Senior Research Scientist Construction

Autodesk; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software company in Toronto is seeking a Construction Research Scientist. You will conduct research on AI-driven solutions to enhance construction practices. The ideal candidate holds a PhD and has 3 to 5 years of AI research experience. Responsibilities include investigating new technologies, analyzing their effectiveness, and collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team. The role supports a hybrid work approach.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Construction, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• 3 to 5 years of AI research experience.
• Strong understanding of underlying Machine Learning pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Investigate cutting-edge solutions for construction insights.
• Research and implement new technologies tailored for construction sites.
• Assess effectiveness of new tools and methods at construction sites.

Skills

AI research experience

Strong analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Experience in coding (C++, Python)

Excellent written communication

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Cloud services (AWS, Azure)

Job description

Position Overview

The work we do at Autodesk touches nearly every person on the planet. By creating software tools for making buildings, machines, and even the latest movies, we influence and empower some of the most creative people in the world to solve problems that matter. As Construction Research Scientist in the Construction Research Industry Futures team, you will be doing fundamental and applied research that will help our customers imagine, design, and make a better world. As a member of the Industry Futures team, you will be working side‑by‑side with world‑class researchers and engineers to build new AI driven construction workflows that will help our customers imagine, design, and make a better world. The Industry Futures team is active in the wider research community and has developed active collaboration with academia and industry leaders in the field of construction. You are a research scientist specializing in construction. You will have experience with AI, Machine Learning, LLM. You are passionate about solving problems and building things. You are excited to collaborate with industry partners to build leading‑edge features in Autodesk products. You are a good communicator and comfortable working at the intersection of research & product. This role is ideal for a PhD student with a keen interest in advanced technology development and a passion for enhancing the experience for construction professionals. Based in Toronto, this role supports Autodesk’s hybrid‑first approach.

Responsibilities

• Investigate cutting‑edge hardware, software, and experiential solutions that can improve the way construction personas receive and act on insights
• Research and implement experiences to test new technologies and approaches to construction insights delivery, tailoring them to the specific needs and challenges faced on construction sites
• Assess the effectiveness of new tools and methods, analyzing their impact on worker performance and site operations to refine and enhance their utility
• Work closely with a team of researchers, engineers, and external partners toward research, development, and testing of these solutions
• Lead the development and scaling of machine learning models at the intersection of research and product
• Write robust, testable code that is well documented and easy to understand
• Analyze errors and provide solutions to problems that arise
• Present the results of your work to collaborators and leadership

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Construction, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or a related field
• 3 to 5 years of AI research experience
• A solid understanding of underlying Machine Learning pipelines
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Creative, flexible, and enjoy working with new technology
• Experience in coding (C++, Python…)
• Experience with cloud services & architectures (AWS, Azure, etc.)
• Excellent written communication skills to document code, architectures, and experiments

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the design, manufacturing, or AECO industries
• Experience with Autodesk or similar products (REVIT, ACC, etc.)

The Ideal Candidate

• A self‑starter with initiative to search for solutions and execute on problems with minimal supervision
• A curious, creative problem‑solver who is excited to learn & develop new technologies
• A fast learner & excellent communicator who can effectively collaborate across global locations
• Comfortable working in newly forming ambiguous areas where learning and adaptability are key skills