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JOB TITLE: Audio Render Tuning Engineer

LOCATION: Redmond, WA (Onsite)

DURATION: 12 months

PAY RANGE: $75 - $85/hr.

MUST HAVE SKILLS:

- Hands-on DSP tuning on a speaker-type device. This is the single most important requirement. Knowing about these algorithms or having tested them is not sufficient — the candidate must have personally performed the tuning.
- Audio DSP fundamentals. Must understand what equalization, dynamic range compression, limiting, and speaker protection do, how they function, how they are used, and what the trade-offs are.
- Ability to apply and tune existing algorithms on an audio system (an audio systems engineer profile). Writing algorithms from scratch is not required.

NICE TO HAVE SKILLS:

- Direct AR/VR glasses or other head-worn audio device experience.
- Transducer-level characterization and speaker integration experience (T/S parameters, Klippel, impedance, excursion).
- Exposure to embedded audio middleware or firmware-level audio bring-up (Audio Weaver, Qualcomm QACT, ADSP integration).

Position Summary:

We are looking for a contingent Audio Render Tuning Engineer to support the research AR glasses audio program. This role focuses on render-path DSP tuning of the speaker system using an internally developed embedded audio processing framework and tuning tools. The successful candidate will be hands-on in the lab, working closely with the Research Audio team to deliver a tuned, shipping-quality speaker experience. This is an opportunity to own the audio tuning of a next-generation research AR glasses device end to end. The contractor will work inside the Research organization on Aria 2+, a data-collection glasses platform used by researchers, and will have a direct, visible impact on how the device sounds. The role offers a rare combination of deep hands-on lab work — anechoic chamber measurement, electroacoustic characterization, subjective listening evaluation — with exposure to an internally developed embedded audio DSP framework and tuning toolchain, supported by the internal tooling teams that build it. The contractor will collaborate closely with hardware, firmware, algorithms, mechanical, optics, and vendor partners, giving broad visibility across a full product development cycle from early samples through multiple hardware build stages. Because the work is research-driven prototyping with the intent of feeding future products, the contractor gets to shape technology at the earliest stage.

SURROUNDING TEAM & KEY PROJECTS:

This is an audio hardware team within the Research organization. The team builds prototypes and proof-of-concept hardware to support research work — future ideation and devices that may or may not ultimately appear on the product roadmap, though the intent is that the work eventually feeds into future products. This particular project is well defined: it is the next iteration of Aria Gen 2, a data-collection glasses device that provides to researchers. The CWAM’s team designs the hardware, working within a larger cross-functional group that includes mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, software engineers, and optics engineers. The team owns the audio components specifically — speakers, microphones, and the software and algorithms that process audio data for device features and data collection. The team designs the speaker and works with an external vendor on its implementation, then tests it. This contractor's role is to tune that system: applying software algorithms to optimize sound quality and measuring results against performance indicators.

TYPICAL DAY-TO-DAY IN THE ROLE:

- Measure the glasses in anechoic chamber or lab environment to collect raw performance data.
- Work with the cross-functional team to define or receive performance targets.
- Develop or tune existing software algorithms to adjust the audio output of the speakers, then re-measure and validate against those targets.
- Split time between hands-on lab work and development work at the desk.
- Set up and conduct subjective demos and listening tests with managers and leaders across the audio team and cross-functional teams.
- Work with suppliers on troubleshooting — understanding trade-offs, diagnosing why performance falls short of expectations, and finding ways to extract additional performance.
- Interface regularly with audio software engineers, mechanical engineers, audio hardware engineers, and vendor partners.

Responsibilities:

- Render DSP Tuning: Perform speaker render-path tuning for research AR glasses using the company's internally developed embedded audio DSP framework and associated MATLAB-based tuning tools
- Tuning Components: Design and apply equalization filters, tune dynamic range compression and limiter parameters to optimize loudness, dynamics, sound quality, and distortion across use cases (media, voice, speech) while preserving speaker integrity
- Speaker Characterization & Baseline Measurement: Measure devices to establish baseline performance, collect frequency response, distortion (THD), and impedance data in anechoic or controlled acoustic environments
- Tuning Profile Management: Generate, compile, and validate tuning profiles via internal tuning toolchain for deployment to device firmware
- Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams: Work with hardware, firmware, algorithms, and research teams to align tuning with system-level requirements
- Documentation: Maintain tuning documentation, test reports, and configuration records for each tuning iteration and release candidate
- Tool Onboarding: Ramp up on internal audio DSP ecosystem including graphical pipeline editors, render tuning tools, and device control utilities with support from internal tooling teams

QUALIFICATIONS

- Prior experience performing audio systems render tuning for consumer electronics products (AR/VR glasses, hearables, headphones, wearables, telecom devices, smart speakers)
- Understanding of render DSP tuning approaches (EQ, DRC, limiting, speaker protection) and hands-on experience performing tuning in a lab environment
- Experience with electroacoustic measurement tools (e.g. Audio Precision (APx series), Listen SoundCheck, HEAD acoustics ACQUA) and measurement transducers
- Experience with MATLAB for audio signal processing, filter design, and tuning tool workflows
- Strong attention to detail and systematic approach to parameter optimization and documentation
- Ability to work independently on tuning tasks while collaborating with a broader audio engineering team
- Understanding of speaker protection algorithms (excursion limiting, thermal protection, brownout protection)
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Acoustics Engineering, or a related technical discipline

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

- Experience with speaker integration and transducer-level characterization (T/S parameters, Klippel, impedance, excursion)
- Exposure to DSP frameworks or audio middleware (AudioWeaver, Qualcomm QACT, or similar embedded audio toolchains)
- Experience with volume table tuning and perceptual loudness optimization
- Exposure to firmware-level audio bring-up or ADSP integration workflows
- Experience with capture-path audio tuning including any of beamforming and spatial filtering, noise suppression, wind noise rejection, wake-word/keyword detection and speech recognition testing, capture-path gain staging and mic array calibration

TARGET INDUSTRIES (STACK-RANKED):

- AR/VR glasses — top preference
- Hearables and headphones (earbuds, over-ear headphones)
- Wearables (watches or other worn devices with audio features)
- Telecom devices (mobile phones)
- Smart speakers (Alexa, Google Home, and similar)

Experience:

- 10+ years of overall experience

Education:

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Acoustics Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate or annual salary only, unless otherwise stated. In addition to base compensation, full-time roles are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Commuter and 401K benefits with company matching.

FAIR CHANCE POLICY:

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.