Join the award-winning team that created God of War

Santa Monica Studio is seeking a Sr Audio Designer to work with our external audio development teams to help us build a new unannounced title!

As a Sr Audio Designer working with external audio teams, you will help document, guide, and review the execution of outsourced audio assets from an artistic and technical standpoint. You will be the liaison between SMS and our external partners. Additionally, you’ll help bridge communication and provide visibility with our internal audio team through meetings, knowledge share, and team reviews.

The ideal candidate has proven design sense, attention to detail and a general level of technical expertise, along with a strong understanding of audio design principles and techniques. You take direction well while also offering feedback in a structured and considerate manner, are eager to learn, and passionately motivated to push the boundaries of game audio, with interest and experience driving externally developed audio assets.

Please note this role involves collaborating with external partners in various time zones and may require working outside of typical business hours.

Responsibilities

• Regularly represent the studio in external communication and discussion by mentoring and giving feedback to an external group of audio designers
• Maintain strong relationships with external audio design studios and ensure their success in working with our team to meet Santa Monica Studio standards
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and broader team to ensure delivered audio assets & implementation are of high quality and adhere to our project and studio standards
• Oversee and drive quality for all incoming audio-related deliveries of content - provide proactive feedback for any early adjustments needed before reviewing with internal stakeholders
• Communicate with external studios on how to develop, verify, and maintain our audio quality standards
• Create documentation for audio standards, tutorials, examples, delivery expectations and assist in the integration of assets from external studios
• Advise on problem areas and help troubleshoot character asset problems with external partners
• Integrate delivered audio assets (SFX, Foley, Dialogue, Music, etc.) creatively within our game and audio engine
• Collaborate closely with non-audio team-members (art, design, engineering, etc.) to support gameplay needs
• Troubleshoot and debug complex audio issues throughout development
• Partner with the production team to help track incoming assets and deliveries
• May serve as an audio group resource for overall product or studio needs - this includes conducting general research, task overflow, testing new systems or tools, techniques, and providing training

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience as audio designer
• Shipped AAA game/s from start to finish or equivalent major project
• Demonstrable game development experience in leading a team, focused on sound design and implementation
• Passion for audio and gaming, with a keen ear for audio quality, aesthetics, immersion, and a strong desire to drive innovation in audio design
• Strong expertise in sound design principles, implementation, and audio production practices, with proficiency in industry-standard DAWs and related tools
• In-depth understanding of game development processes and workflows, allowing effective collaboration across departments, such as production, programming, art, and design
• Highly skilled at crafting audio assets utilizing a wide range of tools and concepts
• Extensive knowledge of audio production standards and best practices within the gaming industry
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and debug complex audio issues throughout development
• Knowledge of industry trends, emerging technologies, advancements in audio technology, and the ability to apply them creatively in game audio design
• Experience with game editors, scripting languages, and Wwise
• Interest in overcoming various challenges of working with multiple external partners
• Possess strong time management and prioritization skills
• Good communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with audio design vendors is a plus

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.

$58.95/hr - $88.37/hr USD

If you find that you don't meet all the criteria outlined in this job description or if you feel your experience might fall short, research indicates that individuals, particularly women and people of color, tend to hesitate in applying unless they meet every requirement. At SMS, our commitment lies in creating a workplace that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable. If you're intrigued by this role but feel your previous experience doesn't perfectly align with all the qualifications listed, we encourage you to submit your application. The ideal position for you could be closer than you think!

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