Principal Sound Designer

Core Responsibilities

• Create exceptional and immersive sound design using both commercial and proprietary tools, software, and source material.
• Work closely with the Audio Director to help define and execute the project’s overall audio vision.
• Collaborate with engineers and fellow sound designers to build, implement, and scale audio pipelines.
• Proactively anticipate project needs and independently develop and implement solutions.
• Optimize audio assets and recommend workflow improvements to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Diagnose and resolve complex audio issues across multiple disciplines.
• Effectively communicate technical and creative ideas through clear written and verbal communication.
• Manage time independently and drive complex, multi-phase initiatives through to completion.

Core Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in the games industry as a sound designer, with some senior experience on shipped AAA titles.
• Proven track record of owning and delivering complex audio systems on shipped titles.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with engineering and cross-disciplinary teams on large-scale projects.
• Strong background in recording high-quality source material and pushing it through to final asset implementation.
• Expertise with AAA game engines and deep knowledge of audio implementation workflows.
• Advanced proficiency in Wwise and real-time audio systems.
• Background in mentoring team members and sharing both technical and creative expertise.

Key Attributes

• A collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a strong emphasis on cross-discipline partnership.
• Ability to inspire and elevate others through leadership, mentorship, and craftsmanship.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of solving problems with minimal direction.
• Adaptable and responsive to feedback and evolving project requirements.

Plus if

• Experience contributing during early development and R&D phases.
• Experience designing and improving custom audio tools and workflows for large scale open-world games.
• Scripting experience in Python, MEL, or similar languages.
• Passion for video games, storytelling, cinema, and a strong understanding of game audio.

Full-time job with benefits.

Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA.

The base pay range for this position is $140,000 to $160,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including paid time off, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

About Absurd Ventures

Absurd Ventures is a media company creating new IP across all platforms and for all formats. Absurd Ventures is building narrative worlds, creating characters, and writing stories for a variety of genres, without regard to medium, to be produced for live-action and animation; video games and other interactive content; books, graphic novels, and scripted podcasts.