Senior UX Researcher, AWS Experience Analytics (EXA)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher, AWS Experience Analytics (EXA)

Company: Amazon

Location: Arlington, Virginia, United States / Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Data & Analytics

Date Posted: September 02, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead user research initiatives at the intersection of human-computer interaction and emerging AI-driven workflows within the AWS ecosystem.

• Drive the development of Experience Health metrics and segmentation strategies to assess customer experience impact at scale for AI-first and agent-assisted products.

• Partner closely with science, engineering, and product teams to define and deliver data products that enhance customer understanding and inform product strategy.

• Contribute to thought leadership on AI-augmented and agent-primary experiences, influencing product development across Amazon Web Services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at the forefront of a significant technological shift within AWS, focusing on how customers interact with cloud services through AI agents. The emphasis on "agentic tools" and "agent-primary workflows" suggests a need for researchers who can not only understand traditional UX but also navigate the complexities and novel interaction patterns of AI-driven systems. The "Experience Analytics (EXA)" team's mission to build a unified customer lifecycle data platform and intelligence system indicates a strong data-driven approach, requiring researchers to fuse qualitative insights with quantitative telemetry.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute comprehensive qualitative and quantitative user research studies to inform the strategy and design of agent-assisted and AI-augmented experiences across AWS services.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to develop and implement necessary research instrumentation and tooling for agentic systems, enabling data collection and analysis.

• Develop and champion innovative research methodologies tailored for AI-driven products and large-scale systems, influencing research direction across AWS.

• Lead the delivery of EXA data products, ensuring the unique perspective of AI-first and agent customers is integrated into the product lifecycle.

• Create functional prototypes using agentic tools to effectively communicate research findings and innovative concepts to diverse stakeholder groups, including product managers, engineers, and designers.

• Contribute to the team's research strategy by proposing novel research approaches, curating and maintaining the team's knowledge base, and identifying emerging customer behaviors and needs.

• Mentor junior UX researchers, providing guidance on research design, execution, and impact assessment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: deep user research expertise and technical fluency. The requirement to "build prototypes using agentic tools" and "partner with engineering teams to build agent tooling and research instrumentation" suggests this role demands a hands-on technical aptitude beyond traditional UX research. The emphasis on "thought leadership" and influencing "product development across AWS" indicates a strategic, high-impact position requiring strong communication and influencing skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• PhD in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Behavioral Science, or a closely related field. Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of proven experience leading user research projects that have demonstrated tangible impact on product development and customer experience.

• Extensive experience conducting both qualitative and quantitative research with customers, with a strong ability to synthesize findings from multiple sources.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex customer needs and behaviors into actionable product insights and strategic recommendations. Required Skills:

• Expertise in designing and executing a wide range of qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, ethnographic studies) and quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, statistical analysis).

• Proven ability to triangulate customer insights derived from research with telemetry data to build a holistic understanding of customer behavior and experience.

• Strong technical fluency, with the capacity to understand and discuss complex technical concepts related to AI, cloud computing, and software development.

• Experience conducting B2B research, understanding the unique needs and workflows of business customers.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate research findings, insights, and recommendations clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.

• A demonstrated "Learn and Be Curious" mindset, essential for navigating rapidly evolving AI technologies and customer expectations. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a technical field such as software development, network development, or IT.

• Prior experience working with large-scale technology platforms and understanding their complexities.

• Familiarity with agent-supported, non-deterministic user experiences and the challenges they present.

• Experience developing and utilizing metrics for measuring user experience, particularly in the context of AI and complex systems, including behavioral segmentation.

• Proficiency in Python or equivalent programming languages for data analysis, scripting, or prototyping.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a PhD in HCI or Behavioral Science, coupled with 5+ years of experience, positions this as a senior-level role demanding deep theoretical knowledge and practical application. The emphasis on "technical fluency," "B2B research," and "triangulating customer insights with telemetry data" points towards a researcher who can operate effectively in a technically complex, enterprise-focused environment. The "Learn and Be Curious" mindset is a key Amazon leadership principle, highlighting the need for continuous learning in the fast-paced AI domain.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing end-to-end research projects with clear problem statements, research methodologies, key findings, and measurable impact on product strategy or user experience.

• Include examples of how research insights have directly influenced product roadmaps, design decisions, or the development of new features, particularly in complex technical domains.

• Showcase experience with both qualitative and quantitative data synthesis, illustrating how diverse data sources were integrated to form comprehensive insights.

• Highlight projects where you have developed or refined research methodologies, especially those adapted for novel technologies like AI agents or large-scale platforms.

• Present evidence of your ability to communicate complex findings effectively through compelling narratives, visualizations, and prototypes. Process Documentation:

• Provide documentation or examples of research plans, study designs, and analysis frameworks you have developed, demonstrating a systematic approach to research execution.

• Illustrate your process for translating raw research data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for product and engineering teams.

• Detail your approach to collaborating with cross-functional teams (e.g., Product Management, Engineering, Science) throughout the research lifecycle, from planning to insight dissemination.

• Showcase how you have measured the impact of your research on business outcomes or customer experience metrics, including the development or refinement of such metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX Researcher role, especially within a tech giant like Amazon focusing on advanced technologies, the portfolio is critical. It should not just show what was researched, but how the research was strategically applied, the impact it had, and the sophistication of the methodologies employed, particularly those relevant to AI and B2B contexts. Demonstrating an ability to work with telemetry and complex data platforms is also crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The base salary range for this position is $152,200.00 to $205,900.00 USD annually. Benefits:

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

• Basic Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, with options for supplemental life plans.

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

• Access to a Medical Advice Line for health-related inquiries.

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

• Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage to support family growth.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy.

• Comprehensive Parental Leave benefits.

• In addition to base salary, the compensation package includes sign-on payments and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), reflecting Amazon's total compensation philosophy. Working Hours:

• The standard working hours for this role are 40 hours per week, consistent with a full-time position. While the role is on-site, Amazon typically offers flexibility within core working hours to accommodate individual needs and team collaboration schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific to the US locations (Arlington, VA and Seattle, WA). The compensation structure at Amazon is noted to include not only base salary but also significant equity (RSUs) and potential sign-on bonuses, which are critical components of total compensation for senior roles. The benefits package is extensive and typical for large tech companies, covering health, financial well-being, and family support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cloud Computing, E-commerce, Artificial Intelligence, Technology. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a global leader in cloud computing, providing a vast array of services that power businesses worldwide. The company operates at the cutting edge of technology, driving innovation in areas like AI, machine learning, and large-scale distributed systems.

Company Size: Amazon is a multinational technology conglomerate with over 1.5 million employees globally. This massive scale means operations professionals often work within highly structured environments, dealing with complex processes and large datasets, but also have access to vast resources and opportunities.

Founded: Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, initially as an online bookstore. Its evolution into a global e-commerce and cloud computing giant signifies a culture of continuous innovation, customer obsession, and long-term thinking.

Team Structure:

• The AWS Experience Analytics (EXA) team is part of AWS and focuses on understanding customer experiences across the platform. It is likely composed of UX Researchers, Data Scientists, Data Analysts, Product Managers, and Engineers.

• The reporting structure will likely place the Senior UX Researcher under a UX Research Manager or the Head of EXA, with direct collaboration across product and engineering teams within AWS.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, as the team's mandate is to fuse customer insights with telemetry to create a unified customer intelligence system that serves numerous AWS product teams. Methodology:

• Data Analysis and Insights: The team utilizes a combination of qualitative research methods and quantitative telemetry data to derive deep customer understanding. The goal is to move beyond surface-level metrics to uncover nuanced customer behaviors and needs.

• Workflow Planning and Optimization: EXA is building a "unified customer lifecycle data platform" and "customer intelligence system," indicating a focus on designing and optimizing data flows and analytical processes to provide scalable insights.

• Automation and Efficiency: Given the scale of AWS, there's an inherent need for automated data collection, processing, and insight generation to ensure efficiency and timely delivery of intelligence to product teams.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is heavily influenced by its leadership principles, particularly "Customer Obsession," "Learn and Be Curious," "Invent and Simplify," and "Dive Deep." For operations roles, this translates to a focus on data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The scale of AWS means that operational excellence and robust systems are critical for success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as "Senior UX Researcher," indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond mid-level positions. It signifies a capacity to lead complex research initiatives, mentor junior team members, and contribute significantly to strategic product decisions. The focus on AI-augmented experiences and large-scale systems suggests this role requires specialized knowledge and a forward-thinking approach, placing it at a high level within the UX research discipline.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will report to a Research Manager or a senior leader within the AWS Experience Analytics (EXA) team. They will work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Scientists from various AWS service teams, fostering a collaborative environment where research insights drive product direction.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is substantial. By shaping the strategy for AI-first and agent-customer experiences, the researcher directly influences how millions of AWS customers interact with cloud services. Developing Experience Health metrics and segmentation provides critical intelligence that enables AWS teams to improve product quality, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, adoption and revenue. The role is pivotal in ensuring AWS remains competitive and customer-centric in the evolving landscape of AI-driven technology.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI/Agentic UX: Deepen expertise in the unique challenges and opportunities of researching AI-driven interfaces and agentic workflows, becoming a go