Company Name: Autodesk
Location: Remote – Ontario, CA, United States (Primarily hybrid in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but open to remote in Canada/US)
Job Type: Full-time
Salary Range: Negotiable
Industry: Software / Technology (specifically cloud data platform components for design and making software)
Job Overview
Autodesk is a global leader in Software and Technology, creating innovative cloud data platform components for design and making software across various industries. We are seeking an exceptional Principal Engineer – Search Systems (also known as a Principal Software Developer) to join our team. This Full-time, Principal Engineer role offers a pivotal opportunity to drive the technical direction for high-stakes initiatives involving multi-method and multi-modal searching across distributed exabyte-scale data graphs.
As a Principal Engineer, you will bring extensive experience in cloud systems, web services, and a deep understanding of advanced searching techniques, including AI, LLMs, and RAG. You will be instrumental in leading incident response, developing solutions that align technical direction with business goals, and making substantial contributions to large-scale, intricate projects. If you are a seasoned software developer with a proven track record of successful cloud product delivery, excellent communication skills, and a passion for tackling complex search challenges at scale, Autodesk invites you to contribute your expertise to our innovative platform.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Own and lead team-level technical direction for high-stakes initiatives involving multi-method and multi-modal searching across distributed exabyte-scale data graphs.
- Align technical direction with business goals by collaborating with stakeholders, acting as a technical product owner, and balancing requirements from multiple sources.
- Identify and propose solutions that solve complex problems and deliver significant value to the platform.
- Ensure end-to-end feasibility, considering development timelines, complexity, quality, risk, total cost of delivery, maintainability, flexibility, operational, and support needs.
- Exhibit steadfast leadership and make substantial contributions to large-scale, intricate projects involving multiple engineers and cross-functional teams.
- Raise the bar by removing obstacles, enhancing engineering practices and quality, acting as a multiplier for the team, and offering mentorship, guidance, and support.
- Demonstrate impact and influence across teams outside of the direct organization.
- Lead technical discussions across the organization, driving results and business outcomes.
- Exhibit strong leadership in incident calls, driving investigation, timely resolution, and implementing improvements required for each incident.
- Apply a Graduate or Postgraduate degree in Computer Science Engineering or related technical fields.
- Possess 8+ years of software design, development, or consulting experience in cloud systems or web services, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
- Lead successful delivery of a commercial cloud product.
- Demonstrate proven capability to lead incident response, drive root cause analysis, and implement preventive measures.
- Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to lead technical discussions and present complex ideas to diverse audiences.
- Articulate business drivers clearly and align technical solutions with business needs.
- Provide proven ability to mentor and develop technical talent within the organization.
- Apply experience with building scalable systems and services in AWS or other cloud providers.
- Possess experience with a variety of databases and database design principles at cloud scale (vector, graph, relational, columnar, document, object, multi-model, etc.).
- Be ready to take on multi-modal semantic searching with AI, LLMs, machine learning, MCP, RAG, CAG.
- Demonstrate familiarity with database query planning, especially distributed, at large scale.
- Possess native GraphQL API development experience with look-ahead fetching.
- Experience working with message queues (e.g., Kafka).
- Apply experience with software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes, tools, and Agile methodologies.
- Possess excellent hands-on Java programming skills and exposure to Spring Boot. Additional programming languages are welcome.
- Demonstrate familiarity with OpenSearch or Elasticsearch.
- Exhibit high expertise in object-oriented design patterns.
- Possess experience with CI/CD concepts and working with a deployment pipeline such as Jenkins.
Qualifications
- Experience Level: Principal Engineer (8+ years software experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role).
- Education Requirement: Graduate or Postgraduate degree in Computer Science Engineering or related technical fields.
- Required Skills:
- Graduate or Postgraduate degree in Computer Science Engineering or related technical fields.
- Extensive Experience: 8+ years of software design, development, or consulting experience in cloud systems or web services, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
- Successful Cloud Product Delivery: Lead position in the successful delivery of a commercial cloud product.
- Incident Response Expertise: Proven capability to lead incident response, drive root cause analysis, and implement preventive measures.
- Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to lead technical discussions and present complex ideas to diverse audiences.
- Understanding of Business Drivers: Ability to articulate business drivers clearly.
- Technical Mentorship: Proven ability to mentor and develop technical talent within the organization.
- Cloud Systems and Services: Experience with building scalable systems and services in AWS or other cloud providers.
- Database Experience: Experience with a variety of databases and database design principles at cloud scale (vector, graph, relational, columnar, document, object, multi-model, etc.).
- Advanced Searching Techniques: Readiness to take on multi-modal semantic searching with AI, LLMs, machine learning, MCP, RAG, CAG.
- Distributed Query Planning: Familiarity with database query planning, especially distributed, at large scale.
- GraphQL API Development: Native GraphQL API development experience with look-ahead fetching.
- Message Queues: Experience working with message queues (e.g., Kafka).
- SDLC and Agile Methodologies: Experience with software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes, tools, and Agile methodologies.
- Java Programming: Excellent hands-on Java programming skills and exposure to Spring Boot. Additional programming languages welcome.
- Search Technologies: Familiarity with OpenSearch or Elasticsearch.
- Design Patterns: High expertise in object-oriented design patterns.
- CI/CD Expertise: Experience with CI/CD concepts and working with a deployment pipeline such as Jenkins.
- Proven ability in owning and leading team-level technical direction for high-stakes initiatives involving multi-method and multi-modal searching across distributed exabyte-scale data graphs.
- Skilled in aligning Technical Direction with Business Goals by collaborating with stakeholders, acting as a technical product owner, and balancing requirements from multiple sources.
- Proficient in proposing solutions that solve problems and deliver value.
- Capable of ensuring end-to-end feasibility, including development timelines, complexity, quality, risk, total cost of delivery, maintainability, flexibility, operational, and support needs.
- Exhibiting steadfast leadership and making substantial contributions to large-scale, intricate projects involving multiple engineers and cross-functional teams.
- Skilled in enhancing Practices and Quality by removing obstacles, enhancing practices and quality, acting as a multiplier for the team, offering mentorship, guidance, and support.
- Proficient in influencing Across Teams outside of the direct organization.
- Capable of driving Technical Discussions across the organization, driving results and business outcomes.
- Proven ability to lead Incident Management, demonstrating strong leadership in incident calls, driving investigation, timely resolution, and improvements required for each incident.
Salary and Benefits
Autodesk offers competitive compensation for this Full-time Principal Engineer – Search Systems position. Your salary will be negotiable and is part of a competitive compensation package. Offers are based on experience and geographic location, including annual cash bonuses and stock grants. We believe in rewarding top talent and fostering a supportive work environment. Beyond salary, Autodesk is committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your overall well-being and professional growth, which typically includes robust health, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, and opportunities for continuous professional development.
Working Conditions
This is a Full-time position that operates with a hybrid model, primarily based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This role is also open to remote candidates within Ontario, CA (which may refer to Ontario, California, United States) or other locations, with the expectation of occasional travel. You will work within a professional office environment when on-site, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams. The role demands exceptional technical leadership, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage complex search systems at cloud scale. You will be expected to lead technical discussions, drive incident response, and mentor other engineers in a fast-paced environment.
Why Work with Us
Autodesk is a global leader in Software and Technology, empowering innovators to design and make a better world. We create groundbreaking cloud data platform components for design and making software. Joining us as a Principal Engineer – Search Systems means becoming a pivotal leader in shaping the future of how users interact with and discover insights from vast, complex data sets.
We offer a challenging yet incredibly rewarding environment where your expertise in cloud systems, advanced searching techniques (including AI/LLMs), and distributed query planning will be highly valued. You will be empowered to own high-stakes initiatives, influence technical direction across teams, and contribute to the successful delivery of commercial cloud products. If you are a seasoned software developer with a passion for tackling complex search challenges at exabyte scale and eager to make a tangible impact on cutting-edge design software, Autodesk offers an unparalleled opportunity for your next career chapter.
