Research Manager

Position Overview

Autodesk Research is seeking a Research Manager to lead pioneering work at the intersection of manufacturing, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. Based at the Autodesk Technology Center in Boston, this role will play a key part in shaping the future of manufacturing where digital twins, artificial intelligence, and advanced automation come together to redefine how things are made.

The Boston Technology Center is evolving into a world-class environment for experimentation and a space where ideas and technologies that may not yet exist in industry are explored, tested, and refined. The Research Manager will guide research teams, manage multidisciplinary collaborations, and lead experiments that generate insights, intellectual property, and impact for Autodesk and its customers.

If you are inspired by how people design and make anything, and you thrive at the boundary of research and industry, this role offers the opportunity to shape what comes next.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage research efforts in the Manufacturing Industry Futures group, focusing on applied research that advances manufacturing processes and technologies

• Supervise a small, growing team of researchers and contribute directly to research and experimentation activities

• Collaborate closely with the Boston Technology Center staff, Autodesk Research teams worldwide, and industry and academic partners

• Shape research directions and define projects aligned with Autodesk’s strategic vision for the future of manufacturing

• Drive hands-on experimentation, prototyping, and testing of emerging technologies, including AI, robotics, simulation, and digital twin applications in manufacturing contexts

• Manage cross-functional projects within a matrixed organization, ensuring alignment, communication, and impact

• Contribute to the creation of intellectual property, innovative tools, and scalable technologies that advance Autodesk’s platform and customer capabilities

• Foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and experimental rigor within the team and across the wider Autodesk Research community

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Manufacturing, or a related field (PhD preferred but not required)

• Demonstrated experience managing or leading research or technical teams in a manufacturing, R&D, or applied research environment

• Proven ability to work across disciplines and to guide projects from concept through experimentation to implementation

• Strong understanding of advanced manufacturing technologies, digital twins, AI, and their role in factory or production environments

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence technical direction and strategic priorities

• A track record of hands-on experimentation and working with emerging technologies

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in or familiarity with national research organizations or applied R&D labs

• Experience developing IP or contributing to technology transfer from research into industrial or commercial contexts

• Strategic thinker with a curiosity for exploring uncharted territory and shaping the future of how products are made

Research @ Autodesk

Autodesk Research partners with academia, industry, and government to explore the future of design, engineering, and manufacturing. Our teams combine scientific rigor with creative exploration to transform ideas into technologies that empower people to make anything.

The Manufacturing Industry Futures team focuses on redefining how things are designed and made using data, automation, and intelligence to unlock the next generation of manufacturing innovation.

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!

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 https://benefits.autodesk.com/

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

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