Entry Level Research Associate Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

This is not your typical entry-level sales role - it's a launchpad.
At Amazon, our peculiar culture and obsession with delighting customers extends to everything we do, including what we call our teams. While the industry knows this role as a SDR, BDR, Associate Account Executive, Amazon's customer-first DNA means we call our team members "Customer Acquisition Representatives" (CARs). It's more than a name, it reflects our belief that every interaction should start and end with the customer. As a CAR, you'll accelerate pipeline growth, navigate complex customer landscapes, shift gears between strategic thinking and high-impact execution, and put customers in the driver's seat of their cloud journey. Every CAR needs fuel, yours will be curiosity, coaching, and the full support of the world's leading cloud platform.
As a CAR, you will take the lead in unlocking growth potential for both new and existing AWS customers. We are one of the principal sources of new pipeline that fuels the AWS engine - engaging the unengaged accounts and contacts to drive pipeline that turns into revenue. Using cutting-edge AI tools and data-driven insights, you'll identify whitespace opportunities and develop innovative strategies to reach unengaged accounts at scale. You'll be part of shaping how technology is deployed across thousands of organizations, from enabling rapid, individually customized cancer treatments to helping Fortune 500 companies meet their carbon emissions goals. The AWS technology stack is the backbone of some of the most innovative solutions to the world's most pressing problems.
Your career path is clear. This role is designed as the entry point into AWS's North American sales organization. We don't need the perfect candidate, but we do want people who are curious, coachable, and willing to learn. We've developed hundreds of early-career professionals into full cycle sellers as Cloud Sales Representatives (CSRs), many within 18-24 months. You'll be paired with mentors and have access to structured development programs that accelerate your growth from day one.
According to Gartner, AWS is the leading cloud provider in both ability to execute and completeness of vision. With only 5% of all IT spend in the cloud, we are still in the early stages of what is possible, and with the explosion of generative AI, the opportunity has never been larger. You'll be at the forefront, equipped with the most advanced AI-powered sales technology in the industry. Consider this your pit crew advantage - the tools, training, and teammates that keep you performing at your best.
Key job responsibilities
• Partner closely with Account Teams to develop a deep understanding of the primary industries, accounts, and personas within your territories - building relationships from technical admins to Line of Business executives.
• Lead top-of-funnel activity: conduct high-quality account research and source net-new contacts at scale to execute high-volume prospecting, lead qualification, and opportunity generation across your assigned territories.
• Drive net-new business via customer acquisition by leveraging one-to-one and one-to-many outbound campaigns, in addition to qualifying leads from marketing and partner channels.
• Expand services breadth and consumption within your existing customer base via account planning and territory management.
• Deliver results against input and output goals, including: contacts sourced, leads qualified, customer calls completed, meetings scheduled, and opportunities created and launched.
• Leverage AI-powered sales intelligence platforms, predictive analytics, and automation tools to identify high-propensity accounts, prioritize outreach, and optimize pipeline development in Salesforce.
• Stay ahead of the curve with next-generation engagement strategies using generative AI, agentic workflows, and advanced personalization engines - you'll be on the cutting edge of how AI transforms B2B sales, continuously testing and iterating on new approaches to reach unengaged accounts.
• Collaborate with teammates to share best practices, contribute to team learning, and collectively raise the bar for customer engagement.
We know great candidates don't always check every box. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly match, we encourage you to apply.
About the team
Diverse Experiences
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn't followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don't let it stop you from applying.
Why AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating - that's why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it's in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
Mentorship & Career Growth
We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer. That's why you'll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there's nothing we can't achieve in the cloud.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience
- 2+ year(s) of experience in sales, business development, lead generation, or customer-facing roles (internships and non-traditional experience count)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 1+ years of experience in technology sales, SaaS, or cloud services
- Experience with outbound prospecting tools and techniques (cold calling, social selling, email sequencing)
- Experience leveraging or interest in leveraging AI tools to enhance sales workflows, research, and outreach
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.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments, restricted stock units (RSUs), and sales incentives. 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.
USA, VA, Arlington - 31.00 - 54.00 USD hourly