Economist - Prime Video Science

Description

The Prime Video Science team leverages the latest in machine learning and AI techniques combined with causal inference to bring scientific rigor to the biggest decisions in entertainment: what content to make, what to license, and where to invest. We build large-scale models that simulate how our global customer base responds to change, and we get to see that work shape what the business does.

Prime Video is an industry-leading entertainment business and a critical driver of Amazon Prime subscriptions, contributing to customer loyalty and lifetime value. We're looking for an Economist to help us design the experiments that ground our models in reality, evaluate the AI systems we build, and turn our model and experiment results into insights the business can act on. As an Economist on this team, you will design and analyze experiments, build evaluations for AI systems, and run deep-dive analyses on our models, experiments, and customer data. You will work close to science: probing why a model behaves the way it does, pressure-testing results before they reach senior leaders, and, where it helps, building your own statistical and causal models. The candidate should have strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex, ambiguous analyses into clear findings for both technical and business audiences. The successful candidate will be a self-starter comfortable with ambiguity, with strong attention to detail and the ability to work in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.

Key job responsibilities
• Design and analyze randomized experiments that validate and calibrate our models and measure the impact of content and product changes.
• Build evaluations and benchmarks for the AI systems the team develops and define what "good" looks like for them.
• Run deep-dive analyses on model outputs, experiment results, and customer behavior to surface the story behind the numbers and catch issues before they reach stakeholders.
• Apply statistical modeling, causal inference, and data analysis to answer business questions and inform major investment decisions.
• Communicate findings to business, finance, engineering, and science stakeholders through clear written analyses and business-facing documents.

About the team
The Prime Video Science team is a multidisciplinary group of applied scientists, data scientists, economists, and engineers. We take on some of the hardest research questions in the business, and our work carries visibility up to the CFO/CEO level. We pursue ambitious research at the intersection of machine learning, AI, and causal inference, turning that research into innovations that improve customer experience and strengthen business profitability. Few science teams get to work on problems this hard and this impactful; if that combination excites you, we'd love to talk.

Basic Qualifications

- PhD in economics or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications

- 2+ years of industry, consulting, government, or academic research experience
- Knowledge of at least one statistical software package such as R, Stata, Matlab, SAS
- Experience in implementing modern machine-learning methods (e.g., boosted regression trees, random forests, neural networks)
- Experience with handling of large datasets

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.