Principal User Researcher

Autodesk•Portland, OR

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At 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.

Requirements

8+ years of professional experience conducting and leading user experience research in complex product environments
Proven ability to analyze and synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable, and strategic insights
Demonstrated ability to build trusted partnerships and influence decisions across product, design, data, and engineering teams at multiple levels of the organization
Experience collaborating with product analytics and growth functions to define, measure, and refine data-informed strategies
A 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 spaces
Comfort experimenting with, adopting, and teaching emerging research methodologies, particularly those leveraging AI and automation
Deep knowledge of human-centered design principles and their application across the end-to-end product development lifecycle
Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with a holistic and structured approach to complex problem solving

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting research within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry or adjacent complex domains
Experience working with early-stage products to define and validate product–market fit
Experience working with data scientists to combine behavioral, attitudinal, and usage data into cohesive, insight-driven narratives
Experience with journey mapping and leveraging end-to-end user journeys to inform and drive experience strategy
Familiarity with longitudinal research approaches, such as diary studies, and co-creation or participatory research techniques
Experience facilitating workshops and working sessions with cross-functional partners and customers to drive alignment and decision-making
Demonstrated strength in communication and storytelling, with the ability to build credibility, trust, and influence at multiple organizational levels
Experience iterating on and evolving research practices, processes, and operating models within a research organization
Ability to identify market and product opportunities by connecting research insights to strategic priorities and potential business impact
University degree in a related field such as Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Psychology, related or equivalent practical experience

Responsibilities

Lead strategic partnerships with product, data, and experience leaders to shape product vision, design direction, and key business decisions
Define 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 optimization
Design, conduct, and oversee complex qualitative and quantitative research using advanced empirical and statistical methods
Synthesize and integrate insights from research, analytics, and business data into clear, actionable recommendations that influence strategy and execution
Lead cross-disciplinary teams in translating insights into future experience principles, end-to-end user journeys, and actionable implementation roadmaps
Own and evolve Critical User Journeys for key domains, ensuring insights continuously inform prioritization, experience strategy, and investment decisions
Partner closely with product and analytics teams to measure the impact of research-informed decisions, closing the loop between insight, action, and outcomes
Collaborate with product growth teams to identify opportunities and execute research-informed strategies that drive adoption and long-term value
Establish and promote research best practices, frameworks, and standards that strengthen a culture of user-centered product development
Create compelling narratives, case studies, and artifacts that clearly communicate insights and elevate decision-making across the organization
Design and facilitate workshops that support ideation, alignment, strategic decision-making, and co-creation with stakeholders
Serve as a bridge between AIR (AutoCAD, Infrastructure, and Reality Capture) teams and the rest of the Autodesk AEC family of products and teams
Shape and evolve research operating models, frameworks, and standards that help us scale insight impact across products and regions