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Lead Sound Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Hinge Health, Inc

Lead Motion Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $206K/yr

As Lead Motion Designer, you will shape how complex ideas become clear, compelling stories that ... An owner who makes sound decisions amid ambiguity and remains accountable for quality, timelines ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

Strong problem-solving skills and sound design judgment. Leadership Skills (Senior Designer) * Demonstrated ability to lead design teams and guide design decision-making. * Mentorship and coaching ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

Strong problem-solving skills and sound design judgment. Leadership Skills (Senior Designer) * Demonstrated ability to lead design teams and guide design decision-making. * Mentorship and coaching ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Strong problem-solving skills and sound design judgment. Leadership Skills (Senior Designer) * Demonstrated ability to lead design teams and guide design decision-making. * Mentorship and coaching ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Strong problem-solving skills and sound design judgment. Leadership Skills (Senior Designer) * Demonstrated ability to lead design teams and guide design decision-making. * Mentorship and coaching ...

Amazon

Principal Game Designer, RBKS AI

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

Key job responsibilities - Lead the definition, design, and delivery of innovative AI-powered ... sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit ...

Masimo

Senior Visual Designer - Mobile Apps

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$120/hr

Lead the visual design process for mobile apps from initial concept to developer hand-off. Refine ... Each brand boasts its own philosophy and unique approach to bringing sound and home entertainment ...

Lead Bank

Software Engineer V

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... sound. Today, Lead is one of the only API-first, developer-focused partner banks with the financial ... Responsibilities include designing, coding, reviewing, testing, fixing, researching, deploying and ...

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All JobsLead Sound Designer JobsLead Sound Designer Jobs in California

Lead Sound Designer information

See California salary details

$41.5K

$90K

$154.9K

How much do lead sound designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead sound designer in California is $89,967.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,600.00 and $108,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lead sound designer do?

A Lead Sound Designer oversees the creation and implementation of audio elements in various media, such as video games, films, or television productions. They manage a team of sound designers, coordinate with directors and producers to understand the creative vision, and ensure high-quality sound effects, music, and dialogue are integrated seamlessly. The Lead Sound Designer is also responsible for setting audio standards, guiding the creative direction of sound, and troubleshooting technical issues related to audio production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lead sound designer?

To thrive as a Lead Sound Designer, you need expertise in audio engineering, sound design principles, and a strong portfolio demonstrating creative and technical ability, often supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Mastery of digital audio workstations (DAWs) such as Pro Tools or Logic Pro, familiarity with middleware like Wwise or FMOD, and knowledge of audio post-production tools are typically required. Leadership, collaboration, and effective communication are standout soft skills for directing teams and working with cross-functional partners. These skills ensure the creation of high-quality, immersive audio experiences that align with project goals and enhance the overall product.

How does a lead sound designer typically collaborate with game developers and other creative teams during production?

A Lead Sound Designer works closely with game developers, animators, and narrative teams to ensure that audio enhances the overall player experience. They attend regular meetings to align on project vision, provide feedback on how sound can support gameplay mechanics, and coordinate with programmers to implement audio assets. Effective collaboration often involves managing a team of sound designers, setting audio standards, and troubleshooting technical challenges to maintain audio quality throughout the development process.

What is the difference between Lead Sound Designer vs Sound Designer?

AspectLead Sound DesignerSound Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in audio engineering, sound design, or related field; experience in sound productionSimilar educational background; entry-level or mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentLeads sound teams in game, film, or media projects; manages project sound directionExecutes sound design tasks under supervision; collaborates with the team
ResponsibilitiesOversees sound design process, coordinates team, ensures project consistencyCreates sound effects, edits audio, implements sound assets

The main difference is that the Lead Sound Designer manages the sound team and oversees the entire sound design process, while the Sound Designer focuses on creating and implementing sound assets. The Lead role involves leadership and project management, whereas the Sound Designer is more hands-on with sound creation.

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Lead Sound Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Lead Sound Designer job openings:

Lead Sound Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Sound Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,967 per year, or $43.3 per hour.

Senior Sound Designer

The Walt Disney Company

Glendale, CA • Remote

$95K - $128K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life

Posted 25 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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