Autodesk Life
What do interns discover when they spend a summer – or even a year – at Autodesk? We recently connected with current and former interns around the world to find out!
Their projects ranged from AI-powered tools and developer platforms to business resiliency, technical sales, and customer-facing roles. While their day-to-day experiences looked different, many discovered the same things: meaningful work, supportive teams, personal growth, and opportunities that extended far beyond their original job descriptions.
Meaningful work starts on day one
Many participants told us they were surprised by how quickly they were trusted with impactful projects.
Ben Ricks, who joined Autodesk as a Business Resiliency Intern and is now a Business Resiliency Analyst in Texas, helped lead business impact assessments and resiliency planning initiatives that delivered real value to the organization.
In Singapore, Cheng Yang An, Software Development Engineer Intern, spent his internship researching and developing an AI-powered chatbot to help users troubleshoot software incidents more efficiently.
Raj Agill P K, who started as a Solutions Engineer Intern and is now a Technical Specialist supporting Autodesk Platform Services in India, discovered how technology and customer problem-solving intersect in the real world.
Meanwhile, Jaime Ng, currently in her second Autodesk internship as a Software Engineering Intern, contributed to SDK deployment and testing pipelines while learning how to take ownership of projects from planning through implementation.
For Abhiram Mathukumalli, who recently transitioned from intern to full-time Software Development Engineer in India, the experience included developing AI-powered capabilities and automation tools for Autodesk platforms.
“I wasn’t doing ‘intern work’ in a corner,” Abhiram says. “I was solving problems that real teams and developers face every day.”
Growth happens outside your comfort zone
For many interns, the biggest discoveries had little to do with code and everything to do with confidence.
Claire Bartlett, who joined Autodesk as a Business Development Representative Intern and now works as a Territory Account Representative, recalled being trusted with customer-facing work almost immediately and learning through hands-on experience.
For Jing Zhi Khoo, who completed two 6-month internships before joining Autodesk full-time as a Software Development Engineer, one of the most important lessons was learning that communication and collaboration are just as valuable as technical expertise.
Vidya V, now a Software Development Engineer II after completing her internship in Pune, says the experience helped prepare her for the challenges of a full-time engineering role and accelerated her professional growth.
“[My internship] made me learn through my mistakes and strengthened my confidence and knowledge base,” she says.
And in Singapore, Darie Chan, who interned with Autodesk before joining full-time as a Software Engineer, said the experience completely changed how he thought about his career.
“I had a paradigm shift from viewing myself as a NodeJS Developer to just being a Developer,” he says.
Great teams make a lasting impact
When asked what made their experiences memorable, many participants pointed first to the people around them.
Mahak Sharma, who converted from intern to full-time Software Development Engineer in Bangalore, said her team created an environment where she felt comfortable asking questions, learning from mistakes, and developing confidence in her abilities.
In Poland, Mikołaj Mariasz, who joined Autodesk as a Software Engineering Intern and now works full-time as a Software Engineer, highlighted the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues while contributing to solutions that evolved into production-ready capabilities.
Joanne Lim, who started as a Data Engineering Intern and now works as a Software Engineer in Singapore, credits her team with helping her successfully transition from a business analytics background into software engineering.
For Abhiram, one relationship stands out above all: “My manager feels more like a buddy than a boss.” That sense of support appeared in nearly every story we heard.
Internships can become careers
For many participants, the internship experience became the beginning of something much bigger.
Jiya Arora, now a Software Development Engineer II, joined Autodesk as a Software Development Intern in 2023 and has since taken on increasingly complex technical initiatives and gained visibility with leadership.
Janvi Gupta, who now works full-time as a Software Development Engineer, credits her internship with helping her learn ownership, collaboration, and how to contribute to real-world work.
“I stopped feeling like ‘just the intern’ and started feeling like part of the team,” she says.
Japneet Singh, now a Software Development Engineer, said his internship provided the foundation for understanding Autodesk’s engineering practices and culture while building confidence in contributing to production-level projects.
And Shashank Parmar, who recently converted from intern to Software Development Engineer, found a community built around curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
“At no point during my internship did I feel like I was being treated differently,” he says. “I always felt like a part of the team.”
As Raj put it: “The internship gave me clarity.”
Looking ahead
Whether they’re building AI-powered tools, developing software, strengthening business operations, or helping customers solve challenges, Autodesk interns are working on meaningful projects while learning more about themselves and their future careers. Along the way, they’re discovering new interests, building confidence, forming lasting connections, and gaining experiences that continue long after their internships end.
As these stories show, an internship at Autodesk can be much more than a stepping stone; it can be the start of an entirely new path!
Interested in starting your own journey? Explore opportunities and join our Talent Community to stay connected with future roles at Autodesk!