Learn more about Autodesk Forma here.
How we work
We work in small, autonomous teams with a high degree of trust and ownership. We strongly believe in servant leadership and team accountability. In each team, software engineers work closely together with product managers and designers. To learn more about our way of working, read through our tech and product core beliefs.
Responsibilities
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will use your technical expertise and strategic thinking to drive progress across team boundaries. You’ll contribute as a senior individual contributor, combining hands-on engineering with broad technical influence.
In this role, you will
Set technical direction and influence architecture across teams, with a focus on scalability, performance, and reliability
Contribute to the design and evolution of systems that combine cloud architecture, performance-sensitive applications, and AI-driven capabilities
Drive high-impact technical initiatives and help align engineering efforts with broader product and business goals
Navigate trade-offs between performance, cost, and user experience in complex workflows
Collaborate closely with engineers, product managers, and designers to deliver meaningful user outcomes
Share knowledge, mentor others, and help grow technical capability across the organization
Desired profile
Operates with a high degree of autonomy and clarity in ambiguous situations
Drives architectural and strategic decisions across squads or domains
Recognized as a domain expert or strong generalist across multiple technologies
Brings others along by mentoring, enabling, and fostering technical growth
Continuously identifies areas for improvement in how we work and delivers change
Collaborates across functions to align engineering with product and user outcomes
Motivated by our mission and focused on delivering meaningful outcomes at scale
Areas of expertise that might resonate with you
You get your energy from building the foundations other people rely on, pulling systems apart into simple, observable pieces, owning something in production long enough to feel responsible for it, and reaching for the boring, reliable option before building something new.
You're drawn to problems where the math is the hard part, geometry, simulation, optimization, and you like taking a model from "this is the theory" to something that runs reliably on real inputs and matches what users expect to see.
You start from the user and the problem, not the ticket. You are comfortable with a fuzzy brief and a blank repo, shipping fast to learn, and shaping what gets built as much as how it gets built.
What will help you succeed in this role
Strong hands-on engineering background building cloud-based, user-facing systems
Proven experience driving architectural or technical decisions beyond a single team
Strong collaboration and communication skills across disciplines and seniority levels
Experience with Agentic AI
You might also bring
Experience with TypeScript, serverless architectures and AWS
Background in large-scale systems or platform development
Experience working in cross-functional, international product teams
Experience with 3D graphics, WebGL/WebGPU, or real-time rendering in the browser
Experience with computational geometry, spatial algorithms, or CAD/BIM data models
Why join us
Work on real-world problems with measurable environmental impact
Shape technical direction at a platform level
Collaborate with experienced engineers across disciplines
Competitive compensation, pension, and benefits
We believe diverse teams build better products, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where people can be themselves and do their best work. We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn’t match every requirement listed. Curiosity, empathy, and a growth mindset matter just as much to us.
Learn More
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.
- Belonging
- We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/global-belonging
In-Person Onboarding and Identity Verification
This role may require in-person onboarding and/or in-person ID verification.
Are you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk?
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