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Contract Audio Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Knightscope

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$155K - $210K/yr

Define and maintain A/V API contracts in collaboration with ICM and Signals platform engineers; contribute to code reviews, technical documentation, and on-call runbooks. * Mentor junior engineers ...

Knightscope

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$155K - $210K/yr

Define and maintain A/V API contracts in collaboration with ICM and Signals platform engineers; contribute to code reviews, technical documentation, and on-call runbooks. * Mentor junior engineers ...

Knightscope

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Define and maintain A/V API contracts in collaboration with ICM and Signals platform engineers; contribute to code reviews, technical documentation, and on-call runbooks. * Mentor junior engineers ...

C3EL

Audio Visual Engineer with Security Clearance

Tampa, FL · On-site

$76K - $100K/yr

Tampa, FL (Due to the nature of the work and contract requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.) Description: C3EL is seeking a cleared Audio Visual Engineer to join our team in Tampa, FL. The ...

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How much do contract audio engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract audio engineer in the United States is $48.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.11 and $50.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Contract Audio Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Audio Engineer, you need expertise in audio recording, mixing, sound editing, and live sound systems, often backed by a degree in audio engineering or related experience. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, mixing consoles, and relevant acoustics software is highly valued, along with certifications like CTS or Avid Pro Tools certification. Strong communication, problem-solving abilities, flexibility, and time management are the standout soft skills for this role. These competencies are crucial for delivering high-quality audio in diverse settings, meeting client expectations, and adapting to variable contract work environments.

What are the typical work environments and schedules for a Contract Audio Engineer?

Contract Audio Engineers often work in a variety of environments, including recording studios, broadcast stations, event venues, and sometimes on-location for film or live events. Schedules can be irregular and are usually project-based, requiring flexibility for night, weekend, or extended hours depending on client needs and event timelines. Collaboration is common with producers, musicians, video editors, and technical teams to ensure seamless audio integration and top-quality results. Being accustomed to different acoustic settings and adapting quickly to new teams or workflows are essential aspects of this role. This dynamic work structure can offer exciting variety and the opportunity to build a diverse portfolio in the audio industry.

What is a Contract Audio Engineer job?

A Contract Audio Engineer is a freelance or temporary professional responsible for recording, mixing, and mastering audio for various projects. They typically work on a per-project basis for studios, live events, film productions, podcasts, or gaming companies. Their duties include setting up audio equipment, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring high-quality sound. Since they are not full-time employees, they often manage multiple clients, negotiate their own rates, and handle their own scheduling.

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Contract Audio Engineer jobs near you
Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Knightscope, Inc.

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$155K - $210K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

About Knightscope
Knightscope is a security technology company building the Nation's First Autonomous Security Force. The Company combines autonomous machines, advanced software, and human expertise to help protect people, property, and critical infrastructure. Knightscope's long-term mission is to make the United States of America the safest country in the world.
About the Role
Knightscope is seeking two Senior Audio/Video Engineers to own the real-time audio and video infrastructure across the ICM and Signals platforms. These engineers will be responsible for the full A/V stack - from WebRTC ingest and GStreamer pipeline architecture to low-latency audio processing and multi-stream rendering. Given the thin talent pool for combined WebRTC and low-latency audio expertise, both positions will be recruited simultaneously.
Location Requirement: Full-time, on-site at Sunnyvale HQ (No relocation provided)
Key Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and maintain the end-to-end real-time video pipeline: WebRTC/RTSP/RTMP ingest, hardware-accelerated transcoding, and simultaneous multi-stream rendering for up to 10 concurrent robot video feeds.
  • Architect and optimize GStreamer-based multi-branch pipelines for video capture, processing, recording, and cloud upload (S3) - including codec selection, pad/cap negotiation, and plugin development.
  • Own the full audio subsystem: real-time two-way audio, SIP/VoIP integration (pjsip/Asterisk), text-to-speech (AWS Polly), and talk-down functionality with a sub-200ms end-to-end round-trip latency target.
  • Implement and optimize WebRTC signaling, ICE, DTLS-SRTP, and media server components for reliable low-latency communication across distributed robot deployments.
  • Profile, debug, and tune A/V pipeline performance for low latency, high throughput, and resilience under concurrent multi-robot load and variable network conditions.
  • Build Make-a-Clip functionality enabling operators to extract, annotate, and store video segments from live and recorded feeds.
  • Define and maintain A/V API contracts in collaboration with ICM and Signals platform engineers; contribute to code reviews, technical documentation, and on-call runbooks.
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to architectural decisions across the A/V stack.

Required Qualifications
  • 7-10 years of software engineering experience specializing in real-time audio and video systems in production environments.
  • Deep expertise in WebRTC - including signaling protocols, ICE/STUN/TURN, DTLS-SRTP, RTP/RTCP, and media server architecture (Janus, mediasoup, or equivalent).
  • Strong hands-on proficiency with GStreamer at the developer level: building and debugging complex multi-branch media pipelines, working with elements, pads, caps, and custom plugins.
  • Proficiency in C/C++ (C++11/14/17) for performance-critical media and networking code; Python for tooling and automation.
  • Solid experience with SIP/VoIP protocols and stacks (pjsip, Asterisk, or equivalent) and low-latency audio processing.
  • Strong understanding of audio/video codecs (H.264/H.265, VP9, AAC, Opus) and streaming protocols (RTSP, RTMP, HLS, RTP).
  • Experience with AWS media services (S3, Kinesis Video Streams, Polly, or equivalent) and cloud-based media pipeline architectures.
  • Familiarity with hardware-accelerated video processing (NVIDIA NVENC/NVDEC, V4L2, or equivalent) is a strong plus.
  • BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.

Compensation & Benefits
  • Base Salary: $155,000 - $210,000 each (DOE)
  • Equity: Stock options
  • Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off
  • Location Requirement: Full-time, on-site at Sunnyvale HQ

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