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Senior Audio Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Knightscope, Inc.

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$155K - $210K/yr

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 ...

Knightscope

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$155K - $210K/yr

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 ...

Knightscope

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$155K - $210K/yr

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 ...

Knightscope

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

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 ...

Qualcomm

Sr. Staff Audio Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

The Senior Staff Audio Engineer is a technical authority responsible for the architecture, design, and optimization of complex audio subsystems. This role defines the direction for audio technologies ...

Apple

Sr. Audio System Specialist

Cupertino, CA

$150K - $277K/yr

Sr. Audio System Specialist At Apple, extraordinary ideas have a way of quickly becoming ... Most of our engineers have advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or an ...

Apple

Senior Audio Systems Architect

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

... a Senior Audio Systems Architect to set the technical direction for how audio is captured ... We are looking for someone who is a force multiplier - an engineer who has materially adopted AI ...

Apple

Senior Audio Systems Architect

Cupertino, CA · On-site

... a Senior Audio Systems Architect to set the technical direction for how audio is captured ... We are looking for someone who is a force multiplier - an engineer who has materially adopted AI ...

Apple

Sr. Audio System Specialist

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Minimum Qualifications Most of our engineers have advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering ... in Audio Engineering, we still want to hear from you. 5+ years relevant product development ...

Apple

Sr. Audio System Specialist

Cupertino, CA

$150K - $277K/yr

... Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent field, but if you've followed a different path to expertise in Audio Engineering, we still want to hear from you. 5+ years relevant product ...

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All JobsAudio Engineer JobsSenior Audio Engineer JobsSenior Audio Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Audio Engineer information

See California salary details

$58.7K

$124.9K

$181.1K

How much do senior audio engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior audio engineer in California is $124,900.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,100.00 and $141,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Audio Engineer vs Audio Technician?

AspectSenior Audio EngineerAudio Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in audio engineering or related field; extensive experienceHigh school diploma or associate degree; specialized training or certification
Work EnvironmentRecording studios, live concert venues, film/TV productionEvent setups, live sound reinforcement, equipment maintenance
ResponsibilitiesDesigning audio systems, mixing, editing, supervising projectsSetting up equipment, troubleshooting, assisting with sound checks

The main difference is that Senior Audio Engineers typically have advanced education and oversee complex projects, while Audio Technicians focus on equipment setup and support tasks. Senior Audio Engineers often lead teams and handle creative aspects, whereas Audio Technicians support the technical execution.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior audio engineers in the entertainment, gaming, or broadcasting industries can reach or exceed a $300,000 annual salary with extensive experience, specialized skills, and working in high-demand environments. Achieving this level often requires advanced knowledge of audio production, certification, and leadership roles overseeing large projects or teams.

What does a Senior Audio Engineer do?

A Senior Audio Engineer is responsible for overseeing the recording, mixing, and mastering of audio for music, film, television, or live events. They manage technical aspects of sound production, lead teams of junior engineers, and ensure high-quality audio output. Their role often involves selecting equipment, troubleshooting sound issues, and collaborating closely with producers, artists, or directors to achieve the desired sound. With years of experience, they bring expertise in both creative and technical facets of audio engineering.

How does a Senior Audio Engineer typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

A Senior Audio Engineer works closely with various departments, such as directors, producers, video editors, and musicians, to ensure that all audio elements align with the overall vision of the project. This collaboration often involves participating in pre-production meetings to understand creative goals, offering technical guidance during recording sessions, and providing feedback during post-production mixing and mastering. Clear communication and a strong understanding of both creative and technical requirements are essential for ensuring seamless integration of audio with other media elements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Audio Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Audio Engineer, you need advanced knowledge of audio recording, mixing, mastering, and acoustics, typically supported by a degree in audio engineering or a related field and several years of industry experience. Expertise with digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Pro Tools, mixing consoles, and various plug-ins and outboard gear is essential, and certifications such as Avid Pro Tools Certification can be advantageous. Exceptional problem-solving, communication, and project management skills help you collaborate effectively with artists, producers, and technical teams. These abilities ensure high-quality sound production, efficient workflow, and successful project outcomes in demanding audio environments.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior audio engineers in the entertainment industry or those working in high-level roles for major companies can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and profit sharing. Such compensation typically requires extensive experience, specialized skills, and often involves leadership or executive responsibilities.

What is the highest salary for a sound engineer?

Senior audio engineers can earn salaries exceeding $100,000 annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and work in high-demand industries such as film, television, or live events. Top earners in the field may reach salaries over $150,000 with advanced certifications and a strong portfolio.

Is there a high demand for audio engineers?

The demand for audio engineers, including senior roles, remains strong in industries such as music production, film, television, and live events. Growth is driven by technological advancements and the need for high-quality sound in various media, with skills in digital audio workstations and sound design being highly valued.
What are the most commonly searched types of Audio Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Audio Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Audio Engineer jobs in California? For Senior Audio Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Audio Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Audio Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Audio Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Audio Engineer job openings:
Senior Audio Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Audio Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $124,900 per year, or $60 per hour.
Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Senior Audio/Video Engineer

Knightscope, Inc.

Sunnyvale, CA

$155K - $210K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

About Knightscope

Knightscope (NASDAQ: KSCP) is a security technology company building the nation's first Autonomous Security Force - autonomous machines, AI-driven software, and elite security professionals operating as one integrated managed service. The Company is on a mission to make the United States of America the safest country in the world. One Team. One Force.

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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