Job description
Polyarc is searching for a Senior Technical Sound Designer to partner with the audio team in crafting immersive and interactive audio experiences on multi-disciplinary game projects.
As a Senior Technical Sound Designer, you will develop dynamic audio systems and implement new technologies to support the creative goals of the audio team. Asa member of the audio team, you will provide feedback on audio content and empower the team by driving workflow and pipeline improvements. This role requires collaborating with other disciplines on gameplay integration, dynamic simulation support, debugging tools, and performance.
Polyarc strongly values collaborative work styles, and if you’re looking to grow, mentor, and work closely with a wide range of disciplines, this is likely a perfect role for you.
Responsibilities:
- Empower the audio team by driving workflow improvements and optimizing audio pipelines through developing tools (e.g. automation scripts in Reaper and Wwise, audio test levels in Unreal Engine, etc.)
- Collaborate with audio leadership and cross-disciplinary teams to design, prototype, build, and maintain audio systems
- Integrate responsive sound experiences through engine-driven data and validate solutions through stakeholder feedback
- Research and evaluate innovative technologies to support content creation workflows and enhance player immersion
- Playtest using advanced profiling to identify and solve bugs
- Drive feedback and iteration loops alongside the audio team
- Partner with engineering on performance, ensuring systems run efficiently
Qualifications:
- Professional experience creating dynamic audio systems in game engines utilizing audio middleware (e.g. Unreal Engine and Audiokinetic Wwise)
- Deep understanding of audio workflows and best practices for video games, ranging from audio content creation to implementation and interactive mixing techniques
- Comfortable programming and integrating audio features in C/C++ (e.g. 3rd party plug-ins, performance improvements, etc.)
- Experience optimizing audio systems for platform performance and usability
- Proficiency in advanced profiling techniques to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve audio issues
- Ability to develop solutions to problems that satisfy multiple competing perspectives, including your own
Pluses:
- Experience developing for VR/AR/XR platforms
- Experience creating Reaper scripts using Python or Lua
- Experience implementing audio spatialization technologies
- Experience creating HDR (high dynamic range) mixing structures
- Proficiency in creative Sound Design through the use of field recording, synthesis, and DSP (digital signal processing)
We believe all the listed qualifications are important to the role. We’re also open to hearing from anyone who believes their unique experiences also qualify them for consideration. If that’s you, please apply!
Compensation:
Polyarc’s salary range for this role is $120,000 to $148,000, with a total compensation target (cash + equity) of $150,000 to $164,000. Any final compensation is dependent on position leveling, taking into consideration the candidate’s qualifications and experiences.
Additionally, there are several other great benefits such as health care benefits (medical, dental, and vision), 401K, flexible PTO (25 accrued PTO days), two seasonal holidays (5 days each) + 10 additional paid holidays, long term disability insurance, life & AD&D, and other voluntary benefits such as pet insurance.
About Us:
Polyarc was founded in 2015 to seize the unmistakable opportunity to make an impact on the future of games and the way they are made. Debuting our first game, Moss, in 2018, we discovered new compelling ways to connect players to characters through virtual reality. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of gameplay and dedicated to building a studio where we develop games and characters that players love, fostering creative and professional growth.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for one another, our players, and our communities. Diversity provides a variety of perspectives, challenges us collaboratively, and adds to our creative process, positively shaping our company culture and encouraging innovation that emphasizes player value.