Research Scientist, AI for Human Simulation

Position Overview

Autodesk Research is dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies and pioneering new workflows and experiences for our customers across AEC, Design & Manufacturing and Media & Entertainment industries. As a multidisciplinary team comprising scientists, industry practitioners and software creators, we assist customers in reimagining the future of designing and making.

One of our key focuses is the area of designing for human experience. We seek to enable and democratise the pursuit of human-centric principles and insights in all that our customers create by building innovative simulation tools for Autodesk software. To that end, we are exploring the intersection of latest developments in human sciences with advancements in technologies such as wearables, XR, computer vision, AI/ML. We are interested in understanding and then predicting nuances of human behaviour, perception, emotions, cultural contexts as they pertain to informing the design of anything from cities, through infrastructure, landscapes, buildings, products to movies.

We are currently seeking a talented Researcher to lead the creation of new, AI/ML-enhanced simulation tools for human experience and behaviour. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, ideally including at least one of the following fields: sociology, behavioural, cognitive or neuroscience, multi-agent simulation. Prior exposure to projects within the AECO industry would be beneficial.

Responsibilities 

• Conduct applied research to investigate the potential of human experience simulation within the context of real design workflows
• Design, implement and validate innovative AI/ML algorithms and systems for Autodesk applications
• Explore diverse data sources and novel data collection methods to support this
• Engage with industry partners and stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities for human simulation and AI applications in various design workflows
• Communicate ideas, challenges, solutions, and results effectively within a multidisciplinary team of researchers, software engineers, user experience designers, and industry experts
• Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals to contribute to the scientific community

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD or Master's degree
• Published papers in top-tier AI/HCI/simulation conferences 
• Strong technical skills in applying deep learning and generative AI techniques, including implementing custom architectures, pretraining/fine-tuning generative models, building agentic workflows, and deploying solutions with real-world constraints.
• Familiarity with PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX or similar frameworks

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in building AI agents (based on RL, LLMs, etc.)
• Experience in building multi-agent simulation
• Background in Large Language Models/NLP and Multi-modal deep learning
• Exposure to projects integrating human sciences (e.g. sociology, behavioural, cognitive, neuroscience)
• Familiarity with spatial analysis algorithms (e.g. space syntax)

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!

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