📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Principal PM (Technical), Discovery Tech, US Prime & Marketing Technology
🔹 Company: Amazon
🔹 Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Software Development
🔹 Date Posted: April 22, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading multiple critical workstreams to transform customer discovery and engagement with products through Amazon Search.
- Driving innovation across search ranking, gifting, seasonal events, and collection-based discovery experiences.
- Collaborating with diverse business and technical partners to shape technology and strategy.
- Mentoring and ensuring organizational health and career development within the team.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong technical background and a proven track record in program management to drive impact across multiple high-impact workstreams.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Own the strategic vision, experimentation roadmap, and KPIs across multiple high-impact search innovation workstreams.
✅ Lead cross-functional initiatives to enhance product discovery and search relevance through new signals, collections, and seasonal experiences.
✅ Work closely with stakeholders across Search, Marketing, and Advertising teams to align on business objectives and technical trade-offs.
✅ Own strategic planning to achieve business objectives and define product vision, experimentation roadmap, and comprehensive balanced KPIs to measure impact and progress.
✅ Mentor, ensuring organizational health and career development within the organization.
✅ Work closely with software managers, engineers, and business stakeholders across different teams on a daily basis to define system architecture, elaborate user stories, and discuss business and technical trade-offs.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves frequent collaboration with various teams and stakeholders, requiring strong communication and leadership skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience: 5-10 years of experience in program management, with a strong technical background and a proven track record of delivering results.
Required Skills:
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Proven ability to prioritize well and make clear decisions.
- Sound understanding of computer science fundamentals and distributed systems.
- Experience with web development, front-end/back-end design, and machine learning models.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse business and technical partners.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with Amazon's technology stack and services.
- Familiarity with A/B testing and experimentation frameworks.
- Knowledge of search algorithms and ranking systems.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in e-commerce, retail, or related industries may have an advantage in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $220,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Principal PM role with 5-10 years of experience in the Seattle area).
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) matching.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Maternity and paternity leave.
- Employee discounts and other perks.
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday through Friday, with some flexibility for remote work.
ASSUMPTION: Salary and benefits may vary based on individual qualifications, experience, and market conditions.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Amazon operates in the e-commerce and technology sectors, with a focus on customer experience, innovation, and operational excellence.
Company Size: Amazon is a large company with over 10,000 employees, offering opportunities for growth and career development.
Founded: Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Company Description:
- Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking.
- The company is driven by the excitement of building technologies, inventing products, and providing services that change lives.
- Amazon's mission is to be Earth's most customer-centric company.
Company Specialties:
- E-commerce and retail.
- Operations and logistics.
- Software development and technology services.
Company Website: https://www.amazon.com
ASSUMPTION: Amazon's large size and diverse business segments offer numerous opportunities for career growth and development.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, with significant responsibility for driving strategic initiatives and mentoring team members.
Reporting Structure: The Principal PM reports directly to senior leadership within the Discovery Tech team and works closely with cross-functional stakeholders.
Work Arrangement: This role is on-site, with some flexibility for remote work. The work arrangement may involve occasional travel to other Amazon facilities or client sites.
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to a Director or higher-level PM role within Amazon's Discovery Tech or related teams.
- Expansion into other areas of Amazon's business, such as Amazon Web Services or Alexa.
- Opportunities to lead larger, more complex projects or teams as the company continues to grow and innovate.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on Amazon's search and discovery experience.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Amazon's Seattle headquarters is a modern, collaborative workspace with on-site amenities and a focus on employee well-being.
Office Location(s): 410 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
Geographic Context:
- Seattle is a vibrant, multicultural city with a strong tech industry and a high cost of living.
- The city offers numerous cultural attractions, outdoor recreation opportunities, and a thriving food scene.
- Seattle has a mild, oceanic climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers.
Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically Monday through Friday, with some flexibility for remote work or adjusted hours as needed.
ASSUMPTION: The on-site work environment at Amazon's Seattle headquarters is designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and employee satisfaction.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application review.
- Phone or video screen with a member of the HR team.
- Technical phone or video interview with a member of the Discovery Tech team.
- On-site interview with a panel of team members, including the hiring manager and other senior leaders.
- Final decision and offer.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Technical skills and problem-solving ability.
- Leadership and communication skills.
- Strategic thinking and vision for product discovery and search experiences.
- Alignment with Amazon's leadership principles and company culture.
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with search algorithms, ranking systems, and machine learning models.
- Demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive business impact.
ATS Keywords: Principal PM, Discovery Tech, Search Innovation, Product Discovery, Search Ranking, Gifting, Seasonal Events, Collection-Based Discovery, Strategic Planning, KPIs, Experimentation Roadmap, Mentoring, Organizational Health, Career Development, Amazon, Seattle, On-site
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is designed to assess the candidate's technical skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit within Amazon's Discovery Tech team.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Amazon's proprietary technology stack and services.
- Machine learning and AI tools for search ranking and personalization.
- Collaboration and project management tools, such as Confluence and JIRA.
- Data analysis and visualization tools, such as Amazon Redshift and Tableau.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency with Amazon's technology stack and relevant tools, as well as a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer obsession.
- Invent and simplify.
- Bias for action.
- Frugality.
- Long-term thinking.
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
- Collaborative and cross-functional, with a focus on driving business impact.
- Data-driven and analytical, with a focus on experimentation and learning.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Amazon's leadership principles in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you drove business impact through strategic planning and execution?
- How do you approach mentoring and developing the careers of your team members?
ASSUMPTION: Successful candidates for this role will demonstrate a strong alignment with Amazon's company values and a willingness to embrace the company's fast-paced, collaborative work style.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The fast-paced nature of the role may require adaptability and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- The on-site work arrangement may require relocation or commuting for candidates not based in the Seattle area.
- The role may involve occasional travel to other Amazon facilities or client sites, which could disrupt personal schedules or family commitments.
- The competitive nature of the e-commerce industry may present challenges in driving business impact and maintaining market share.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should carefully consider the potential challenges and ensure that they are well-suited to the demands of the role and work arrangement.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other Principal PM roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation and impact within a large, established e-commerce company.
- Unlike other roles in the industry, this position focuses specifically on search and discovery experiences, with a broad scope for strategic influence and innovation.
- Career paths for this role may lead to advancement within Amazon's Discovery Tech team or expansion into other areas of the company's business.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of strategic influence, innovation, and growth potential within the e-commerce industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Leading a cross-functional initiative to enhance search relevance through the integration of new signals and machine learning models.
- Driving business impact through the optimization of seasonal events and collection-based discovery experiences.
- Mentoring team members and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the Discovery Tech team.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, cross-functional nature of the role and the opportunity to drive significant business impact.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader strategy of Amazon's Discovery Tech team and the company as a whole?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how can I best support the team in achieving these goals?
- How does Amazon support the professional development and growth of its Principal PMs, and what opportunities exist for advancement within the company?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the Discovery Tech team in the coming months, and how can this role help to address them?
- How does Amazon measure the success of its Principal PMs, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) will I be responsible for tracking and optimizing in this role?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions are designed to provide insight into the strategic context, priorities, and expectations for the role, as well as the company's approach to professional development and growth.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, with a focus on search and discovery experiences, strategic planning, and leadership.
- Prepare for your interviews by researching Amazon's company values, leadership principles, and recent projects or initiatives within the Discovery Tech team.
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR representative within one week of your interview to express your continued interest in the role and ask any remaining questions.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
