Associate Audio Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

The Cato Institute is seeking a Story/Editorial Producer to join its in-house AV production team. This is a content-forward production role focused on the editorial and logistical work that makes podcast episodes substantive, well-structured, and guest-ready. The Producer will work closely with Cato's lead senior producer, audio engineers, and video editors, serving as the connective tissue between the editorial and technical sides of podcast production. Cato's podcasts are produced in both audio and video formats, distributed across podcast platforms, YouTube, and Cato's owned channels, and this role spans both. The ideal candidate is an organized, editorially sharp producer who is as comfortable shaping a conversation in prep as they are managing a post-production timeline across audio and video deliverables, and who is genuinely interested in the ideas of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.

This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC. 

The salary range for this role is $75,000 - $105,000 per year. Compensation is based on the successful candidate's educational background, experience, and skills.

About Cato 

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization – a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues. 

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution – individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people; it is an indispensable framework for the future. 

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Responsibilities

• Develop episode outlines and, where needed, full script drafts including host intros, transition language, and outros in a voice consistent with each show's editorial identity.
• Serve as the editorial lead through post-production, working with audio engineers and video editors to ensure final audio and video episodes reflect the intended structure, pacing, and content priorities.
• Conduct pre-interviews with prospective and confirmed guests to assess fit, develop episode angles, and gather the information needed to brief hosts and shape conversation outlines.
• Prepare guests for recording, including providing technical guidance for both audio and video sessions, setting expectations for format and tone, and ensuring a smooth recording experience.
• Coordinate with video editors on visual elements specific to the video format, including on-screen graphics, chapter markers, and the selection of B-roll or supplemental footage where applicable.
• Write and edit episode titles, descriptions, and show notes for publication across podcast platforms, YouTube, and Cato's website.
• Coordinate recording schedules, guest logistics, and production timelines across multiple shows or episodes in flight simultaneously.
• Collaborate with communications and digital teams to support episode promotion and audience development across audio and video platforms.
• Stay current on Cato's research output and policy priorities to identify timely guest and topic opportunities.

Education/ Experience

• 3 to 5 years of experience in podcast production, video podcast production, broadcast journalism, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting pre-interviews and preparing guests, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to put a range of guests at ease.
• Familiarity with both audio and video podcast post-production workflows; experience working alongside audio engineers and video editors 
• A personal interest in or familiarity with libertarian or classical liberal ideas, free-market economics

Skills

• Strong writing skills, with experience drafting scripts, outlines, or editorial briefs in a clear, accessible voice.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple productions across different stages simultaneously.
• Attention to detail and commitment to excellence in production work. 

To Apply

Please submit the following materials:

• Cover letter 
• Résumé
• Example of work (description of your contribution to the project and any other relevant details)

Benefits 

All Cato employees are offered the following benefits: 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA) 
• Generous vacation and sick days 
• Paid parental leave 
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance  
• 401(k) employer match 
• Transit/ Parking benefits  
• Pet discount plan 

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.