Director of AI Research, Autodesk AI Lab, Model Alignment

Job Requisition ID # 26WD96028 Position Overview Autodesk is seeking a Director of AI Research to lead critical post-training and trust enabling capabilities for our next generation of AI systems. This role oversees multiple research and applied science teams spanning model post-training and adaptation, responsible AI and robustness, and dataset creation and annotation for AI Research. This is a scientific leadership role for a seasoned AI researcher and people manager requiring both deep technical credibility and strong people management, with direct influence on Autodesk’s AI strategy and research-to-product pipeline. You will partner closely with engineering, product, legal, and design to ensure Autodesk’s AI systems are powerful, reliable, and trustworthy. The Director will manage and grow multiple research and applied science teams, define technical vision and roadmaps, and ensure that Autodesk’s AI systems are robust, compliant, high-quality, and production-ready, while still pushing the frontier of multimodal and generative AI for Design & Make. Autodesk's AI Lab is active in the wider research community, targeting publications at CVPR, NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, SIGGRAPH, and other top-tier conferences. We collaborate with top academic & industry labs, combining the best of an academic environment with product-guided research. We are a global team, located in London, San Francisco, Toronto, and remotely. This role will report to the Senior Director of AI Research in the AI Lab. Responsibilities Research & Technical Leadership Set the technical vision and research agenda for post-training of foundation, multimodal, and domain-specific models, including alignment, fine-tuning, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Lead research and applied development in Responsible AI, including robustness, bias and fairness analysis, safety, reliability, explainability, and governance for enterprise and regulated contexts. Guide research into evaluation frameworks, datasets, benchmarks, and human-in-the-loop systems that connect model behavior to real-world design and workflow outcomes Balance exploratory research with delivery-oriented applied work, ensuring that innovations transition eTectively into Autodesk platforms Organizational & People Leadership Build, lead, and mentor multi-disciplinary teams of research scientists, applied scientists, engineers, and data specialists Foster a culture of technical rigor, collaboration, and inclusion, supporting career growth for senior ICs and emerging leaders Provide clear goal-setting, feedback, and performance management across teams with diverse mandates and timelines Partner closely with adjacent AI Lab leaders, product teams, and platform organizations to align priorities and execution Cross-Functional & External Engagement Work with product, legal, security, and compliance partners to ensure AI systems meet Autodesk’s enterprise trust and quality standards Translate complex research outcomes into clear technical narratives and decision frameworks for executive stakeholders Represent Autodesk AI Lab in external research communities, academic collaborations, and strategic partnerships Contribute to IP strategy, publications, and long-term technical vision for AI in design and engineering Minimum Qualifications PhD or equivalent experience in AI, ML, NLP, or a related field.PhD or equivalent experience 10+ years of experience spanning advanced AI research and production systems Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary research teams and managing senior technical talent Strong background in language and/or multimodal AI, with experience delivering systems used in real-world, high-impact settings Demonstrated success translating research into scalable, reliable, and trusted AI products Strong cross-functional leadership skills, with experience aligning research, engineering, product, and business stakeholders Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences History of external research engagement (publications, partnerships, or industry leadership) Preferred Qualifications Experience operating in regulated or high-stakes domains where correctness, explainability, and trust are critical Experience in Architecture, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment or other Autodesk domains CAD software proficiency AI at Autodesk is not abstract—it directly shapes how the world is designed and built. This role ensures that Autodesk’s AI systems are not only powerful, but trustworthy, interpretable, and grounded in high-quality data. The Director of AI Research in this portfolio will play a pivotal role in making AI a dependable collaborator for designers, engineers, and creators worldwide. 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. For U.S.-based roles, we expect a starting base salary between $219,600 and $393,250. 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 & Belonging We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/diversity-and-belonging Are you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk? Please search for open jobs and apply internally (not on this external site).