Autodesk Life
With a global community of more than 14,100+ Autodeskers spanning 47 countries, we’re shaping the future of design and make around the world! Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Vancouver, British Columbia, and some of the Autodeskers who live and work in this beautiful city:
Ava Shoshtari is a Manager of Applied Machine Learning (ML) & Data Science. Her team is part of a centralized product analytics organization that excels in usage data analytics, providing support across various domains within the company. Her organization’s mission is to harness the power of insights to create personalized product experiences for our users and to enable data-driven decision-making for all Autodesk product teams.
Darshan Parikh is a Software Engineer on the AutoCAD mobile team, which is responsible for bringing the power of AutoCAD to mobile devices. His team handles everything from designing a user-friendly interface optimized for touchscreens to ensuring seamless performance across various devices. They collaborate closely with the core AutoCAD team to ensure feature parity and a consistent user experience across platforms.
Weder Ribas is a Principal Software Engineer for Autodesk Construction Cloud within our Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Solutions (AEC Solutions) organization. His team makes it easy for builders to define who should have access to project data and for how long. Weder’s immediate team takes care of the software infrastructure, configuring the servers, databases, and all computing needed to run a good software product.
What are some of the best things about working at Autodesk in Vancouver?
Darshan: I really appreciate Autodesk’s emphasis on work-life balance, which allows me to enjoy all that Vancouver has to offer – it’s an amazing city to live in! The natural beauty is breathtaking, with mountains, ocean, and parks all around. I’ve had the chance to visit some of Autodesk’s offices, and I’m truly impressed by the lengths the company goes to ensure employees are both productive and comfortable. From ergonomic workspaces to collaborative areas and spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation, it’s clear that Autodesk prioritizes employee well-being.
Weder: I love living in Vancouver, and having the chance to work at Autodesk while living here makes me happy! Support for home-based employees is pretty good, and everyone in the company embraces asynchronous work, which allows me to integrate work and personal life quite seamlessly. I’ve had the chance to visit our offices in Portland and Boston, where I’ve met many of my amazing colleagues in person. On one of those trips, I even discovered I was neighbors with another teammate!
Ava: Being situated in Vancouver, a hub of engineering, architecture, and entertainment firms, amplifies our relevance. I take personal pride in the fact that many of my close connections utilize Autodesk products in their daily operations. It’s profoundly satisfying to realize the impact we make on their everyday lives. In terms of the broader community, Vancouver is a vibrant city with a growing tech scene. Additionally, Vancouver offers a high standard of living, exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities, and a diverse cultural scene, making it a great location to balance work and personal life.
How do each of your teams create a culture of belonging and connection?
Ava: Our Applied ML team possesses a distinctive culture that revolves around continuous learning, innovation, and knowledge sharing. We actively engage in numerous hackathons, undertake expansive research, and conduct regular paper reviews to stay well-informed of the latest developments. Our team functions like a close-knit family, consistently motivating each other to excel both on a professional and personal level.
Darshan: Our AutoCAD mobile team possesses a highly collaborative and supportive culture. Everyone on the team is eager to learn and make an impact. Even though many team members work from home, we understand the benefits of staying in touch and collaborating with each other. So, we started utilizing virtual office tools for some parts of our working hours, which has helped us in pair programming and remote collaboration. These tools allow us to seamlessly connect, share screens, and work together in real time, regardless of our physical location.
Weder: My team within AEC Solutions takes our work very seriously, but not so seriously that it would become boring. We strive to have fun, make friendships, and empower our teammates to do their best. We acknowledge that everyone is different in some ways and respect and embrace those differences. After all, they bring a diversity of thought and a learning opportunity for everyone.
Why should someone want to consider a career with Autodesk, specifically in Vancouver?
Weder: Autodesk is a great place to work. There are many exciting challenges to solve, great products to develop, and great minds to collaborate with. The support for remote work is fantastic, and you still get to live in beautiful British Columbia! Particularly for myself, Autodesk has been very supportive of my studies while I attend a master’s degree program. I get flexible hours and extra time out to focus on my research.
Ava: The culture at Autodesk is phenomenal, characterized by a sense of belonging where everyone, regardless of their background, has equal opportunities to succeed and contribute. Our diverse team is connected globally, nurturing a family-like atmosphere whether we’re working remotely or from an office. Being based in Vancouver and working for Autodesk offers the unique chance to enjoy the city’s stunning landscapes while being part of a vibrant global community. If travel sparks your interest, you’ll have opportunities to meet and collaborate with coworkers worldwide. As Autodesk’s presence in Vancouver grows, I foresee the potential to further strengthen our community bond in this beautiful city.
Darshan: Vancouver itself is a fantastic city to live in with its stunning natural beauty, thriving tech scene, and diverse cultural offerings; it provides an exceptional quality of life. Autodesk is one of the top companies to work for. One thing that truly sets us apart is our people – you’ll be surrounded by experienced and helpful colleagues who are always willing to share their knowledge and expertise. The learning opportunities are immense, and you’ll find yourself constantly growing and expanding your skill set. When you join Autodesk, you’ll be joining a global leader in design and engineering software, contributing to innovative solutions that have a real-world impact across various industries.
Want to join us at Autodesk in Vancouver? Check out our current openings!