Description We're seeking a Principal UX Researcher who is passionate about shaping the future of AI-native business applications at scale. This is a rare opportunity to influence the direction of Amazon's next generation of AI-powered solutions through deep customer understanding and strategic research insights. As a Principal UX Researcher, you will define research strategy that spans across multiple AI solutions and customer journeys, turning cutting-edge AI capabilities into meaningful, trustworthy, and human-centered experiences for millions of customers. You will not only drive research at the highest levels of complexity but also shape how research and AI intersect across AWS. You will influence product and business strategy, mentor other researchers, and partner closely with design, science, engineering, and product leaders to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI-driven user experiences. You will be a player-coach expected to be hands on in tactics, strategy and vision as well as directing a small but mighty team of researchers. Key job responsibilities * Define Research Strategy: Own the UX research vision and strategy across multiple AI services and solutions, ensuring research insights drive intuitive, elegant, and scalable customer experiences * Lead Complex Research Initiatives: Drive high-impact research programs where AI product and business strategy is highly complex and future direction has yet to be defined * AI-Native Research Innovation: Set the bar for AI-focused user research by developing and adapting methodologies to understand how customers interact with AI systems, building trust and driving adoption * Strategic Business Impact: Influence product and business direction, working with senior leadership to identify opportunities where research insights can transform AI-powered customer outcomes * Cross-Service Research Standards: Define and drive research frameworks, measurement criteria, and reusable methodologies to ensure consistency across AI solutions * Mentorship and Leadership: Mentor and elevate junior to senior researchers, coaching the team and raising the overall quality of research craft, storytelling, and execution * Advanced Research Methods: Independently design and lead quantitative and qualitative research projects, including survey design, statistical analysis, behavioral analytics, and experimental design for AI systems * Data Synthesis and Storytelling: Triangulate research insights with engagement metrics, experiment data, user logs, and AI performance metrics to create compelling narratives that drive product improvements and business strategy * Stakeholder Influence: Build mechanisms for regularly communicating insights and influence decision-makers at all levels to act on research findings, driving customer delight and business objectives A day in the life * Leads user research that influences end-to-end AI customer experiences and impacts long-term business strategy for AWS Applied AI Solutions * Advocates for inclusive and accessible AI products that serve diverse customer needs and use cases * Partners on significantly complex research studies to identify customer segments, latent needs, and AI adoption patterns across teams * Brings clarity to AI complexity, probes assumptions about human-AI interaction, illuminates potential pitfalls, and fosters shared understanding of customer needs in AI contexts * Communicates pragmatically, balancing business objectives with customer needs, and asking critical questions about AI ethics and responsible deployment * Helps the organization move quickly with AI innovation while maintaining rigorous research standards, shows high judgment in driving executive-level decisions About the team AWS Applied AI Solutions is an organization with ambitions to be a leading provider of business applications, leveraging Amazon's unique experience and expertise, used by millions of companies worldwide to manage day-to-day operations. Our mission is to accelerate our customers' businesses by delivering intuitive and differentiated technology solutions that solve enduring business challenges. We blend vision with curiosity and Amazon's real-world experience to build opinionated, turnkey solutions. Where customers prefer to buy over build, we become their trusted partner with solutions that are no-brainers to buy and easy to use. The AWS Applied AI Solutions team is at the forefront of AI innovation, designing and building the next generation of intelligent business applications. We work closely with global Product, Engineering, Science, Marketing, and Business Development teams to deliver compelling AI-powered experiences that transform how businesses operate. Our research team plays a critical role in ensuring these AI solutions are not just technically advanced, but truly meet customer needs and drive meaningful business outcomes. Basic Qualifications * 10+ years conducting UX research on products and working in close partnership with executive leadership * Deep technical proficiency in diverse research methods, including quantitative analysis, qualitative research, and mixed-methods approaches, with specific experience in AI/ML product research preferred * Master's or PhD degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, Data Science, or related field * Experience communicating user research findings with senior cross-functional partners to drive measurable impact * Demonstrated experience in survey design, statistical analysis, experimental design, and advanced analytics * Proven ability to work in ambiguous, fast-paced environments and build research programs from the ground up Preferred Qualifications * Track record of driving positive customer impact on large-scale AI or ML products through deep understanding of customers, their needs, the business landscape, product functionality, and emerging technologies * Experience researching AI/ML systems, conversational interfaces, or other emerging technology products * Experience in enterprise software, business applications, or B2B product spaces * Strong background in behavioral analytics, A/B testing, and causal analysis methodologies * Experience with AI ethics, responsible AI development, and human-AI interaction research * Published research or thought leadership in UX research, AI, or related fields Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $163,000/year in our lowest geographic market up to $269,500/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits . This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.