., within creative software, specialized AI platforms, or custom-built tools).

• Agentic Systems: Understanding and potentially experience with developing or managing agent-based AI systems.

• Programming Languages: Likely proficiency in languages commonly used for prototyping and backend development (e.g., Python, JavaScript).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Experience with tools for analyzing performance metrics, user behavior, and operational efficiency.

• Dashboarding Tools: Ability to create and interpret dashboards for tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to AI tools, workflows, and customer experience.

CRM & Automation:

• Workflow Orchestration Tools: Familiarity with systems for managing and automating complex processes.

• System Integration Tools: Experience with APIs and integration platforms to connect various systems and services.

• Internal Amazon Platforms: While not specified, expect to work with Amazon's proprietary internal tools and infrastructure for development, deployment, and operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a strong technical foundation in generative AI and related technologies, along with the ability to integrate these into larger systems. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with specific AI models, prototyping frameworks, and workflow automation tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: Deeply understanding and prioritizing customer needs and experiences, using AI to enhance their journey.

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for team deliverables, from concept to measurable outcomes, and driving projects to completion.

• Invent and Simplify: Continuously seeking innovative AI-driven solutions and simplifying complex processes to improve efficiency and user experience.

• Bias for Action: Moving quickly and decisively to solve problems and deliver results, even with ambiguity.

• Dive Deep: Thoroughly understanding the technical aspects of AI tools, workflow mechanics, and operational performance.

• Frugality: Maximizing impact with available resources, focusing on efficiency and scalability in AI tool development.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A highly collaborative approach, working closely with creative, product, engineering, and science teams to ensure alignment and successful integration of AI solutions.

• Data-Driven Dialogue: Engaging in discussions based on data and measurable outcomes to guide technical and strategic decisions.

• Open Feedback Culture: Fostering an environment where constructive feedback is shared regularly among team members and with stakeholders to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings related to generative AI and workflow development across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's core Leadership Principles are deeply embedded in its culture. Candidates will be assessed on how well their values and work style align with these principles, particularly those related to innovation, customer focus, and ownership within a technical and creative context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of the fast-paced advancements in generative AI and integrating new capabilities effectively.

• Ambiguity and Scale: Navigating large, complex, and often ambiguous problems within a massive organization like Amazon, while ensuring solutions are scalable.

• Balancing Innovation with Production: Effectively managing the transition of novel AI prototypes into stable, reliable, and measurable production systems.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and buy-in from diverse stakeholder groups (creative, product, engineering, science) with potentially different priorities.

• Measuring AI Impact: Developing robust metrics and evaluation frameworks to accurately assess the performance and ROI of AI-driven tools and workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge AI Research: Direct involvement with generative AI, multi-model systems, and agentic AI, providing deep expertise in emerging technologies.

• Leadership Development Programs: Amazon offers numerous internal programs for leadership growth, mentorship, and skill enhancement.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend relevant AI and technology conferences, workshops, and pursue certifications.

• Mentorship: Access to experienced leaders within Amazon for guidance on technical and career development.

• Exposure to Global E-commerce Operations: Gaining a deep understanding of how technology drives customer experience at a global scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges due to the frontier nature of the work and Amazon's operational scale. However, these challenges are directly tied to substantial growth opportunities in AI leadership and strategic innovation within the e-commerce domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• AI Workflow Design: "How would you approach designing an AI-powered system to generate personalized product descriptions for a new product category, considering scalability and quality control?" (Focus on your process, AI model considerations, workflow steps, and evaluation).

• Team Leadership & Development: "Describe a time you had to manage conflicting priorities within your team. How did you allocate resources and ensure deliverables were met?" (Highlight your prioritization, resource management, and team communication strategies).

• Technical Problem Solving: "Imagine a generative AI tool is producing inconsistent results. What steps would you take to diagnose and resolve the issue, considering both technical and user experience factors?" (Emphasize your diagnostic approach, data analysis, and iterative improvement process).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Leadership Principles: "Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult tradeoff. How did you decide what was most important for the customer and the business?" (Prepare a STAR story demonstrating a relevant Leadership Principle like "Customer Obsession" or "Invent and Simplify").

• Team Dynamics: "How do you foster an inclusive and autonomous team culture, especially when working on highly technical and innovative projects?" (Discuss your management style, communication techniques, and methods for empowering team members).

• Impact Measurement: "How would you measure the success of a new AI tool designed to enhance the shopping experience? What key metrics would you track?" (Focus on defining KPIs that align with customer outcomes and business goals).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations around compelling narratives that highlight the problem, your innovative solution, the technical execution, and the quantifiable impact.

• Focus on AI & Leadership: Ensure your chosen examples clearly demonstrate your expertise in generative AI, workflow design, and your ability to lead and mentor a technical team.

• Technical Depth & Tradeoffs: Be prepared to dive deep into the technical architecture, the AI models used, and the rationale behind any significant technical decisions or tradeoffs made.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, include live demos or interactive elements for prototypes to showcase functionality dynamically.

• Amazon Context: Frame your experiences and solutions in the context of Amazon's customer-centric and innovation-driven culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon interviews are highly structured and behavioral. Practicing the STAR method for Leadership Principles and preparing specific examples that showcase your technical depth in AI and your leadership capabilities will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

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

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with generative AI, creative workflows, technical prototyping, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your skills in AI tool development, workflow optimization, and leadership. Prepare a concise walkthrough for each, focusing on problem, solution, execution, and impact.

• Prepare for STAR Method: Research Amazon's Leadership Principles and prepare specific behavioral examples using the STAR method for each.

• Research éShop & Amazon's AI Strategy: Understand Amazon's current initiatives in AI and how the éShop organization contributes to the overall customer experience.

⚠️ 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.

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