Principal Software Development Engineer - CAD/Geometry

PowerToFly; England; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design software company is looking for a Software Development Engineer to work on ML-powered features. This position is hybrid, allowing for remote or office work in London. Responsibilities include developing core applications for CAD products and collaborating on AI features. Candidates should have 8+ years of software engineering experience, proficient in Python and C++, with experience in data processing and CAD platforms. The company promotes a culture of innovation and offers comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Health/Dental/Vision/Life insurance

Paid volunteer time off

6-week paid sabbatical every 4 years

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in software engineering focused on CAD or 3D applications.
• Experience building data pipelines and AI/ML integrations.
• Familiarity with major CAD platforms (AutoCAD, Fusion 360).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain backend and frontend applications for CAD and design products.
• Integrate AI/ML solutions into CAD platforms.
• Contribute to multi-team projects ensuring code quality.

Skills

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Cloud infrastructure (AWS)

Proficient in Python

Proficient in C++

Familiarity with Linux

Experience with Docker

Experience with CI/CD

Strong programming skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Docker

Jenkins

Git

Job description

Job Requisition ID #25WD92930

Position Overview

As a Software Development Engineer at Autodesk Research, you will work side-by-side with world‑class researchers and engineers to build new ML‑powered product features that help our customers imagine, design, and make a better world. You are a software engineer who is passionate about solving problems and building things. Your skills span across data processing, computational geometry and CAD, with a software engineering base. You are excited to collaborate with AI researchers and engineers to build AI features in Autodesk products. You are comfortable working at the intersection of research and product.

Reporting Structure

You will report to an Engineering Manager in Autodesk Research.

Location

London/Remote, UK. We are a global team, located in London, San Francisco, Toronto, and remotely. Autodesk is a hybrid‑first company, allowing workers to work remotely, in an office, or a mix of both.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain backend and frontend applications for CAD and design products
• Build and optimise data processing pipelines for 3D geometry (meshes, B‑Reps) and rendering workflows using distributed compute frameworks, i.e. Ray, Metaflow, Spark
• Integrate with and monitor CI/CD systems (e.g., Jenkins, Github actions)
• Integrate AI/ML solutions into CAD platforms in collaboration with research scientists and ML engineers
• Develop for major CAD platforms (e.g., Fusion 360), including plugins, automation tools, and interoperability solutions
• Work with graphics APIs (DirectX, OpenGL, Vulkan) and visualization engines
• Contribute to multi‑team projects and codebases, ensuring code quality and consistency
• Use version control systems (e.g., Git) to manage code changes
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback to peers
• Proactively identify opportunities to innovate and build solutions in a high uncertainty research environment
• Ensure all development activities adhere to security best practices, protecting sensitive data and mitigating security risks
• Document and present findings and ideas across the company

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on CAD or 3D applications
• Proficient in cloud infrastructure services (AWS)
• Familiarity with Linux operating systems and bash terminals
• Experience with Docker
• Strong programming skills in Python and C++, with experience in building data pipelines
• Experience with CI/CD tools and processes
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

Additional Qualifications

• Experience of developing for major CAD platforms (AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360) or building CAD automation tools, and knowledge of geometry data structures (e.g., meshes, BREPs)
• Familiarity with OpenCascade
• Knowledge of 3D data processing, rendering techniques, and graphics APIs (DirectX, OpenGL, Vulkan)
• Experience with distributed compute engines such as Ray Data or Spark
• Understanding of software architecture and design patterns
• Ability to work in an agile development environment
• Passion for learning new technologies and improving existing systems

Preferred Skills

• Experience with cloud providers (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform)
• Knowledge of machine learning frameworks and libraries (e.g., PyTorch)
• Experience with front‑end technologies (e.g., JavaScript, HTML, CSS) and frameworks (e.g., react with next.js)

The Ideal Candidate

• You demonstrate initiative to provide solutions and to learn and develop new technologies
• Comfortable building prototypes from scratch and writing maintainable code within existing codebases
• You enjoy learning and collaborating across global locations
• You are comfortable working in newly forming ambiguous areas
• You are comfortable building scalable and maintainable systems that will be relied on by others

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!

Salary transparency

Salary is one part of Autodesk’s competitive compensation package. Offers are based on the candidate’s experience and geographic location. In addition to base salaries, our compensation package may include annual cash bonuses, commissions for sales roles, stock grants, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Diversity & Belonging

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

Are you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk?

Yes, you are an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk.

Contact

Please search for open jobs and apply internally (not on this external site).

What Autodesk Has to Offer

Autodesk makes the software and tools that help people imagine, design, and make a better world. If you've ever driven a high‑performance car, admired a towering skyscraper, used a smartphone, or watched a great film, chances are you've experienced what millions of Autodesk customers are doing with their software. Autodesk offers their employees benefits like:

• Insurance: Health/Dental/Vision/Life
• Work - Life Balance
• Paid volunteer time off
• 6 week paid sabbatical every 4 years
• Employee Resource Groups
• A "week of rest" at year's end