Distinguished Software Architect (Head of Water Architecture)

Job Requisition ID # 26WD98148 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. This is a senior individual contributor role with broad influence: you will be the lead architectural voice across every Water product, partnering directly with the development leads of our product teams and with architects across AEC and the Autodesk Platform. You will own the architectural strategy that takes us from today’s mix of desktop and cloud applications to a coherent, AI-enabled, decision-grade system spanning simulation, asset intelligence, and operations. You will be a member of the Water Leadership Team, working directly with Product Management, Engineering, and UX leaders, and representing Water architecture across Autodesk’s broader platform and AI initiatives. Responsibilities Technical Vision & Strategy 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, 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 Architectural Design & Standards Define and evolve the components, relationships, and governing principles that shape Water’s architecture across cloud, desktop, and hybrid environments Establish strong interface and data modeling design across hydraulic simulation, asset records, geospatial data, and operational telemetry — applying coupling and cohesion to make a portfolio of products feel like one system Govern interoperability with Autodesk Civil 3D and other AEC products, ensuring shared object models and bidirectional design-to-modeling workflows hold up at scale Establish and enforce standards and practices for software design; define views, diagrams, and other formalisms used to articulate and review designs Lead architecture reviews and forums to promote best practices, align on architecture decisions, and ensure non‑functional qualities (performance, reliability, security, privacy) hold up across the portfolio Maintain and apply expert‑level, current knowledge of architectural patterns, distributed systems, and emerging technologies, including AI/ML and hybrid desktop‑cloud computing Influence, Collaboration & Strategic Problem Solving Partner closely with the development leads across each Water product team, providing architectural direction without direct authority — building the trust and clarity that makes alignment durable Collaborate with software architects across AEC, the Autodesk Platform, and other divisions to ensure cohesive system‑level design that supports cross‑product workflows Work with Product Management, UX, and Engineering leaders to translate complex problems — hydraulic modeling fidelity, ingestion of legacy and partner data, operational scale — into pragmatic architectural direction Demonstrate sound technical judgment by soliciting feedback from stakeholders, weighing trade‑offs, and anticipating long‑term impact Lead or participate in Autodesk‑wide technical working groups; build durable peer relationships across the Chief Architect organization and divisional architecture teams Communication & Knowledge Sharing Communicate effectively and proactively on technical topics to varied audiences — from engineering teams to executive leadership and customers Take complex ideas and convey them concisely, using diagrams and written narratives that hold up under scrutiny Foster a culture of architectural rigor and knowledge sharing across the Water development teams and broader Autodesk technical community Mentor senior engineers and emerging architects across the Water organization Play a leading role in Autodesk technical conferences and forums, with the option to publish or present externally Travel approximately four times per year to meet with globally distributed teams, attend internal conferences and forums, and engage with customers 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 Experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry; familiarity with water, infrastructure, geospatial, or simulation domains is a plus Familiarity with concept‑based software design Benefits From 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 Salary Transparency Salary is one part of Autodesk’s competitive compensation package. For U.S.-based roles, we expect a starting base salary between $171,000 and $306,130. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Autodesk