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Audio Sound Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Absurd Ventures

Principal Sound Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

Summary We are looking for a versatile and experienced Principal Sound Designer to join our audio team to craft and implement exceptional sound design. This role is crucial in support of defining an ...

Absurd Ventures

Software Engineer, Audio

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

Design and implement systems and tools for the audio team's needs (such as sound propagation, environmental audio, dialogue systems, music, physics systems etc.). * Maintain and optimize existing ...

Apple

Product Design Engineer - Audio Fit

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$159K - $191K/yr

Sound is a vital part of our devices and customer experience. Our Audio Product Design (PD) team creates innovations that enhance music enjoyment, optimize communication, and refine sound across ...

INSPYR Solutions

Voice Designer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$45 - $50/hr

A background in sound design and an enthusiasm for innovative audio design is a must. Job Responsibilities: Manage phases of voice design, implementation, deployment, and support ongoing quality ...

COGSWELL COLLEGE LLC

Adjunct Faculty DAT

San Jose, CA · On-site

$3.0K - $4.5K/mo

Experience working with industry-standard audio software such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, or similar DAWs for creating sound design, music production, or audio mixing for games, film, or interactive ...

Apple

Product Design Engineer - Audio Fit

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

Sound is a vital part of our devices and customer experience. Our Audio Product Design (PD) team creates innovations that enhance music enjoyment, optimize communication, and refine sound across ...

Apple

Audio Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$149K - $225K/yr

Design, deploy, and manage Dante-based audio networks, including redundancy, time code, QoS, and monitoring. Maintain and operate theater and remote production sound systems. Support immersive and ...

Apple

Core Audio Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

MGCT's audio team builds the audio infrastructure that powers every sound you hear on iPhone, iPad ... You will design system-level APIs that enable apps and other Apple frameworks to integrate our ...

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All JobsAudio Sound Design JobsAudio Sound Design Jobs in California

Audio Sound Design information

How does an audio sound designer typically collaborate with game developers and other creative team members?

Audio sound designers work closely with game developers, composers, and artists to create immersive soundscapes that enhance the player experience. This collaboration often involves attending regular team meetings, reviewing game builds, and integrating feedback to ensure audio elements align seamlessly with gameplay and visuals. Sound designers may also use middleware tools to implement audio assets directly into the game engine, requiring clear communication with programmers and designers. Effective teamwork is essential for balancing creative vision with technical requirements and meeting production deadlines.

What is audio sound design?

Audio sound design is the process of creating, recording, manipulating, and assembling audio elements for various forms of media, such as films, video games, theater, and music. Sound designers craft everything from ambient backgrounds to specific sound effects that enhance the audience's experience and support the storytelling. This work involves using software and hardware tools to record, edit, and mix sounds, ensuring they fit seamlessly within a project. Sound designers often collaborate with directors, composers, and other creative professionals to achieve the desired audio atmosphere.

What is the difference between Audio Sound Design vs Audio Post-Production?

AspectAudio Sound DesignAudio Post-Production
Primary FocusCreating original sound elements and effects for mediaEditing, mixing, and mastering audio for final output
Skills & ToolsSound creation, Foley, synthesis, sound editing softwareAudio editing, noise reduction, equalization, mixing consoles
Work EnvironmentFilm sets, game studios, sound studiosPost-production houses, film and TV studios
CredentialsAudio engineering, sound design certificationsAudio engineering, post-production certifications

While both roles involve working with audio, Audio Sound Design focuses on creating and designing original sounds, whereas Audio Post-Production involves editing and refining audio recordings for the final media product. Understanding these differences helps professionals choose the right career path or specialization within the audio industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Audio Sound Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Audio Sound Designer, you need a solid grasp of audio engineering principles, sound theory, and proficiency in music or audio production, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio. Familiarity with digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Pro Tools, Logic Pro, or Ableton Live, as well as audio editing plugins and sound libraries, is typically expected. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong collaboration skills help sound designers craft immersive experiences and communicate effectively with directors and developers. These abilities ensure high-quality, engaging audio that enhances the overall impact of multimedia projects.
What are popular job titles related to Audio Sound Design jobs in California? For Audio Sound Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Audio Sound Design jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Audio Sound Design jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Audio Sound Design jobs? Cities in California with the most Audio Sound Design job openings:
Audio Sound Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Audio Sound Design job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 56% Full Time, and 44% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Principal Sound Designer (Apex Legends)

Principal Sound Designer (Apex Legends)

Electronic Arts Inc.

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$153K - $233K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

General Information
Locations: Los Angeles - Chatsworth, California, United States of America
Role ID
215735
Worker Type
Regular Employee
Studio/Department
EA Studios - Respawn
Work Model
Hybrid
Description & Requirements
Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.
We are looking for a Principal Sound Designer to join our Apex Legends team to help evolve the sonic identity of our world-class first-person shooter. This role is for an experienced, creative sound designer. The sound designer must operate at both a visionary and hands-on level, shaping audio direction and creating exceptional content. You must also solve complex gameplay and technical challenges and help raise the quality bar across the team. You bring deep craft, game audio instincts, excellent collaboration skills, and the ability to guide sound design from early concept through final implementation with clarity, taste, and purpose. You will report to the Audio Director.
Role Responsibilities:
  • Audio Vision: Collaborate with the project Audio Director and development partners to create a creative audio vision aligned with the goals of the title.
  • Mentor and support other sound designers through feedback, reviews, knowledge sharing, and craft leadership.
  • Sound Design and Implementation: Establish, uphold and improve quality standards for sound design, implementation, organization, naming, documentation, and workflow.
  • Audio Pipeline and Workflow Innovation: Advocate for and design efficient audio pipeline features and workflow processes.
  • Collaborate with Teams: Work with Design, Animation, VFX, and Audio Directors to ensure audio aligns with the game vision.
  • Identify audio risks, dependencies, and opportunities early, then work with production and discipline leads to keep features moving forward.
  • Participate in playtests, reviews, and mix sessions, using feedback and gameplay context to refine the player experience.
  • Audio Quality Assurance: Be accountable for the audio quality and work toward excellence in all audio deliverables.
  • Contribute to field recording, source creation, library management, and sound design experimentation.
  • Budget and Deadline Management: Deliver audio on budget and on time, defining deliverables and schedules.
  • Community Building: Foster a stronger audio community within EA and encourage the best in team members and peers.
  • Troubleshoot: Troubleshoot and resolve audio bugs to maintain high-quality audio experiences.

Requirements:
  • Ten years game audio and/or post-production experience.
  • Artistic and creative sensibilities with a focus on leading an audio vision.
  • Track record delivering high-quality audio content for games.
  • 5+ years of experience with modern sound creation techniques, processing, and standards.
  • Proficient in using game development tools, technology, and pipelines (e.g., Wwise, FMOD, Unreal, or Perforce).
  • 5+ years of experience with audio design from scratch, including field and foley recording, processing, editing, and in-game implementation.
  • Knowledgeable about music composition and voice direction and recording.
  • Experience with mixing and presentation in multiple formats, including 5.1 audio mixing.
  • Analytic thinker in a collaborative environment.
  • Experience with a variety of AAA games, such as action, adventure, open world, and shooters.
  • Please provide a link for a demo reel in your application.

Pay Transparency - North America
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).
PAY RANGES
* California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$153,700 - $233,600 USD
Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.
In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.
About Electronic Arts
We're proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

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