Systems Engineer IV - Pinnacle

Job Description:

• Audio Systems Engineer (Contract)
• 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 client 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.
• Client is looking for an Audio Systems Engineer to build signal processing prototypes, conduct acoustic measurements, calibrate recording and playback systems, process acoustic data, and assist 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.

Responsibilities:

• Work side by side with research scientists to optimize and integrate cutting edge research into prototypes that demonstrate value and guide roadmaps of future AR/VR products.
• 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.
• Collaborate in a team environment across multiple scientific and engineering disciplines, making the architectural trade offs required to rapidly deliver software solutions
• Write clean readable code, debug complex problems that span systems, prioritize ruthlessly and get things done with a high level of efficiency.
• Write technical reports describing research results and methodologies.

Minimum Requirements:

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in real-time audio coding in C/C++
• Expertise in psychoacoustics, auditory perception, spatial audio, room acoustics, and physical acoustics
• Experience using PyTorch or other machine-learning frameworks
• Experience with prototype hardware devices
• Experience with motion tracking systems
• Experience with large-scale automated data collection and analysis
• Experience designing and setting up acoustic laboratory spaces
• Experience with live sound, studio recording, and/or physical acoustic setup
• Experience working in cross-functional, inter-disciplinary environments
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality technical reports and/or publications

Note:
Top 3 must-have HARD skills:

• Building audio prototypes
• Execute MAT lab code
• MAX MSP (limited is ok)
• Python and C REQUIRED

Good to have skills:

• PhD
• Strong understanding of MAX MSP would be excellent- not only an artist but using it technically
• Strong audio components

Story Behind the Need – Business Group & Key Projects:

• Needing some additional help - just needing one person to cover

Compelling Story & Candidate Value Proposition:

• Rayban glasses
• Have a technical idea- audio and perception
• Future facing- very rewarding opportunity
• High caliber of XFN to work with

Typical Day in the Role:

• Working with DSP prototype- hardware interface- getting it to work
• Trouble shooting, drawing on your own knowledge, creating a specific experience, making sure that the sound coming out (spectrum, intensity) is correct
• Also - if rising to the occasion- building/implementing new algorithms.

How will performance be measured:

• Tasks- work through
• Being the engineer on the ground- getting the prototype to work
• Mostly working with DSP engineers (domain experts)

Pay Range: $85++

The specific compensation for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. Our full-time consultants have access to benefits including medical, dental, vision and 401K contributions as well as any other PTO, sick leave, and other benefits mandated by appliable state or localities where you reside or work.

#LI-FB1