Principal Program Manager, Design Operations

Autodesk is seeking a Principal Design Operations Program Manager to support its Experience Design team within the Product Design and Manufacturing Solutions organization. The role focuses on improving team health, design efficiency, and cross-team alignment by leading programs, facilitating collaboration, and scaling DesignOps practices.

Responsibilities:

• Own and/or manage programs and initiatives that improve design team success (team health, design efficiency, and/or design impact). This includes:
• Establishing the program goals, strategy, operating model, and governance, navigating ambiguity and aligning stakeholders
• Executing program tactics, from goal and scope setting to conclusion, within defined schedule, budget, and quality parameters. Identifying issues and driving them to resolution
• Identifying connections to other programs, teams, and partners and engaging key stakeholders to align program goals for mutual success
• Planning and facilitating meetings, creating key communications, and keeping team and program on track with commitments
• Design and lead design sprints to accelerate design of user-facing products and of internal programs and services
• Coach and support design team members, in achievement of design adjacent tasks such as work prioritization, level-of-effort estimating, asset management, and knowledge sharing
• Design and implement new ways of working that further DesignOps effectiveness and goals, using design thinking methods, and collaborating with team members and key stakeholders
• Aid DesignOps scalability through designing, documenting, and sharing best practices and resources
• Help champion the growth of DesignOps, working with other teams within Autodesk to align, share and support the growth of the discipline across the company

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years design program management experience within a software environment, ideally at a software company (versus agency)
• Familiarity with user-centered design practices, UX tools and techniques, and software development methods, primarily Agile
• Strong track record in above requirements, particularly in standing up and managing programs and completing significant initiatives successfully and in leading design sprints / workshops
• Excellent project management skills
• Fluency with the SDLC and working with cross-functional teams to improve it, especially the design team's role
• Solid foundation in AI and experience helping designers improve their AI fluency. Up-to-date in latest AI features/tools for designers
• Demonstrated strong writing, reporting, and documentation skills (examples may be required)
• Strong verbal and presentation skills
• Ability to travel when needed, likely 10% or less