Principal Technical Sound Designer
Description
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Principal Technical Sound Designer based in the United States.
This is a principal-level opportunity to shape the technical audio foundations of ambitious AA and AAA game projects. You will architect, build, and optimize scalable audio systems using Unreal Engine, Wwise, C++, Blueprints, and MetaSounds. Working across multiple projects, you will create sophisticated solutions for dynamic mixing, spatial audio, dialogue, and multiplayer experiences. You will also develop editor tools and workflows that empower audio teams to work more efficiently and independently. The role combines deep technical expertise with hands-on sound design and creative problem-solving. Your work will help deliver immersive, production-ready audio experiences, including the tension and atmosphere central to horror-focused games.
Accountabilities
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Architect and build modular, scalable, and portable game-audio systems from the ground up using C++, Blueprints, Wwise, and Unreal Engine.
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Support multiple AA/AAA game projects concurrently, developing reusable solutions that can scale across projects and teams.
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Build deep integrations using the Wwise Unreal Engine API.
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Design and maintain advanced dynamic mixing and spatial audio systems in Wwise for gameplay, dialogue, environments, cinematics, and changing player contexts.
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Develop advanced audio functionality using Unreal Engine MetaSounds.
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Profile and optimize audio systems for CPU usage, memory consumption, runtime performance, and platform constraints.
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Architect and refine scalable dialogue systems that balance in-world immersion with gameplay needs and dialogue clarity.
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Develop Unreal Editor modules, utilities, and tools that improve implementation workflows and reduce repetitive tasks.
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Create clear technical documentation and practical guides that enable sound designers and junior technical sound designers to use and maintain audio systems independently.
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Contribute directly to sound design when needed, ensuring technical solutions support creative goals.
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Deliver polished, production-ready work within demanding deadlines and high-pressure development environments.
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Make effective technical and creative decisions while balancing production timelines, performance requirements, and project constraints.
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Demonstrated experience shipping multiple AA or AAA game titles, including professional experience mixing released game projects.
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Experience supporting multiple AA/AAA projects simultaneously.
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Deep expertise in Wwise, including its Unreal Engine integration and API, dynamic mixing, and Wwise Spatial Audio.
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Extensive professional experience with Unreal Engine, C++, Blueprints, and MetaSounds.
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Proven ability to architect and build core game-audio systems from scratch.
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Strong expertise in optimizing game audio for CPU and memory performance.
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Experience developing audio systems for networked multiplayer games, including replicated audio states and events, latency and synchronization challenges, and multiplayer voice chat.
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Multiple demonstrated examples of building and refining dialogue systems from the ground up.
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Deep experience developing Unreal Editor modules, utilities, and workflow tools.
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Strong technical documentation, communication, and knowledge-transfer skills.
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Professional sound design experience and a clear understanding of how technical systems enable creative audio outcomes.
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A strong interest in horror games or relevant experience with horror-focused interactive audio. Candidates should understand how audio systems contribute to tension, atmosphere, player uncertainty, pacing, and dynamic scares.
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The ability to make sound technical and creative decisions under significant time, performance, and production constraints.
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Principal-level experience demonstrated through specific shipped examples of systems personally architected, developed, optimized, documented, and supported in production.
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Base salary by U.S. location:
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San Francisco, CA; New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; Boston, MA; and Washington, DC metropolitan areas: $164,000–$215,000 USD annually.
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Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Miami, FL; Portland, OR; Raleigh–Durham, NC; Philadelphia, PA; Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN; Phoenix, AZ; and Salt Lake City, UT metropolitan areas: $143,000–$187,000 USD annually.
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All other U.S. locations: $121,000–$159,000 USD annually.
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Final base salary within the applicable range depends on experience, qualifications, and work location.
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Profit-sharing program.
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Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
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401(k) matching.
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Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.
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Paid time off, sick time, and holidays.
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Parental leave.
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Remote work arrangement.
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Occasional travel to Los Angeles may be required for an in-person interview before an offer and/or periodic in-person meetings.
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Requirements
Benefits
Skills
As published by lever
Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company