📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director of Data Acquisition and Strategy
🔹 Company: Autodesk
🔹 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA (Hybrid - San Francisco or Portland office)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Data & Analytics, Management
🔹 Date Posted: July 2, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (10% travel)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and maintaining foundational datasets for AI applications
- Defining strategy and coordinating business development opportunities
- Ensuring data availability while adhering to responsible data use practices
- Leading and growing a small team to support these goals
- Collaborating with senior stakeholders across the company
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of data acquisition and management processes.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Developing and maintaining large datasets from existing Autodesk cloud data
✅ Creating new data acquisition strategies and processes targeting new data types and sources
✅ Influencing corporate initiatives related to trust, ethics, data, and risk management
✅ Defining and analyzing metrics to inform the success of data used for ML training, testing, validation, and monitoring
✅ Working with senior leaders to set expectations and manage risks, dependencies, and trade-offs
✅ Networking across a large, diverse set of stakeholders and partners to influence effectively
✅ Influencing corporate culture and driving improvements in data governance, data processes, and platform technologies
✅ Leading and strategically growing a small team of high performers
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking, hands-on data management, and strong leadership skills to drive success.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Data Science, or a related discipline). A Master's degree would be an asset.
Experience: 10+ years in technology product management, data analytics, or engineering, with 3+ years of experience leading and hiring high performers.
Required Skills:
- Proven experience with unstructured data acquisition
- Experience with business contracts for purchasing or licensing ML datasets
- Strong understanding of key concepts in ML and the ML development lifecycle
- Experience with privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA)
- Familiarity with key concepts in data design and analysis, such as data models, structures, metadata, data catalogs, abstracts, etc.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience defining metrics reflecting discoverability, explorability, understandability, trustworthiness, etc. of datasets
- Experience influencing and working with external partners to deliver on common deliverables (commercial or academic partners)
- Familiarity with Responsible AI or data ethics
- Familiarity with data pipelines, including ETL processes, data models, and data-streams
- Familiarity with industry data standards or consortiums in manufacturing, architecture, engineering & construction, or media and entertainment
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in data management, business development, and leadership to excel in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $170,000 - $275,000 per year (USD)
Benefits:
- Health Benefits
- Financial Benefits
- Time Away
- Everyday Wellness
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with up to 10% travel
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the company's stated salary transparency and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and location.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Software Development, specifically design and manufacturing software
Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Enterprise-level)
Founded: 1982, with a rich history in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software
Company Description:
- Autodesk is a global leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software
- Provides innovative solutions for design, manufacturing, construction, product design, media, and entertainment industries
- Empowers innovators to design and make a better world
Company Specialties:
- 3D Design Software and Technology
- Digital Prototyping
- Sustainable Design Software
- Media & Entertainment
- Consumer Software
- PLM
- Cloud
- Mobile
Company Website: http://www.autodesk.com
ASSUMPTION: Autodesk is a well-established company with a strong focus on innovation and customer success in the design and manufacturing industries.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Management
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Senior Director, Emerging Technology Partnerships and Research
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with a preference for working from the San Francisco or Portland office and up to 10% travel
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow the data acquisition team and expand the role's influence within the organization
- Opportunities to collaborate with various teams and gain exposure to different aspects of the business
- Possibility to advance to a more senior leadership role within the organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand the team and influence the organization's data strategy.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (San Francisco or Portland office)
Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA, USA; Portland, OR, USA
Geographic Context:
- San Francisco: A major tech hub with a vibrant culture and diverse population
- Portland: A growing tech scene with a strong focus on sustainability and quality of life
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexible hours and up to 10% travel
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for flexibility and work-life balance, while the travel requirement enables face-to-face collaboration and networking opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video call with the hiring manager
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring team
- Final interview with senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Data acquisition and management skills
- Business development and partnership experience
- Leadership and team management abilities
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Familiarity with Autodesk's products and industry
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant data acquisition and management experience in your resume
- Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your understanding of Autodesk's products and industry
- Prepare examples of your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills for the interview
- Research Autodesk's company culture and values to show your fit for the organization
ATS Keywords: Data Acquisition, Data Strategy, Machine Learning, Business Development, Team Leadership, Data Ethics, Data Governance, Data Design, Data Analysis
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's technical skills, leadership abilities, and cultural fit within the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Data acquisition and management tools (e.g., ETL tools, data pipelines, data warehouses)
- Business intelligence and analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- Machine learning platforms (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn)
- Collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace)
ASSUMPTION: The required tools and technologies will depend on the specific data acquisition and management processes used within the organization.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Innovation
- Customer success
- One Autodesk
- Trust
- Quality
- Sustainability
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional teamwork
- Data-driven decision-making
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Flexible and adaptable to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Autodesk's values, particularly in the context of this role?
- How comfortable are you working in a hybrid environment and traveling up to 10% of the time?
- How do your leadership and team management styles fit with Autodesk's work style?
ASSUMPTION: Autodesk values candidates who demonstrate strong alignment with their core values and a willingness to collaborate and adapt in a dynamic work environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a small team with limited resources and competing priorities
- Balancing strategic thinking with hands-on data management tasks
- Navigating a large, diverse organization with multiple stakeholders and partners
- Adapting to changes in data acquisition strategies and processes
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong leadership, strategic planning, and effective communication and collaboration skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other data acquisition and strategy roles, this position requires a stronger focus on business development and partnership management
- Industry-specific context: Autodesk's focus on design and manufacturing software presents unique data acquisition challenges and opportunities
- Career path comparison: This role offers growth potential into senior leadership positions within the organization
ASSUMPTION: Understanding the unique aspects of this role and its industry context is crucial for successful applicants.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a new data acquisition strategy for a specific industry vertical
- Collaborating with external partners to license or purchase high-quality datasets for ML training
- Designing and implementing data governance processes to ensure responsible data use and compliance with privacy regulations
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic and hands-on aspects of the role and the importance of collaboration with stakeholders and partners.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the organization's long-term data strategy and roadmap?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role?
- How does the team collaborate and communicate with other departments and stakeholders within the organization?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the role and the organization?
- How does the company support work-life balance for employees in this role?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates your interest in the role and the organization, and provides valuable insights into the work environment and growth opportunities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume to highlight relevant data acquisition and management experience, as well as any business development or partnership experience
- Write a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of Autodesk's products, industry, and company culture
- Prepare examples of your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills for the interview
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
