Principal Program Manager, Design Operations

Autodesk Autodesk · Enterprise · Oregon, USA, NV +2 · Remote

The Principal Design Operations Program Manager will drive and manage programs to enhance team health, improve design efficiency and process, and increase design alignment across teams and with business partners within the Product Design and Manufacturing Solutions (PDMS) organization. This role requires strong program management, systems thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, with a focus on improving design team success and integrating AI tools for designers.

What you'd actually do

  1. Own and/or manage programs and initiatives that improve design team success (team health, design efficiency, and/or design impact). This includes:
  2. Design and lead design sprints to accelerate design of user-facing products and of internal programs and services
  3. Coach and support design team members, in achievement of design adjacent tasks such as work prioritization, level-of-effort estimating, asset management, and knowledge sharing
  4. Design and implement new ways of working that further DesignOps effectiveness and goals, using design thinking methods, and collaborating with team members and key stakeholders
  5. Aid DesignOps scalability through designing, documenting, and sharing best practices and resources

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience
  • 4+ years design program management experience within a software environment
  • Familiarity with user-centered design practices, UX tools and techniques, and software development methods, primarily Agile
  • Strong track record in above requirements, particularly in standing up and managing programs and completing significant initiatives successfully and in leading design sprints / workshops
  • Excellent project management skills
  • Fluency with the SDLC and working with cross-functional teams to improve it, especially the design team’s role
  • Solid foundation in AI and experience helping designers improve their AI fluency
  • Up-to-date in latest AI features/tools for designers
  • Demonstrated strong writing, reporting, and documentation skills (examples may be required)
  • Strong verbal and presentation skills
  • Ability to travel when needed, likely 10% or less

What the JD emphasized

  • Solid foundation in AI and experience helping designers improve their AI fluency
  • Up-to-date in latest AI features/tools for designers