A

Autodesk

Builds design, engineering, and animation software

PhD Researcher - HCI & Visualization Research

InternshipPosted on 10/1/2026Deadline 2/1/27
No salary listed
PhD
Toronto, ON, Canada+1 moreMore locations: San Francisco, CA, USA
HybridThe program uses office, remote, or hybrid work based on business and team needs; in-person onboarding or ID verification may be required.
Product & Experience DesignUX Research
Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • Currently enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science or a related field, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction, with at least one academic term remaining after the internship.
  • Demonstrated expertise in interactive technologies, including peer-reviewed publications on the topic in international venues.
  • Strong communication skills and teamwork experience.
  • Very strong technical skills in building software prototypes.
Responsibilities
  • Support research and design efforts by developing software prototypes and exploring concepts.
  • Conduct literature reviews.
  • Gather requirements and issues to explore and design.
  • Develop algorithms.
  • Build prototypes to test and explore concepts.
  • Conduct experiments to test research ideas and hypotheses.
  • Measure human performance and cognition limitations related to interaction with technology.
  • Conduct usability studies, ethnographic studies, heuristic evaluations, task analyses, structured interviews, and surveys.
  • Evaluate research findings and prototypes and make recommendations for business and product impact.
  • Explore new prototyping frameworks and technologies.
  • Author a full research paper.
  • Produce an accompanying research video.
  • Present research results externally and internally.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with modern generative AI tools and frameworks such as GPT, Llama, Stable Diffusion, and ComfyUI.
  • Experience with web development and frameworks such as React/Next.js and Node.js/Flask.
  • Experience interfacing with unique hardware modules.
  • Experience developing software in a Windows or macOS environment.
  • Experience developing software for augmented reality or virtual reality equipment such as Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro.
  • Experience programming 3D graphics and using Unity or Unreal Engine.
  • Experience with experimental design and data analysis.
  • Experience with rapid prototyping.
  • Ability to work effectively as a team member and with minimum supervision; self-driven.
  • Ability to handle requirements from multiple sources and resolve conflicts and compromises diplomatically.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with other teams.
  • Ability to write clear, concise, and correct technical material.

About the company

A

Autodesk

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cbWebsite

Autodesk builds software for architects, engineers, construction teams, product designers, and digital artists. Its products include AutoCAD for drafting, Revit for building models, Fusion for product development, and Maya for animation and visual effects. Professionals use these desktop and cloud tools to create digital designs, test alternatives, prepare drawings, and coordinate project information with colleagues before work reaches a building site, factory, or screen. Autodesk earns revenue through software subscriptions, enterprise agreements, and usage-based access, with cloud services connecting teams and their project data. Autodesk was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

1982

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Revenue is growing: August 2026 Autodesk reported $2.05 billion for Q2 fiscal 2027, up 16% year over year.
  • Maintenance software expands the portfolio: August 2026 Autodesk completed its approximately $3.6 billion acquisition of MaintainX.
  • US retirement savings get support: Autodesk's 2026 401(k) match reaches $4,500 for eligible employees contributing $6,000.

What critics are saying

  • Acquisition financing has a short maturity: August 2026 Autodesk borrowed $1 billion through a 364-day MaintainX term loan.
  • Sales staffing faces cuts: January 2026 Autodesk announced a 7% workforce reduction, concentrated in customer-facing sales teams.
  • US vacation accrual has a ceiling: Autodesk's full time nonexempt employees earn 10 hours monthly, capped at 200 hours.

What makes Autodesk unique

  • Product development shares one workspace: Fusion combines mechanical design, machining, simulation, and circuit-board layout in one cloud platform.
  • Building edits stay coordinated: Revit's parametric relationships automatically propagate component changes throughout the model and its drawings.
  • Specialist drafting uses one license: AutoCAD includes seven toolsets covering architecture, electrical, mechanical, mapping, plumbing, plants, and raster work.

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Benefits

  • Paid Vacation
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-2%

1 year growth

-2%

2 year growth

-2%
Yahoo Finance
Oct 22nd, 2026
Why Autodesk's $243.84 shares look unappealing: slow growth, weak CAC payback, falling cash margin

Autodesk (ADSK) shares trade at $243.84, down 1.5% over the past six months, while the S&P 500 gained 8.1%. A StockStory analysis advises avoiding the stock for three reasons. First, long-term growth disappoints. Autodesk's sales grew 14% a year over the past five years, which the analysts say falls short of standards for the software sector. Second, customer acquisition payback is poor. The period was negative this quarter, meaning sales and marketing spending outpaced revenue, which suggests a competitive market. Third, cash flow is set to weaken. Analysts expect the free cash flow margin to fall from 36.4% over the last 12 months to 32.7%. The stock trades at 5.9× forward price-to-sales. The analysts call that fair but see limited upside.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 15th, 2026
Autodesk vs Fair Isaac: faster growth, but FICO's 52.1% margin and 20x P/E stand out

Autodesk and Fair Isaac shares have fallen 24.9% and 56.4% over the past year, even as sales growth at both software companies has sped up in each of the past two years. Fair Isaac grew sales 24.1% in the twelve months to June 2026, against 17.9% for Autodesk. It also turned 52.1% of sales into operating profit, compared with 27.9% at Autodesk. Its stock trades at 20.0 times trailing earnings; Autodesk trades at 29.6 times. Autodesk has the stronger balance sheet, with $4.16 billion in cash and short-term investments against $3.71 billion of debt. Fair Isaac owes $5.6 billion against $248 million in cash. Fair Isaac fell after the Federal Housing Finance Agency said on September 28 it would simplify its mortgage pricing grid and incorporate VantageScore. The company expects to report next on or around November 11, 2026.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 5th, 2026
Autodesk shares rise 3.8% after Schneider Electric's $22.6B PTC acquisition

Autodesk shares rose 3.8% in pre-market trading after Schneider Electric announced a $22.6 billion cash acquisition of PTC, an industrial design and product lifecycle management software provider. The deal, Schneider's largest to date, valued PTC at a 42.3% premium to its previous closing price. The transaction provides a valuation benchmark for the industrial and engineering software sector where Autodesk operates. The company recently announced wider rollout of Autodesk Assistant across its Fusion product portfolio, extending AI capabilities to products including Inventor, Moldflow and Vault. Autodesk reported 16% revenue growth and 57% net income increase in its most recent quarter. The broader market saw smaller moves, with the S&P 500 up 0.1%.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 21st, 2026
Autodesk revenue hits $7.8B, but stock down 32% on AI disruption fears

Autodesk shares trade at $217, down 32% from a year ago, despite revenue reaching $7.8 billion over the past twelve months, up 17.9%. Investors worry AI tools could disrupt its software business. A three-year scenario projects the stock could reach $315, representing 45% upside, if revenue grows 15.2% annually whilst net margin eases from 21.1% to 20.0%. This assumes earnings rise about 45% and the price-to-earnings ratio holds at 27.7 times. The company guided fiscal 2027 revenue to approximately $8.32 billion. Strong construction and emerging markets performance, plus growing adoption of its Fusion design platform, support the outlook. However, margin faces pressure from the MaintainX acquisition, which adds only $60 million revenue in fiscal 2027's second half whilst operating unprofitably. Management also expects AI workloads to squeeze gross margin somewhat.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 18th, 2026
Workday vs Autodesk: Which AI-powered software stock offers better value?

Workday and Autodesk both bet on monetising customer data through AI adoption. Workday manages HR and finance records, whilst Autodesk handles design, manufacturing, and construction data. Both companies raised guidance following strong fiscal Q2 2027 results. Workday lifted its fiscal 2027 subscription revenue outlook by 0.1%, projecting 11% subscription growth for fiscal 2028, down from 13% for fiscal 2027. Autodesk raised its total revenue outlook by 1.6%, including contributions from its MaintainX acquisition. Workday reports nearly $600 million in AI product annual recurring revenue, with over 200 customers using flex credits. However, Workday trades at a price-to-EBIT multiple of 33.0, compared to Autodesk's 21.1. Autodesk's revenue grew 17.9% over the past twelve months, versus Workday's 13.3%. Its GAAP operating margin reached 27.9%, more than double Workday's 12.0%.

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