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Audio Lead Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Walt Disney Company

Senior Sound Designer

Glendale, CA · Remote

$95K - $128K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

This role will report to the Audio Lead. What You Will Do: * Be a hands-on sound designer creating high-quality audio content for interactive games and experiences based on Disney's extensive ...

Apple

Audio Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$149K - $225K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Lead setup and maintenance of PA, immersive audio Dolby ATMOS, monitoring, RF, intercom, playback, and recording systems. Operate and support digital mixing platforms including SSL Live, Avid S6L ...

Hark

Lead Audio ML Engineer

San Jose, CA

$120K/yr

About the Role We are looking for an Lead Audio ML Engineer to implement, train, and ship audio models that run on-device across our consumer products. This role spans the full lifecycle of on-device ...

Hark

Lead Audio ML Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K/yr

About the Role We are looking for an Lead Audio ML Engineer to implement, train, and ship audio models that run on-device across our consumer products. This role spans the full lifecycle of on-device ...

IES Communications

Audio Visual Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$35 - $45/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Field Engineer II - Audio Visual will be able to install and operate most types of AV systems ... lead others to create, develop, and implement project process improvement(s). · Must promote the ...

The Buckley School

$96K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Serve as lead A1 audio engineer for school-wide events including concerts, theatre productions, ceremonies, panel discussions, and assemblies. This role also includes supervising, performing, and ...

The Buckley School

$41 - $50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Live Event Production & Technical DirectionServe as lead A1 audio engineer for school-wide events including concerts, theatre productions, ceremonies, panel discussions, and ...

The Buckley School

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Serve as lead A1 audio engineer for school-wide events including concerts, theatre productions, ceremonies, panel discussions, and assemblies. This role also includes supervising, performing, and ...

AGE Solutions

Audio Visual Engineer

San Diego, CA

$70K/yr

Serve as the Lead Audio Visual Engineer on projects and customer engagements * Manage AV projects across various models and makes of equipment * Conduct testing, analysis, troubleshooting, and ...

Lumibuild

Be Seen First

Audio Visual Tech II

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$65K - $90K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

On many projects you will function as the lead technician onsite. You will work closely with ... Intermediate knowledge of audio and video components, signal types, cables * Proficiency in ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsAudio Lead JobsAudio Lead Jobs in California

Audio Lead information

See California salary details

$10

$35

$59

How much do audio lead jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for audio lead in California is $35.21, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.42 and $48.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an audio lead?

To thrive as an Audio Lead, you need expertise in sound design, audio engineering, and music production, typically supported by a degree in audio or a related field and extensive industry experience. Mastery of digital audio workstations (DAWs) such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and middleware like Wwise or FMOD, as well as familiarity with audio editing software, is essential. Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills help you guide teams and collaborate effectively with other departments. These skills ensure that high-quality audio enhances user experience, supports project goals, and maintains consistency across all audio assets.

How does an audio lead typically collaborate with other departments during a game's development process?

As an Audio Lead, you will frequently collaborate with designers, programmers, and artists to ensure that audio elements align seamlessly with the game's vision and mechanics. This includes participating in cross-department meetings, providing feedback on implementation, and prioritizing audio tasks based on project milestones. Clear communication and flexibility are essential, as you may need to adjust audio assets or workflows in response to design changes or technical constraints. Building strong relationships with other leads helps streamline problem-solving and maintain a cohesive player experience.

What is the difference between Audio Lead vs Audio Engineer?

AspectAudio LeadAudio Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires extensive experience, leadership skills, and sometimes project management certificationsRequires a degree or certification in audio engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentLeads audio teams, manages project workflows, and collaborates with directors and producersFocuses on recording, mixing, and editing audio in studios or on location
Industry UsageCommon in film, TV, gaming, and large production projectsFound across recording studios, broadcast, and live sound settings

The main difference is that an Audio Lead oversees audio projects and manages teams, while an Audio Engineer primarily focuses on technical audio tasks like recording and editing. The Audio Lead role involves leadership and project management, whereas the Audio Engineer role emphasizes technical expertise in sound production.

Are audio lead jobs in high demand?

Audio lead jobs are in steady demand within the entertainment, media, and production industries, especially for projects requiring high-quality sound design and engineering. Professionals with skills in audio editing, mixing, and familiarity with tools like Pro Tools or Logic Pro are sought after, particularly in environments such as film, television, and gaming. The demand can vary based on industry growth and technological advancements, but overall, experienced audio leads have good employment prospects.

What are popular job titles related to Audio Lead jobs in California?

For Audio Lead jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Audio Lead jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Audio Lead jobs in California are:

Audio Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Audio Lead job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $73,234 per year, or $35.2 per hour.

Senior Sound Designer

The Walt Disney Company

Glendale, CA • Remote

$95K - $128K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life

Posted 16 days ago

Walt Disney Company rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 52 rated entertainment

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Senior Sound Designer

Req ID:

10155659

Job Description:

Senior Sound Designer

Disney Digital Entertainment is looking for a Senior Sound Designer to join us on an ambitious and exciting new project. If you are an imaginative audio creator with superb game development skills and a love of Disney/Pixar, 20th Century, Star Wars, and Marvel properties, you'll want to check out this opportunity.

We are building an experienced development team that will help create groundbreaking interactive entertainment representing the next generation of Disney storytelling. Working alongside top-class industry talent, this role is perfect for a seasoned game audio professional looking to craft something truly epic - collaborating with designers, artists, engineers, and fellow audio creatives to build memorable worlds and emotionally engaging player experiences that feel distinctly Disney.

This role will report to the Audio Lead.

What You Will Do:

  • Be a hands-on sound designer creating high-quality audio content for interactive games and experiences based on Disney's extensive portfolio of characters and worlds, including Disney/Pixar, Marvel, 20th Century and Star Wars.
  • Design, edit, implement, and polish sound effects, ambiences, cinematic audio, and gameplay systems across a variety of genres and play styles.
  • Partner closely with the Audio Lead to help define and execute the project's audio aesthetic.
  • Implement interactive audio using Unreal Engine, UEFN (Unreal Editor Fortnite), middleware tools such as Wwise and/or FMOD, and proprietary pipelines.
  • Troubleshoot complex implementation and pipeline issues across multiple disciplines.
  • Mix and balance in-game audio to achieve clarity, immersion, emotional impact, and gameplay readability.
  • Participate in playtests, iteration, and debugging to ensure audio quality and functionality across platforms.

you

Basic Qualifications and Skills:

  • 6 years of professional game audio experience, including at least two shipped titles in a Senior Sound Designer or equivalent role.
  • Expertise designing and implementing interactive audio using Unreal Engine and middleware tools such as Wwise and/or FMOD.
  • Strong sound editing, mixing, and audio asset creation skills.
  • Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to solve creative and technical challenges.
  • Have a deep appreciation for Disney's storytelling, cinematic presentation, theme park experiences, and overall creative legacy.
  • Enjoy creative problem-solving and building experiences that emotionally connect with players.
  • Have a strong sense of how sound enhances pacing, player feedback, world-building, and narrative.
  • Understand interactive audio pipelines, implementation techniques, and the strengths and limitations of modern game engines and middleware.
  • Communicate effectively across disciplines including design, engineering, animation, and production.
  • Have a passion for innovation and pushing the boundaries of game audio and player immersion.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working directly in the UEFN development engine.
  • Experience composing, arranging, and producing original music for interactive media and games is not required but would be a plus

Additional Information:

  • A demo reel and/or online portfolio showcasing sound design and technical audio work.
  • Please disable passwords or include them in your resume/application

Our Benefits: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits

#LI-REQ

#Gamesjobs

#LI-Remote

    The hiring range for this remote position is $95,500 to $128,000 per year, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

    Job Posting Segment:

    NA - Games

    Job Posting Primary Business:

    Regional (NA - Games)

    Primary Job Posting Category:

    Games-Audio

    Employment Type:

    Full time

    Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

    Glendale, CA, USA

    Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

    Date Posted:

    2026-07-31

    What Walt Disney Company employees say

    Pay

    Benefits

    Hours and flexibility

    Workplace

    Get the full story on Breakroom

    Walt Disney logo

    About Walt Disney

    Sourced by ZipRecruiter

    At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this through utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world. "We create happiness." That's our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you'll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create the never-before-seen!

    Industry

    Amusement, gambling, and recreation

    Company size

    10,000+ Employees

    Headquarters location

    Burbank, CA, US

    Social media

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