Distinguished Software Architect (Head of Water Architecture)

Position Overview

Autodesk Water is reimagining how water infrastructure is planned, designed, and operated. We are evolving a portfolio of trusted desktop and cloud products — including InfoWorks ICM, InfoDrainage, Info360 Asset, and our hydraulic simulation engines — into a connected, platform-native system of intelligence that helps utilities and engineering firms move from modeling water systems to operating them with confidence. We are looking for a Distinguished Software Architect to set the technical vision and target architecture for the Autodesk Water product portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Set and communicate a compelling technical vision for the Water portfolio that spans desktop evolution, cloud-native services, hybrid desktop-cloud workflows, data strategy, and the application of AI — with pragmatic, incremental plans to get there

• Take direct accountability for portfolio-level architectural decisions, and drive decision-making in partnership with product development leads, engineering leadership, and stakeholders

• Apply architectural and systems thinking to influence product strategy, planning, and execution across simulation, asset intelligence, and operational workflows

• Identify Water’s opportunities to reuse and contribute to Autodesk platform capabilities — Forma and Forma Data Management, AI Accelerator, CloudOS, regional infrastructure, identity, and observability

• Drive the design of secure, reliable, performant systems that respect customer data and meet operational goals appropriate to mission-critical water infrastructure

Requirements

• Technical Vision & Strategy

• Architectural Design & Standards

• Influence, Collaboration & Strategic Problem Solving

• Communication & Knowledge Sharing

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications

  • 15+ years of experience as a software engineer / architect, including hands-on development
  • 5+ years in a senior architecture role in a SaaS business pursuing a platform strategy
  • A track record of delivering desktop and cloud software at scale, spanning products and industries
  • Demonstrated ability to organize and drive the design and execution of systems larger than a single team — through influence rather than direct authority
  • Self-directed, with an ability to identify points of leverage, set strategy, and work efficiently amid ambiguity in complex, global, matrixed environments
  • BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience
  • Sought out by other teams, leaders, and customers for architectural expertise
  • Recognized for innovative work, such as via patents, publications, or conference presentations
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills, across global technical and non-technical audiences
  • Demonstrated success working across cultures and time zones

• Preferred Qualifications

  • An advanced degree in Computer Science or related field
  • Experience transforming enterprise-level desktop applications to cloud and hybrid desktop-cloud architectures
  • Deep understanding of modern software design patterns, cloud best practices, DevOps and DevSecOps, and the AWS Well-Architected Framework
  • Experience designing systems for global deployment with regionalization, data residency, and compliance considerations
  • Hands-on experience applying AI/ML in product workflows, particularly where domain knowledge and trust matter
  • Industry expert in and contributor to software architecture practice
  • Familiarity with concept-based software design
  • Experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry; familiarity with water, infrastructure, geospatial, or simulation domains is a plus