AUDIO DESIGNER JOB DESCRIPTION

Game audio is invisible when it works and immediately noticeable when it does not. An Audio Designer in a video game studio owns the full creative and technical responsibility for sound assets - from raw field recordings and Foley sessions through implementation directly into a real-time game engine - ensuring every sonic element reinforces gameplay and player immersion. The role sits inside a dedicated audio department, collaborating daily with game designers, level designers, and engineers on titles ranging from mobile releases to AAA console launches. Shipped title credits are the professional currency of this field.

As the Audio Designer, you are accountable for conceiving, producing, and implementing audio assets that shape how millions of players experience a game world, from environmental atmospheres to cutscene dialogue. You work within a studio audio team, coordinating with game designers, programmers, and creative directors to meet both technical engine constraints and the artistic vision of the project.

Career Impact: Shipping credits on mobile, console, or AAA PC titles are the primary credential that advances an Audio Designer's standing in the video game industry, and each release adds a concrete, verifiable milestone to your portfolio.

Business Impact: The audio layer of a shipped game directly shapes player retention and review scores - poorly implemented sound in a cross-platform action title reaching millions of daily players is one of the most visible and reported quality failures in post-launch feedback.

Growth Opportunity: Depth in audio middleware implementation and game engine integration - the two competencies most consistently required across studios - opens a path toward Senior Audio Designer and, for those who develop pipeline and team coordination skills, Lead Audio Designer roles.

Company Value: Several studios represented in this role offer discretionary time off, flexible working hours, family planning support, and employee stock purchase plans, reflecting a broader industry shift toward sustained creative output over crunch culture.

• Design and implement sound effects, music cues, and voice assets directly within the game engine to support gameplay and narrative goals.
• Integrate audio middleware logic to give interactive behavior to sounds across diverse in-game states and environments.
• Conduct location and studio recording sessions to capture original source material for sound design use.
• Review and fix audio-related bugs identified during playtesting, ensuring playback fidelity across all target platforms.
• Collaborate with game designers and level designers to align audio design with gameplay mechanics and creative direction.
• Maintain audio documentation including asset naming conventions, implementation guidelines, and production status.
• Support audio quality assurance by testing sound implementation across missions, levels, and cutscenes before milestone delivery.

• Bachelor's degree in Audio, Sound Design, Music, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of professional audio design experience, with at least one shipped game title in mobile, console, or PC.
• Demonstrated ability to implement audio assets inside a real-time game engine environment using audio middleware.
• Working knowledge of cinematic audio processes including Foley, ADR, sync effects, and voice editing.
• Strong sound design skills spanning field recording, synthesis, library curation, and precision editing.
• Ability to read and respond to technical constraints such as memory budgets, streaming limits, and platform-specific audio requirements.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills with the ability to receive and apply creative feedback from cross-functional stakeholders.
• Portfolio or demo reel demonstrating original audio design and in-engine implementation work.

• Experience on at least one AAA console or PC title with five or more years in a professional game audio environment.
• Familiarity with scripting or coding languages used to extend audio middleware functionality within proprietary engines.
• Knowledge of surround mixing techniques including 5.1 and 7.1 formats for both linear media and interactive game contexts.
• Musical theory and composition background, with the ability to communicate meaningfully with composers and music supervisors.

• Number of audio assets implemented and approved per production sprint, reflecting throughput against milestone schedules.
• Bug count and reopen rate on audio-related issues, measuring implementation accuracy across platforms.
• Playtest feedback score on audio fidelity, tracked per build cycle against the project's quality benchmark.
• Percentage of recording sessions completed on schedule, indicating planning and studio coordination effectiveness.
• Asset revision cycles per deliverable, reflecting clarity of brief interpretation and first-pass accuracy.
• Typical tools: audio middleware (commonly Wwise or FMOD); DAW (commonly Reaper, Pro Tools, or Nuendo); game engine (commonly Unreal Engine or Unity).

• Base Salary Range: $65,000 to $105,000 depending on seniority and studio size.
• Bonus: Annual discretionary bonus or project completion bonus common at mid-to-large studios.
• Equity: ESPP or stock options offered at publicly traded or pre-IPO studios.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, EAP, and disability coverage standard across major studios.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually; discretionary time off policies increasingly common.
• Common Perks: Flexible hours, family planning support, back-up childcare, mental health programs.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required for all positions using this template. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check. Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities are available throughout the application and employment process upon request. All applicants are evaluated without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Audio Designer owns the creation and implementation of audio content across a premiere cross-platform action game, collaborating with the audio team and core engineering team to integrate sounds, music, and voice assets. Working alongside a highly creative team, this role shapes the player experience for millions of daily users by identifying new audio possibilities and supporting the full launch of a major title.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and implement compelling audio content in collaboration with the audio team and core engineering team.
• Help integrate, optimize, and give behavior to sounds, music, and voice assets that breathe life into games.
• Support the team by completing audio tasks including precision editing, sound design, voice design, and identifying new audio possibilities.
• Join a highly creative team to make audio shine and bring original ideas, with a willingness to support the game's vision for sound.
• Be part of the successful launch of a new, premiere cross-platform action game that will engage with millions of players daily.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a creative focus preferred.
• Experience in game audio development with at least one shipped major mobile or console title required.
• Experience with cinematic sound design processes including dubbing, sync effects, Foley, ADR, and voice editing preferred.
• Proficiency in a DAW such as Nuendo, ProTools, or Reaper to record and edit audio files.
• Hands-on experience using Unreal or Unity game engine in tandem with Wwise or FMOD audio middleware; serve as a strong partner using these tools and internal audio tools to elevate the game experience.
• A passion for creating games with compelling audio and an instinct for what audio can bring to the player experience; passion for video games, Star Wars, and Star Wars video games.
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, positive demeanor focused on delivering the highest quality in every aspect of audio.

Benefit

Family planning support, generous paid maternity/parental leave, subsidized back-up child care, discretionary time off, flexible working hours, culture of diversity and inclusion, 401K company match, competitive salary with bonus plan and ESPP, medical/dental/vision/EAP/life/disability benefits, and virtual mental health and neurodiversity support programs.

Reporting to the audio team lead at Funcom, the Junior Audio Designer shapes detailed sound design across game elements, implementing audio directly into the game engine while contributing to studio maintenance and location recording. Partnering with cross-functional teams to develop key features, this role enables immersive player experiences by bringing well-rounded audio production skills and a strong creative drive to every project.

Primary Duties

• Work on audio design within the team's goals and creative visions.
• Create engaging and detailed sound design for various game elements and implement it into the game engine.
• Find and fix audio-related bugs and help maintain the sound studio, audio systems, and outboard gear.
• Conduct location recording for unique audio experiences.
• Work with cross-functional teams to help design and develop key features, and participate in cross-team meetings.
• Use the freedom this role offers to leave a lasting impression in games.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or relevant audio education.
• 2 years of relevant experience.
• A portfolio or showreel of high-quality creative audio design and implementation samples.
• Good knowledge of audio implementation for online games and surround mixing techniques.
• Solid location recording skills in studio and external environments including SFX and Foley.
• Experience with audio middleware such as Wwise or FMOD; advanced experience with audio software such as REAPER, Pro Tools, and iZotope; general understanding of Unreal Engine.
• An analytical and solutions-oriented approach to design and curation of sounds; passion for video games and the gaming industry.
• Solid communication skills, drive, determination, and persistence to make things happen.

Sitting at the intersection of creative artistry and technical execution, the Audio Designer leads the conceptualization and production of high-quality audio assets for a AAA game title, working within a multi-disciplinary team environment. Operating across sound implementation, documentation, and iterative creative processes, this role enables the delivery of polished gameplay audio that meets both artistic and functional standards.

Duties

• Conceptualize and produce high-quality audio assets.
• Clean up and integrate audio assets from recording sessions.
• Implement sounds into the game engine and fine-tune audio effects for gameplay and artistic needs in collaboration with multi-disciplinary team leadership.
• Help drive creative processes, identify potential problems, and provide possible solutions.
• Create and maintain audio documentation including implementation guidelines.

Requirements

• 5 years of experience in games or a related field with at least one shipped AAA title.
• Knowledge of musical theory and composition; ability to play a musical instrument.
• Experience with ProTools, Nuendo, or other professional audio tools packages; Wwise experience.
• Self-motivated with strong attention to detail and good written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates strength or significant potential growth in both artistic sensibility and craftsmanship; able to work effectively as part of a larger team.

Embedded within the game development team, the Senior Audio Designer delivers high-quality audio designs that enhance gameplay mechanics and support the overall game vision across a collaborative studio environment. Working closely with game designers, level designers, programmers, and audio software developers, this role builds a cohesive soundscape by executing sound design, mixing linear media, and advancing the audio pipeline from production through release.

Core Functions

• Create and enhance game features and gameplay mechanics with audio designs.
• Work closely with game and level designers to ensure audio design supports game design.
• Work with audio engine features, commercial wave editors, and take an active role in improvement and bug-fixing.
• Collaborate with audio software developers to bring needed functionality into the studio and with programmers to resolve technical issues and ensure a high-quality soundscape.
• Define features and tasks for projects and ensure proper documentation using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Confluence/Wiki.
• Execute sound design including field recording, Foley, synthesis, and library work; research audio databases throughout production.
• Mix and master linear media and assess or develop sound content outside the game such as trailers and marketing materials.
• Participate at the creative level with the lead designer, creative director, and artistic director to enhance player immersion and experience.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Audio, Sound Design, Music, or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience in a similar position.
• Excellent skills in audio engine editors such as Wwise (preferred) and FMOD.
• Proficient in DAWs such as Nuendo (preferred), Cubase, Pro Tools, and Logic, and audio editing tools such as Wavelab and Soundforge.
• Good skills in game engine editors such as Unity and Unreal.
• Experience in Perforce and 3D software such as Maya and 3DS Max.
• Experience in scripting or coding such as C++, C#, and Java.
• Fluent in English, both verbally and in writing.

A key member of the game audio team, the Audio Designer builds and implements full sound systems for missions, levels, and cutscenes using proprietary technology, contributing to quality assurance and the ongoing evolution of the game's audio experience. Collaborating across development disciplines, this role delivers integrated audio content that supports the creative and technical goals of a video game production environment.

Functions

• Perform full sound implementation for missions, levels, and cutscenes using proprietary technology, and propose changes to existing level sound design.
• Design and build new sound systems and features in Wwise and engine.
• Record, design, and mix sound effects and integrate audio content using Wwise, scripting, and other in-house software.
• Conduct quality assurance for audio asset implementation and test playability and games for audio.
• Contribute ideas and maintain awareness of trends and orientations in sound and music in games and films.

Experience & Qualifications

• 3 years of industry experience in a video game or post-production setting.
• Experience designing and implementing levels for video games.
• Familiar with trends and orientations in sound and music in games or films; strong musical sense.
• Familiar with level editors such as Unreal Engine and CryEngine; familiar with Wwise middleware.
• Excellent skills with sound editing tools such as Reaper, Sound Forge, and RX.
• Passion for video games; independent, dynamic, and proactive working style.

Industry-leading audio system quality depends on the Technical Audio Designer, who leads the development of complex audio solutions at Build a Rocket Boy's Edinburgh studio by working closely with the Lead Audio Designer and Audio Director to establish project requirements and support production scope. Based within the Audio Department, this role delivers technical expertise across Wwise and UE5 pipelines, enabling the audio team to meet its creative and production goals.

Accountabilities

• Work with Leads and Director in production planning and defining the tone and style of audio direction.
• Own the development of complex, keystone audio systems to industry-leading quality.
• Support Audio with technical knowledge and work with Code to craft solutions to challenging audio needs.
• Work with external development teams, scheduling, and approving submissions.
• Manage the audio middleware and design teams' pipeline with Wwise and UE5, and maintain studio equipment and libraries.
• Work closely with other departments to progress tasks and bugs, support multiple teams, and share technical knowledge with audio designers.

Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an audio-related subject preferred.
• Expert proficiency with Wwise; strong working knowledge of Unreal Engine and audio integration via middleware; familiarity with cinematic audio; ability to learn new systems and work within engine limitations.
• Experience with multiplayer games and multiple gaming platforms preferred; strong documentation writing skills preferred.
• Positive, collaborative, communicative attitude with strong written and verbal communication skills, high attention to detail, and a good work ethic.
• Ability to follow a schedule and submit audio files on or before required deadlines.
• Ability to work on-site in Edinburgh, Scotland.

As the Lead Audio Designer, this role leads a team of audio designers through a full project cycle to release, working cohesively with the Audio Director to define audio quality, build production roadmaps, and direct large-scale field recordings. The audio team relies on this work to deliver a cohesive sonic vision across dialogue pipelines, surround mixing, Foley production, and cinematic content for a AAA title.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Direct the aesthetic of a project and convey it within the team and to external partners; define audio quality and assist team members in reaching it.
• Build and maintain production roadmaps for the audio team in harmony with other departments.
• Produce dialogue pipelines, tools, and playback systems; coordinate with localisation providers, script writers, and narrative teams.
• Organise and direct large-scale field recordings using a multitude of microphones and recorders.
• Communicate with composers using music terminology and direct music composition; perform track-laying, mixing, and mastering for trailers and cinematics.
• Mix in 5.1 and 7.1 surround for games and linear media; perform and record Foley and work with Foley providers.
• Facilitate learning, growth, and mentoring for the audio team; stay up to date with industry standards and sound production techniques.

Position Requirements

• Extensive professional experience as a Lead or Senior Audio Designer on at least two complete cycles of shipped AAA titles.
• Experience with FPS, weapon design, and multiplayer games; basic programming knowledge.
• Extensive professional experience with Wwise; adept with Unreal Engine.
• Experience with Cryengine and Unity.
• Experience with video editing tools such as Vegas and Premiere.
• Passionate about video games.
• Strong collaboration, communication, and mentoring skills with a passion for team development.

Lead Audio Designer schedules and structures the full sound design production pipeline for a racing game title, coordinating with the producing team across engine sounds, environments, voices, and in-game music to define and deliver the project's audio vision. The work directly supports a high-quality, technically precise soundscape by managing outsourcing, directing audio integration, and maintaining close communication with engine programmers.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Schedule sound design team work in collaboration with the producing team, plan workload, outsourcing, and tools.
• Participate in sound components' design and maintain a critical outlook on the sound integration pipeline and tools used.
• Structure the production of sound effects, voices, and atmospheres.
• Direct and undertake sound integration across car sounds, environments, atmospheres, interfaces, in-game music, and voices.
• Manage audio outsourcing, offer solutions to acquire audio sources, and communicate with engine programmers to provide technical improvements within technical and performance restrictions.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Extensive experience in video game sound design; experience in team management is a plus.
• Expertise in engine sounds; good grasp of the mechanical workings of a car is a definite plus.
• Work experience with commercial or proprietary audio implementation tools, particularly Fmod and Audiomotors.
• Ability to work independently with strong organisational skills.
• A portfolio illustrating technical capabilities in sound design, particularly engine sounds.

The Senior Audio Designer produces high-quality audio features and assets for a AAA game title, collaborating with the audio and project team to identify opportunities, implement assets directly into Wwise and Unreal, and ensure final audio quality through regular playtesting. This role advances the overall sonic experience of the product by managing audio documentation, pipelines, and tools while maintaining a rigorous focus on deadlines and creative standards.

Activities

• Identify audio opportunities and work collaboratively to realize the audio vision.
• Conceptualize, schedule, and design audio features and assets while observing project deadlines.
• Implement audio assets directly into Wwise and Unreal to craft the audio experience.
• Manage and document audio assets, functions, tools, and pipelines relating to the project.
• Play test regularly, seeking and providing audio feedback to ensure final quality.

Professional Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in audio design for video games with at least 2 shipped AAA titles as audio designer.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the video game development process.
• Strong sound design, editing, and implementation skills.
• Passionate about sound design and elevating products through sound; able to effectively collaborate with the audio and project team.
• A demo reel is mandatory; eligibility to work full time in Canada.