Principal Software Engineer

Autodesk; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Autodesk is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to define and drive the technical direction of the Viewer ecosystem, delivering world-class commercial web applications for construction. You will lead cross‑team initiatives, shape architecture, and guide strategy across multiple teams to improve performance, scalability, and developer experience.

You will mentor senior engineers, partner with Product/UX, and evolve platform capabilities for long-term extensibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of professional software development experience on large-scale or platform systems.
• Expert-level experience building large-scale web apps using React and TypeScript.
• Strong experience designing complex architectures across teams or domains.
• Deep understanding of high-performance distributed systems and SOA.
• Proven ability to lead cross-team technical initiatives.
• Experience with performance optimization, debugging, and production systems.
• Experience with CI/CD and automated testing (Jest, Cypress).
• Experience in Agile environments with short release cycles.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous problem spaces and write clean code.
• Excellent communication with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of cross-team initiatives impacting viewer platform and services.
• Frame and prioritize high-impact technical problems aligned with strategy.
• Break down complex problems into executable plans.
• Ensure architectural standards and engineering practices across teams.
• Serve as technical authority on performance, scalability, and DX.
• Drive adoption of shared platform capabilities and patterns.
• Improve velocity by introducing scalable tools and frameworks.
• Lead root-cause analysis and implement durable solutions.
• Mentor senior engineers and elevate engineering standards.
• Collaborate with Product/UX to shape long-term roadmap and translate needs into strategy.
• Evolve system architecture for long-term extensibility and performance.

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Computer Science/Engineering

10+ years software development

React

TypeScript

Distributed systems

Perf optimization

Cross-team leadership

Mentoring/leading engineers

CI/CD

Agile methodologies

Tools

Jest

Cypress

Cloud-native architectures

APIs

Observability

Job description

The Autodesk Interactive Graphics Solutions group is seeking a highly motivated Principal Software Engineer to develop world‑class commercial web applications used by construction companies to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The role involves defining and driving the technical direction of the Viewer ecosystem, shaping architecture and platform capabilities across multiple teams, and leading cross‑team execution on complex, high‑impact SaaS applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of large‑scale, cross‑team initiatives that impact viewer platform, products and services
• Identify, frame, and prioritize high‑impact technical problems aligned with product and platform strategy
• Solve complex, ambiguous technical problems by breaking them down into clear approaches and executable plans
• Influence and align multiple teams, ensuring consistent engineering practices and architectural standards
• Act as a technical authority for critical decisions, guiding trade‑offs across performance, scalability, and developer experience
• Drive adoption of shared platform capabilities, frameworks, and patterns across teams
• Improve engineering velocity by introducing tools, frameworks, and best practices that scale across the organization
• Lead root‑cause analysis of systemic issues and implement durable, cross‑platform solutions
• Mentor senior engineers and elevate engineering standards across the organization
• Partner with Product, UX, and platform teams to shape long‑term roadmap and translate business needs into technical strategy
• Partner with Architects and evolve system architecture to ensure long‑term extensibility, maintainability, and performance across the ecosystem

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• 10+ years of professional software development experience, including significant work on large‑scale or platform systems
• Expert‑level experience building large‑scale web applications using modern frontend technologies including React and TypeScript
• Strong experience designing and evolving complex system architectures across multiple teams or domains
• Deep understanding of high‑performance applications, distributed systems, and service‑oriented architecture
• Proven ability to lead cross‑team technical initiatives and influence without direct authority
• Strong experience with performance optimization, debugging, and operating complex production systems
• Experience with modern development practices, including CI/CD and automated testing (e.g. Jest, Cypress)
• Experience working in Agile environments with short release cycles
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently in highly ambiguous problem spaces
• Demonstrated ability to write clean, maintainable, well‑documented code
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a tech lead and mentor of junior and senior engineers
• Experience with cloud‑native architectures and large‑scale distributed systems
• Expertise in 2D/3D visualization systems, rendering engines, or graphics technologies
• Experience building or evolving platform ecosystems (APIs, extensibility, developer platforms)
• Experience with observability, monitoring, and production system operations at scale

Ideal Candidate

• A proactive, curious engineer who stays current with emerging tools and technologies
• Comfortable working in cross‑functional teams of local and remote peers
• Results‑driven, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple priorities
• Strong advocate for engineering excellence and continuous improvement
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Values in‑person collaboration and intentionally leverages office interactions to strengthen relationships, accelerate decision‑making, and foster a high‑performing engineering culture

Compensation and Benefits

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.