Autumn is ideal for planting seed outdoors, of tree species that need a cold stratification.
Redwood ain't one of the species that needs stratification. I would wait until spring.
Dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptiodes, is fully winter hardy in North Carolina, even at elevation. Coast redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, is not likely to handle the root system freezing during winter. They are generally protected from frost and freezing outside their native range. Giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron gigantea is winter hardy through zone 8, maybe into zone 7, key is to not freeze the root system.
I believe for all three redwood species, they do not need a cold stratification to start the seeds in spring, start them outdoors in full sun as soon as weather has warmed for best results.
If you start seedlings indoors, the chances are the light will not be sufficient, though if you set up a under lights set up you can start seed indoors. Starting seed outdoors is the "low tech" easiest way to do.