Job Title: Acoustic Research Engineer 
Duration: 12 Months (Potential for extension)
Location: Redmond, WA, 98052
Job Description:

• Reality Labs at client brings together a world-class team of researchers, developers, and engineers to create the future of virtual and augmented reality, which together will become as universal and essential as smartphones and personal computers are today.In particular, the Reality Labs Research Audio team is focused on two goals; creating virtual sounds that are perceptually indistinguishable from reality and redefining human hearing. These two initiatives will allow us to connect people by allowing them to feel together despite being physically apart and allow them to converse in even the most difficult listening environments.
• We are looking for a contract acoustic research engineer to conduct acoustic measurements, acoustic data processing, and auditory perception experiments, and develop relevant methods and tools leveraging scientific coding skills and expertise in audio signal processing, audio hardware systems, machine learning, and acoustics. 

Must-Have Skills:

1. Audio Signal Processing Expertise – Strong understanding and hands-on experience in processing and analyzing audio signals.
2. Acoustic Experimentation – Proven experience designing and conducting audio/acoustic experiments in controlled lab environments.
3. Scientific Programming – 3+ years of experience with Python, MATLAB, or MaxMSP for audio applications.

Nice-to-have Skills:        

1. Experience with audio hardware systems
2. Acoustic concepts and acoustic measurements
3. Signal Processing and Audio hardware systems

Years of Experience:

• 3 – 5 years of experience and flexible 

Degrees/Certifications Required:

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical field with 3+ years of industry experience in audio technology development, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Responsibilities:

• Develop systems, user interfaces, and protocols for acoustic and behavioral data acquisition and processing using Python, MATLAB, and MaxMSP.
• Analyze and improve the performance of data acquisition systems for audio perception.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary researchers to integrate data acquisition algorithms into platforms.
• Perform acoustic data collection involving complex capture systems, prototype devices, and human subjects in controlled laboratory environments.
• Write technical reports describing research results and methodologies. 

Key Projects/Day-to-Day Responsibilities:          
This role supports the Reality Labs Research Audio team, which is working on two transformative goals:

1. Creating virtual sounds indistinguishable from reality.
2. Redefining human hearing to enhance communication in challenging environments.
3. It is all around the data
4. More like scripting in SWE and architecture
5. Measurements are big parts in Data Collection and measurements in acoustic. 

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical field with 3+ years of industry experience in audio technology development, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3+ years’ experience in designing and performing audio acoustic experiments in controlled laboratory settings.
• 3+ years of programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or MaxMSP for audio applications
• Strong understanding and experience in audio signal processing

Purpose/Size of this team & where does this position fit within the team?             

• Team of 3-5 to closely work with and depends on the project

What makes this role interesting?          

• Things that we are working on Smart glasses and AR reality. Really nice audio features applications. Biggest and greatest acoustic team in the world

Value added or experience gained:

• Working with some of the best acoustic people in the world and some of the hardest challenges in the world and cutting-edge technologies 

What are some difficulties or challenges that the candidate should be aware they may face in the role and need to be able to handle to be successful?       

• Solving Hard problems and ambiguity and drive the results

Interview Process:

• How many rounds of interviews? 3 Rounds
• Types of Interviews - Technical and Behavioural
• Interview Duration - 45 Minutes to 55 Minutes and 30 Minutes

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $ 60.00/hr.