At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct applied research and build prototypes using cutting-edge AI technologies for design and engineering.
- Company: Join Autodesk Research, a leader in innovative design solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced, experimental environment with strong support for innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design with AI and make a real impact in creative workflows.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's or Master's degree in relevant fields and experience with AI tools.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Autodesk Research is seeking a Senior Research Engineer to help shape the future of design and make through applied research in agentic AI, generative AI, design systems, simulation, and creative engineering workflows. This role is focused on a new research platform exploring completely new ways to design. We are interested in how frontier AI models, agents, knowledge graphs, simulation, and design tools can come together to help people imagine, explore, evaluate, and create in ways that are not possible today. This is not a role for someone focused only on foundational AI research. We are looking for someone who understands design, engineering, and creative technical workflows, and who is excited by using AI as a practical and creative medium for design and making. You should be curious about how AI can support design thinking, accelerate exploration, automate workflows, connect knowledge across tools, and help people move from intent to outcome. You will join a fast-paced, experimental, startup-like research team working on emerging AI technologies and their application to industry problems. You will build prototypes, work with both Autodesk products and research tools, experiment with agentic systems, and contribute to a strong research culture that supports innovation, publishing, invention, and technology transfer. This is an individual contributor role based in London, United Kingdom. We support hybrid work, and you will work with colleagues across Autodesk Research.
Responsibilities
- Conduct applied research into agentic AI workflows for design, engineering, and making.
- Design, build, and test prototypes that explore new ways for people to create, evaluate, and refine designs using AI.
- Develop experimental workflows that combine generative AI, frontier models, agents, MCP-style toolchains, knowledge graphs, design tools, simulation, and engineering data.
- Explore how AI can support design thinking, creative exploration, ideation, iteration, decision-making, and the movement from concept to manufacturable or buildable outcomes.
- Use AI-assisted development, rapid prototyping, and “vibe coding” approaches to quickly test ideas, build demonstrations, and learn from experiments.
- Work with Autodesk products, prototype research tools, APIs, and emerging AI systems to create new design and make experiences.
- Apply engineering judgment and domain knowledge to ensure AI-enabled workflows are useful, grounded, and relevant to real-world design and industry contexts.
- Collaborate closely with Autodesk Research colleagues in a fast-moving, multidisciplinary environment.
- Contribute to research projects from early concept through prototyping, experimentation, evaluation, and communication.
- Help translate research insights into prototypes, intellectual property, publications, demonstrations, and potential future platform capabilities.
- Share findings clearly through prototypes, technical documentation, presentations, demos, and research communication.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field.
- A few years of relevant industry, research, applied R&D, product innovation, or advanced prototyping experience.
- Experience using AI tools, agents, generative AI systems, or AI-assisted workflows in creative, design, engineering, or technical contexts.
- Strong understanding of design thinking, creative processes, and how people move from ideas to concepts, prototypes, simulations, or engineered outcomes.
- Engineering domain knowledge, such as mechanical engineering, product design, industrial design, simulation, manufacturing-aware design, or related technical fields.
- Ability to build prototypes quickly using modern software tools, AI-assisted coding, APIs, scripting, and experimental development workflows.
- Curiosity about agentic AI, frontier models, tool-using AI systems, and new ways of interacting with design and engineering software.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across disciplines and explain emerging technical ideas clearly.
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, ambiguous research environment where ideas are tested, challenged, refined, and rapidly prototyped.
- A hands-on mindset and a track record of experimenting with emerging technologies.
- Deeper experience with AI-enabled design, agentic systems, generative AI, frontier models, or AI-assisted software development.
- Experience with MCP or similar tool-use frameworks, AI agents, multi-agent systems, knowledge graphs, retrieval-augmented generation, or AI orchestration workflows.
- Experience applying AI to design, engineering, simulation, product development, creative tools, or digital making workflows.
- Familiarity with design and engineering software, including Autodesk products such as Fusion, Forma, Revit, Inventor, or related tools.
- Experience with simulation, optimisation, model-based design, computational design, or engineering analysis workflows.
- Experience developing prototypes, research demos, publications, patents, or technologies that have influenced products or industry practice.
- Experience working in startup-like, fast-paced, experimental, or highly ambiguous technical environments.
- Curiosity for exploring uncharted territory and shaping the future of how people design and make things.
Senior Research Engineer in City of Westminster employer: Autodesk
At Autodesk Research, we pride ourselves on being an innovative employer that fosters a collaborative and experimental work culture. Our London-based team thrives on pushing the boundaries of design and engineering through cutting-edge research in AI, offering employees unique opportunities for growth and creativity. With a strong emphasis on hybrid work, we empower our engineers to explore new ideas and technologies while contributing to meaningful projects that shape the future of design.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Research Engineer in City of Westminster
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Senior Research Engineer role you’re after at Autodesk.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Autodesk a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Autodesk.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Senior Research Engineer at Autodesk, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Research Engineer in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Senior Research Engineer, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Autodesk a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Autodesk specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Autodesk
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Autodesk, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Autodesk want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
