Principal Research Engineer: AEC Geometric Data-Generative AI US or Canada

Autodesk; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 146,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design software company is seeking a Principal Research Engineer to drive innovation in the AEC industry using AI technology. You will lead teams to develop data pipelines and mentorship, transforming design data to enhance workflows. Candidates should have a Master's degree and substantial experience in Machine Learning. This position offers a competitive salary and supports a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Health and financial benefits

Time away and wellness programs

Competitive compensation package

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of experience in Machine Learning, Engineering or related fields.
• Experience leading technical projects or mentoring junior engineers.
• Hands-on experience in data modeling and processing.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of scalable data pipelines for AEC data.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Transform unstructured AEC data for machine learning.

Skills

Leadership in technical projects

Data modeling

Python

Machine Learning concepts

Strong communication

Education

MSc in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

AWS cloud services

SageMaker Studio

Job description

Overview

Job Requisition ID: 25WD90812

Principal Research Engineer: AEC Geometric Data-Generative AI

Autodesk is leading the transformation of the AEC industry, integrating AI technology into our products. We're enhancing our applications with cloud-native capabilities, including data at scale, edge computing, AI-based solutions, and advanced 3D modeling and graphics. This innovation is happening across our flagship products—AutoCAD, Revit, and Construction Cloud—and Forma, our new Industry Cloud.

As a Senior Research Engineer, on the AEC Solutions team, you will join a team of technologists to help build foundation models and generative AI tools for the AEC industry. You will work collaboratively to create and interpret design data that can enhance design and engineering workflows, while providing technical leadership and mentoring to junior team members. Report: You will report to the Machine Learning Manager in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Solutions Team.

Location: We support hybrid work, and you work in US or Canada.

Responsibilities

• Lead and collaborate with other engineers to develop scalable data pipelines for diverse AEC data sources
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on complex data engineering challenges
• Work with large-scale, multi-modal datasets including text and geometric data, to support preprocessing, augmentation, analysis and content understanding
• Transform unstructured AEC data into representations suitable for machine learning
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with ML Research Scientists and Engineers to align data formats with downstream training and fine-tuning of LLMs
• Apply deduplication, normalization, and validation techniques to ensure high-quality data at scale
• Architect and optimize pipelines for scalability, reproducibility, and cloud deployment
• Drive technical decision-making and influence engineering best practices across the team
• Perform requirements analysis, working with team members of different levels and documenting solutions clearly
• Lead initiatives to communicate findings through quantitative analysis, visuals, and clear insights
• Contribute to agile workflows, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to evolving project needs
• Participate in technical planning and roadmap development

Minimum Qualifications

• MSc in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• 7-10+ years of experience in Machine Learning, Engineering, or related fields
• 2+ years of experience leading technical projects or mentoring junior engineers
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership in cross-functional environments
• Hands-on experience in data modeling, architecture, and processing across multiple representations, including 2D/3D geometry
• Experience with computational geometry and geometric data methods
• Familiarity with machine learning concepts and frameworks and how data is represented for training
• Proficiency in Python and strong software engineering practices
• Ability to translate theoretical concepts into practical solutions and prototypes
• Strong documentation skills for code, architectures, and experiments
• Background in Architecture, Engineering, or Construction (AEC)
• Excellent communication skills with ability to influence and guide technical decisions

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AEC data formats (e.g., BIM models, IFC files, CAD files, Drawing Sets)
• Knowledge of the AEC industry and its specific data processing challenges
• Understanding of deep learning architectures (CNNs, Transformers) and familiarity with frameworks like PyTorch or Lightning
• Solid understanding of core computer science algorithms and scalability considerations
• Experience with AWS cloud services and SageMaker Studio for scalable data processing
• Experience managing or leading small technical teams
• Track record of driving technical innovation and best practices

The Ideal Candidate

• You are passionate about solving problems for AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) customers by applying machine learning techniques
• You are comfortable working in newly forming ambiguous areas where learning and adaptability are key skills
• You easily collaborate with others and are comfortable providing technical leadership with minimal direction
• You are constantly striving to learn new technologies and methodologies while helping others grow
• You seek new ways to solve hard problems and can guide others in problem-solving approaches
• You are unafraid to put your ideas out there, fail fast, and help create a culture of innovation and learning

Learn More

About Autodesk

Welcome to Autodesk! Amazing things are created every day with our software – from the greenest buildings and cleanest cars to the smartest factories and biggest hit movies. We help innovators turn their ideas into reality, transforming not only how things are made, but what can be made.

We take great pride in our culture here at Autodesk – it’s at the core of everything we do. Our culture guides the way we work and treat each other, informs how we connect with customers and partners, and defines how we show up in the world.

When you’re an Autodesker, you can do meaningful work that helps build a better world designed and made for all. Ready to shape the world and your future? Join us!

Benefits

From health and financial benefits to time away and everyday wellness, we give Autodeskers the best, so they can do their best work. Learn more about our benefits in the U.S. by visiting https://benefits.autodesk.com/

Salary transparency

Salary is one part of Autodesk’s competitive compensation package. For U.S.-based roles, we expect a starting base salary between $146,900 and $237,600. Offers are based on the candidate’s experience and geographic location, and may exceed this range. In addition to base salaries, our compensation package may include annual cash bonuses, commissions for sales roles, stock grants, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Autodesk, we're building a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to imagine, design, and make a better world. Autodesk is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We also consider for employment all qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

Diversity & Belonging

We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/diversity-and-belonging

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