Principal Economist, AWS Economic Development

Amazon • Arlington, VA

7d • $189,400 - $256,200 • Onsite

About The Position

Amazon is seeking a high-judgment, agile, data-driven, and highly motivated Principal Economist to join the AWS Economic Development Research & Analysis (R&A) team. This lean, high-impact team crafts global, data-driven narratives spanning core research (economic impact studies, investment forecasts, fiscal impact analyses, labor demand analyses), specialized research (energy, water, fiber, infrastructure), and hyper-local intelligence. The Principal Economist will lead the development of public-facing research that tells compelling narratives around AWS's economic impact through AI/ML infrastructure, while supporting original research on the downstream effects of cloud computing and AI adoption, including hyper-localized analyses and energy-related research. This role requires a blend of quantitative rigor, economic storytelling, and experience with financial and/or accounting datasets.

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant experience in industry, consulting, government or academic experience
• Knowledge of advanced causal modeling techniques, both in experimental and observational settings
• Experience coding in scripting languages such as Python, R, Matlab, or STATA
• Experience in written and verbal communication with the ability to present complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to executives and non-technical leaders
• PhD in Economics or closely related field

Nice To Haves

• Experience in infrastructure economics, energy economics, or regional economic development
• Experience with tax policy analysis, including the evaluation of economic development incentives and fiscal impact modeling
• Experience with hyper-local or community-level socioeconomic analysis
• Understanding of the US technology and energy sectors, including electricity pricing structures, grid infrastructure economics, and the interplay between energy policy and industrial development
• Familiarity with AI/ML downstream economic effects or cloud computing economic research
• Experience engaging and influencing senior-level stakeholders across cross-functional teams and presenting complex analytical findings to executive audiences

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end development of public-facing studies on a global scale and provide economic, fiscal, labor, and market research to support infrastructure expansion and planning
• Establish and maintain operating and business metrics to evaluate economic, social, and environmental impact across regions
• Drive analytical excellence, analyzing and extracting insights from both structured and unstructured data to optimize and scale key research processes, including leveraging AI-powered tools
• Partner with Legal, Finance, Tax, Compliance, Investor Relations, Public Policy, Public Relations, and Marketing teams to validate research frameworks, align on benchmarks, and frame measures of AWS investment and impact
• Present summaries of financial and business data insights to senior leadership; create FAQs; occasionally travel to present research and support local public policy and public relations stakeholders
• Own research vertical(s) – Lead the development and impact of an actionable body of research in at least one of the following areas: energy and water, hyper-localized socioeconomic impact, AI/ML downstream effects, or broader infrastructure
• Provide thought leadership and mentorship within the team, helping to scale research capacity and quality across a growing global portfolio

Benefits

• 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
• parental leave
• sign-on payments
• restricted stock units (RSUs)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree