Senior Principal Software Engineer
Autodesk
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Job summary
Autodesk is seeking a Sr. Principal Software Engineer to steer the data interoperability platform and connector toolkit. You will own architecture across desktop to cloud connections, driving strategy, and delivering business outcomes. A strong, hands-on leader will mentor teams while influencing division-level technical direction.
The role emphasizes API/SDK design, platform capabilities, and cross-team collaboration within a cloud-enabled engineering environment.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of software development across the full product lifecycle.
- Expertise in technology, tooling, or domain area with authority.
- Proven ability to lead initiatives impacting the division or area.
- Experience designing SDKs, APIs, and platform capabilities.
- Ability to influence direction without direct authority.
- Experience building desktop plugins/extensions for cloud platforms.
- Knowledge of build automation and CI/CD, improving DX.
- Ability to articulate business drivers for tech investment.
Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end architecture for the data exchange platform and SDK.
- Drive technical strategy, roadmaps, and best practices.
- Lead discussions across teams, align on results and outcomes.
- Write production code across multiple platforms and provide guidance.
- Drive cross-team technical decisions spanning platforms and connectors.
- Improve development productivity with patterns/frameworks.
- Champion quality, resiliency, and service reviews.
- Act as Product Owner when needed and manage incident response.
Skills
Job description
As we transition from a world of files to that of products powered by cloud data services, we're building a data interoperability platform that bridges Autodesk's desktop design applications with our cloud data exchange ecosystem. Our connectors and SDKs enable data flow between tools like Revit, Rhino, and Autodesk Construction Cloud, unlocking cross-application workflows for AEC and manufacturing customers.
Job Requisition ID # 25WD93301
As we transition from a world of files to that of products powered by cloud data services, we're building a data interoperability platform that bridges Autodesk's desktop design applications with our cloud data exchange ecosystem. Our connectors and SDKs enable data flow between tools like Revit, Rhino, and Autodesk Construction Cloud, unlocking cross-application workflows for AEC and manufacturing customers.
We are seeking a Sr. Principal Software Engineer to lead the technical direction of our data interoperability platform and connector toolkit. The successful candidate should be a strong "T-shaped" contributor who combines deep hands-on expertise with the ability to drive outcomes across teams and functional areas. They should have a strong sense of ownership over complex platforms, a track record of delivering key business outcomes, and the ability to influence technical strategy at the division level.
- Own end-to-end architecture for the data exchange connector platform and SDK, from engineering practices and solution design through quality, deployment, and support
- Drive technical strategy for the data interoperability domain, including engineering vision, architecture roadmaps, and best practices
- Lead and influence technical discussions across the functional area and division, driving alignment on results and business outcomes
- Write production code across multiple platforms while also providing technical leadership and architectural guidance to the broader team
- Drive cross-team and cross-domain technical decisions, resolving complex problems that span multiple platforms and connectors
- Identify and implement tools, patterns, and frameworks that improve the development process and engineering productivity across the team
- Influence architectural decisions that impact beyond the immediate team, including how we define and evaluate good architecture
- Champion best practices for product quality and service reliability, including resiliency practices, risk assessments, and service reviews
- Extend existing architectures and frameworks to new use cases and bring hard problems to resolution across teams
- Act as Product Owner when needed, balancing requirements from Product Management, architectural roadmaps, and service improvements
- Lead incident response, driving investigation and timely resolution while ensuring follow-up improvements within and outside the team
- Propose technology options to achieve multi-year business outcomes and anticipate technical and operational risks on a 2–5 year horizon
- Mentor and develop the next level of technical leadership and contributors across Product Data, not just within the team
- Foster growth opportunities for team members and coach teams across the functional area on improving their engineering practices
- 10+ years of software development experience with demonstrated expertise across the full product development lifecycle
- Deep technical expertise in a critical technology or capability area, with the ability to act as an authoritative expert on technology, tooling, or domain
- Proven ability to lead key business outcomes and initiatives, with accountability for results that impact the division or functional area
- Strong experience designing and evolving SDKs, APIs, and platform capabilities consumed by multiple teams and connector integrations
- Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and achieve alignment across teams and divisions without direct authority
- Experience building desktop application plugins or extensions that integrate with cloud-based platforms and services
- Strong understanding of build automation, CI/CD pipelines, and developer experience optimization
- Ability to clearly articulate the business drivers for an area of technical investment
- Experience building high-performance systems in C# / .NET, including desktop application frameworks and cloud service integration
- Domain expertise in CAD, BIM, 3D/2D geometry, computational geometry, or design data exchange formats (e.g., STEP, IFC)
- Experience building software integrations for Autodesk products (Revit, Rhino, Inventor) or similar AEC/Manufacturing design tools
- Familiarity with Autodesk platform APIs (Forge/APS, Data Exchange, ACC) or comparable cloud data exchange ecosystems
- Experience with cross-platform desktop application development, including technologies like Tauri or Electron
- Track record of building and shipping SDK/toolkit products consumed by internal or external developers
- Experience with protocol buffers, binary serialization, or high-throughput data processing pipelines for geometry and design data
- Awareness of emerging threats and opportunities in the design data interoperability space
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 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.
We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/global-belonging
This role may require in-person onboarding and/or in-person ID verification.
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