Audio Architect
Meta

Job Info

The Wearables Audio Technology Team (WATT) is looking for an experienced Audio Architect to drive audio development for the next generation of Meta devices. The Audio Architect will lead through domain experts, influencing within WATT and cross-functionally to ensure the products' audio performance is greater than the sum of its subsystems without direct ownership of any subsystem. We are looking for a meaningful depth in all aspects of audio system development for consumer electronics; from early proof-of-concept technologies, feature trade-offs at device level, product development and testing challenges, through to production readiness. Our work demands a data-driven development process, combining objective measurements with perceptual audio evaluation to guide trade-offs with a focus on customer experience. The Audio Architect will communicate effectively at all levels, both representing and challenging WATT and cross-functional teams while relating customer experience with quantitative and qualitative data, taking a hard stance on audio experience and build quality for Meta products. The Audio Architect will drive better engineering, engaging domain expertise at appropriate times, optimizing the audio teams' meeting load.

Audio Architect Responsibilities:

• First stop for audio HW alignment and decisions, including relevant audio partners as required
• Drive audio needs across all levels, connecting WATT and cross-functional partners
• Own product level trade off decisions in collaboration with system/audio PM
• Assist development team with audio system context and technical challenges
• Balance diving into details with engaging domain expertise
• Own acoustic & audio system level hardware decision-making process during development
• Alignment and balance of capture, render, and thermal requirements with existing and SOTA audio algorithms.
• Ensure seamless co-development of audio sub-systems
• Collaborate closely with NTI, pulling technology advances to specific product intercept
• Ensure all audio HW targets are relevant, developed, consolidated, and validated
• Understand and communicate cost / risk / quality vs. customer benefit of device KPIs

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's in Acoustics, Physics, EE, ME, or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of experience focused around system design, influencing cross-functional teams and leadership for the improvement of the system
• Proven track record of partnering effectively to guide complex engineering challenges
• Proven track record of taking projects from concept to production in a lead / architect role
• Experience in transducer design (speakers, microphone, MEM's, etc) and acoustic test development (lab, factory)
• Experience with microphone array development, trade-offs between HW performance and algorithm performance
• Demonstrated experience driving project decision making, influencing behaviors of project teams, and resolve conflicts
• Proven understanding of audio architecture, design, optimization, testing, FACA
• Knowledge of acoustic system development, utilizing tools such as:- Acoustic Simulation LEM/BEM/FEM (acoustic, magnetic, multiphysics)- MATLAB (design, testing, algorithm prototyping, etc)- Max MSP (algorithm and audio chain prototyping, demo's)- 3D modeling (Nx, SolidWorks, etc)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience focused around audio system design in consumer electronics
• 5+ years demonstrated experience in a lead / architect capacity, with high quality examples of existing products
• Master's or PhD in Acoustics or Physics
• Experience with algorithm and audio chain prototyping
• Previous experience with people management, but a desire to be/return to highly technical contributions

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