At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct applied research in AI for innovative design and engineering workflows.
- Company: Join Autodesk, a leader in transforming how things are designed and made.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, hybrid work options, and a culture of innovation.
- Other info: Fast-paced, experimental environment with opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design with cutting-edge AI technologies and creative exploration.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant fields and experience with AI tools in design contexts.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Autodesk Research Team partners with academia, industry, and government to explore the future of design, engineering, and making. Our teams combine scientific rigor with creative exploration to transform ideas into technologies that empower people to make anything.
The Manufacturing Industry Futures team focuses on redefining how things are designed and made using data, automation, intelligence, and new forms of human-machine collaboration. We work at the intersection of applied research, industry needs, emerging technology, and Autodesk’s future platforms.
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.
Minimum 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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.
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.
Senior Research Engineer in London employer: Autodesk
At Autodesk, we foster a vibrant and inclusive work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration, making it an exceptional employer for those passionate about shaping the future of design and engineering. As a Senior Research Engineer in London, you'll have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI technologies within a dynamic, startup-like environment, while benefiting from our commitment to employee growth through continuous learning and development. With a focus on meaningful work and a strong sense of belonging, Autodesk empowers you to turn your ideas into reality and make a positive impact on the world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Research Engineer in London
✨Get Involved in Research Communities
Dive headfirst into the scientific research world by joining relevant communities and forums. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and even attend conferences or seminars in your field. This not only boosts your visibility but can also lead to potential job opportunities—don't forget to connect with like-minded folks!
✨Show Off Your Research Projects
Have you worked on any cool research projects? Make it easy for potential employers to see your work by creating a portfolio or a personal website. This way, when you apply for roles like the one at Autodesk, you can point them to your projects and publications, showcasing your expertise directly.
✨Utilise Professional Networks
Networking is key in scientific research. Join professional bodies or organisations related to your field. They often have job boards and resources tailored for job seekers. Make connections with professionals who may know about openings or can give you tips on landing a full-time position.
✨Keep Your Eyes on Openings & Apply Directly
Don’t just rely on job boards! Keep an eye on the careers section of the websites of companies like Autodesk. Apply directly through their website because sometimes they post jobs there before anywhere else. Plus, it shows your proactive approach!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Research Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Research Experience:When applying for a full-time role in scientific research, make sure to emphasise your research experience prominently in your CV. Share specific projects you’ve worked on, the methodologies you used, and any significant findings. If you’ve published papers or presented at conferences, definitely include that too – it shows you’re on it in the academic world!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Research Area:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the specific area of research at Autodesk. Mention relevant experiences that align with the organisation’s goals or projects. This shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position – plus, it helps us see how you’d fit into the team dynamics.
Showcase Your Data Analysis Skills:In scientific research, data analysis skills are a big deal! Make sure to detail any relevant analytical tools or software you’re familiar with, like R, Python, or statistical packages. Employers are keen to know you can handle the data-heavy elements of the role, so add specific examples where you’ve used these skills effectively.
Discuss Your Future Research Goals:In your motivation section, it’s a great idea to talk about your future research goals and how they align with the work being done at Autodesk. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but rather a chance to contribute meaningfully to the field. We love to see applicants who are forward-thinking and enthusiastic about their research journey!
How to prepare for a job interview at Autodesk
✨Showcase Your Research Skills
In scientific research, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to design and conduct experiments. Come armed with examples of past projects where you've developed hypotheses, collected data, and analysed results. Be ready to discuss any specific methodologies or tools you’ve used, like PCR techniques or statistical software.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect some technical questions specific to your field. Make sure you're up to speed with recent advancements in scientific research related to the role at Autodesk. Brush up on concepts relevant to their projects and be prepared to discuss how you would approach a specific research problem or challenge they might face.
✨Know Your Publications
If you've authored or co-authored any papers, be prepared to discuss them! Highlighting your contributions to published research can really set you apart. It shows not only your expertise but also your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, which is key in scientific research roles.
✨Exhibit Your Team Spirit
In full-time roles, collaboration is often at the heart of scientific research. Prepare examples that show how you've successfully worked in teams, dealt with conflicts, or contributed to group projects. We want to know how you can work effectively with the team at Autodesk to drive research projects forward.
