Principal User Researcher

Job Requisition ID #26WD98004Position OverviewAt Autodesk, we do what no other company can: we help our customers design and make anything. The Experience Foundations team at Autodesk plays a critical role in designing the experiences that make that mission a reality, especially in this transformative moment where seamless digital experiences and AI-powered innovation will empower customers and teams to achieve meaningful outcomes faster.As a Principal User Researcher at Autodesk, you will play a critical leadership role, as an individual contributor, driving high-impact research, shaping product strategy, and delivering user-centered insights that inform and elevate our products and services.Reporting to the Sr. Manager, User Experience Research, this role acts as a strategic partner supporting Autodesk’s Infrastructure and Transportation initiatives with user-driven insights, helping define the future of connected experiences in Autodesk’s Forma – the AECO Industry Cloud. You will be part of the broader AEC User Success organization working alongside research, experience analytics, product growth, and operations while collaborating with global teams to develop innovative solutions for the AEC industry. Your work will directly influence next-generation software that makes designing and building more collaborative, efficient, and sustainable.Location: Portland, Atlanta, Novi, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal with a preference for those located near our offices.Travel: light travel across North America for team meetings and conferences.ResponsibilitiesLead strategic partnerships with product, data, and experience leaders to shape product vision, design direction, and key business decisionsDefine and drive mixed-methods research programs aligned to core business objectives, supporting the full product lifecycle—from early strategy and discovery through post-release evaluation and optimizationDesign, conduct, and oversee complex qualitative and quantitative research using advanced empirical and statistical methodsSynthesize and integrate insights from research, analytics, and business data into clear, actionable recommendations that influence strategy and executionLead cross-disciplinary teams in translating insights into future experience principles, end-to-end user journeys, and actionable implementation roadmapsOwn and evolve Critical User Journeys for key domains, ensuring insights continuously inform prioritization, experience strategy, and investment decisionsPartner closely with product and analytics teams to measure the impact of research-informed decisions, closing the loop between insight, action, and outcomesCollaborate with product growth teams to identify opportunities and execute research-informed strategies that drive adoption and long-term valueEstablish and promote research best practices, frameworks, and standards that strengthen a culture of user-centered product developmentCreate compelling narratives, case studies, and artifacts that clearly communicate insights and elevate decision-making across the organizationDesign and facilitate workshops that support ideation, alignment, strategic decision-making, and co-creation with stakeholdersServe as a bridge between AIR (AutoCAD, Infrastructure, and Reality Capture) teams and the rest of the Autodesk AEC family of products and teamsShape and evolve research operating models, frameworks, and standards that help us scale insight impact across products and regionsMinimum Qualifications8+ years of professional experience conducting and leading user experience research in complex product environmentsProven ability to analyze and synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable, and strategic insightsDemonstrated ability to build trusted partnerships and influence decisions across product, design, data, and engineering teams at multiple levels of the organizationExperience collaborating with product analytics and growth functions to define, measure, and refine data-informed strategiesA strong, current toolkit of qualitative and quantitative research methods and tools—including AI-powered approaches—and the judgment to select and adapt methods for complex and ambiguous problem spacesComfort experimenting with, adopting, and teaching emerging research methodologies, particularly those leveraging AI and automationDeep knowledge of human-centered design principles and their application across the end-to-end product development lifecycleStrong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with a holistic and structured approach to complex problem solvingPreferred QualificationsExperience conducting research within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry or adjacent complex domainsExperience working with early-stage products to define and validate product–market fitExperience working with data scientists to combine behavioral, attitudinal, and usage data into cohesive, insight-driven narrativesExperience with journey mapping and leveraging end-to-end user journeys to inform and drive experience strategyFamiliarity with longitudinal research approaches, such as diary studies, and co-creation or participatory research techniquesExperience facilitating workshops and working sessions with cross-functional partners and customers to drive alignment and decision-makingDemonstrated strength in communication and storytelling, with the ability to build credibility, trust, and influence at multiple organizational levelsExperience iterating on and evolving research practices, processes, and operating models within a research organizationAbility to identify market and product opportunities by connecting research insights to strategic priorities and potential business impactUniversity degree in a related field such as Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Psychology, related or equivalent practical experienceLearn MoreAbout AutodeskWelcome 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!BenefitsFrom health and financial benefits to time away and everyday wellness, we give Autodeskers the best, so they can do their best work. Learn more about our benefits in the U.S. by visiting https://benefits.autodesk.com/Salary transparencySalary is one part of Autodesk’s competitive compensation package. For U.S.-based roles, we expect a starting base salary between $117,000 and $210,540. Offers are based on the candidate’s experience and geographic location, and may exceed this range. In addition to base salaries, our compensation package may include annual cash bonuses, commissions for sales roles, stock grants, and a comprehensive benefits package.Equal Employment Opportunity At Autodesk, we're building a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to imagine, design, and make a better world. Autodesk is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We also consider for employment all qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.Diversity & BelongingWe take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/diversity-and-belongingAre you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk? Please search for open jobs and apply internally (not on this external site).