Principal Research Engineer AEC Data - Generative AI, East Coast United States

Autodesk is leading the transformation of the AEC industry by integrating AI technology into their products. As a Principal Research Engineer on the AEC Solutions team, you will build foundation models and generative AI tools to enhance design and engineering workflows.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with other engineers and scientists to develop scalable data pipelines for diverse AEC data sources used in production ML systems, including BIM, CAD, and infrastructure design data
• Work with large-scale, multi-modal datasets including text and geometric data, to design novel preprocessing, augmentation, analysis and content understanding
• Transform unstructured AEC and infrastructure 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 in production environments
• Architect and optimize pipelines for scalability, reproducibility, and cloud deployment
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on complex data challenges
• Drive technical decision-making and influence best practices across the team
• Perform requirements analysis with senior stakeholders, ensuring technical solutions meet both immediate project goals and long-term research objectives
• Communicate findings and technical insights through quantitative analysis, visualizations, and clear documentation
• Contribute to agile workflows, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to evolving project needs
• Participate in technical planning and roadmap development

Requirements:

• MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• 5–8+ years of experience in Machine Learning, Engineering, or related fields
• Proven technical leadership, including leading complex projects and influencing technical direction in cross-functional teams
• Strong experience in geometric data modeling and processing, including complex 2D/3D representations, computational geometry, and data architectures
• Familiarity with machine learning concepts and frameworks and how data is represented for training
• Proficiency in Python and strong software development practices
• Ability to translate research ideas into production-grade systems
• Excellent communication skills with ability to influence and guide technical decisions
• Background in Architecture, Engineering, or Construction (AEC)
• Experience with AEC data formats and workflows (e.g., BIM, IFC, CAD, or civil infrastructure design models)
• Exposure to AEC, infrastructure, or reality capture workflows and related platforms such as Autodesk Civil 3D, InfraWorks, ReCap, or similar systems is a plus
• Experience delivering production ML or data systems
• Strong foundations in core computer science (data structures, algorithms, systems, and scalability)
• Understanding of deep learning architectures (CNNs, Transformers) and familiarity with frameworks such as PyTorch
• Experience building scalable data or ML pipelines in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, SageMaker)
• Experience mentoring senior engineers or leading small technical teams
• Track record of driving technical innovation and engineering best practices