Job Title: Audio Systems Engineer (Contract)
Location: Onsite in Redmond, WA

Company Overview:
Reality Labs Research brings together a world-class team of researchers, developers, and engineers to shape the future of virtual and augmented reality. Our goal is to make these technologies as essential as smartphones and computers. The Reality Labs Research Audio team focuses on creating virtual sounds indistinguishable from reality and redefining human hearing, enabling deeper connections and clear communication in difficult environments.

Position Overview:
We are seeking an Audio Systems Engineer to join our cutting-edge audio team. You will be responsible for building signal processing prototypes, conducting acoustic measurements, and developing tools to support auditory perception experiments. Your work will involve hands-on audio signal processing, embedded systems, and real-time DSP. You’ll work closely with research scientists to integrate innovative research into prototypes that shape future AR/VR products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with research scientists to integrate and optimize cutting-edge research into functional prototypes.
• Develop prototypes, systems, and user interfaces for audio signal processing using MaxMSP, Python, and MATLAB.
• Analyze and improve the performance of data acquisition systems for audio research.
• Build real-time DSP systems that involve latency management, feedback control, and synchronization using embedded systems.
• Write clean, efficient code and debug complex problems spanning software and hardware systems.
• Generate technical reports detailing research results, methodologies, and system architectures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field with 3+ years of experience in audio technology development or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience building audio or VR prototypes.
• Proficiency in MaxMSP, Python, or MATLAB for audio applications.
• Strong understanding of audio signal processing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in real-time DSP coding using C/C++.
• Knowledge of psychoacoustics, auditory perception, spatial audio, and acoustics.
• Experience with PyTorch or other machine-learning frameworks.
• Hands-on experience with prototype hardware devices and motion tracking systems.
• Background in large-scale data collection, analysis, and acoustic lab setup.
• Experience in live sound, studio recording, or physical acoustic setups.
• Strong ability to produce high-quality technical reports or publications.

Additional Notes:

• We are looking for candidates with hands-on experience—those who have built hardware and software rather than just modifying them.
• Must have experience with real-time DSP algorithms, working with embedded systems that process signals in real time (including latency and feedback management).
• Ideal candidates will have 10+ years of experience or be recent PhDs with relevant expertise.
• No former contract workers unless they had long tenure. Current Interns or FTEs are preferred.
• Onsite in Redmond, WA.
• The interview process includes 2-3 stages, focusing on DSP technical knowledge and troubleshooting skills.