Audio Systems Engineer

Department: Hardware

Location: San Francisco

Compensation: $175K – $280K

Employment Type: FullTime

About Sesame

Sesame believes in a future where computers are lifelike - with the ability to see, hear, and collaborate with us in ways that feel natural and human. With this vision, we're designing a new kind of computer, focused on making voice agents part of our daily lives. Our team brings together founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, alongside proven leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, with deep expertise spanning hardware and software. Join us in shaping a future where computers truly come alive.

About the Role

Join our team to craft a unique take on smart wearable devices with incredibly compact audio capabilities. We're looking for an experienced Audio System Engineer to define, tune, evaluate, and ship high-quality speech reproduction systems and spatialized audio capture solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Own aspects of shipping consumer electronic products with market-leading audio performance, independently or with the support of the Audio Lead depending on experience level.

• Create the transfer function from product-level requirement documents to audio system and transducer requirements to ensure product success.

• Design, analyze, and refine real-time audio capture and render systems.

• Research and implement advanced technologies to optimize audio system integration.

• Continuously learn and explore new technologies, setting benchmarks for user experiences.

• Collaborate on system architecture, including algorithms and tools, and oversee implementation.

• Evaluate third-party audio technologies and keep abreast of industry developments.

• Understand the trade-offs in various DSP and ML approaches and platforms for embedded solutions.

• Work with the cross-functional team to innovate on audio solutions.

• Factory testing and build support throughout the product development cycle.

Required Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience in audio hardware development, with at least one shipped consumer electronics product.

• Experience in designing, tuning, and testing microphone arrays and real-time audio capture.

• Track record in developing audio solutions encompassing acoustics, transducers, digital interfaces, audio ICs, and DSPs.

• Hands-on experience with audio testing systems (e.g., SoundCheck, Audio Precision, HATS testing).

• Background in DSP techniques (e.g., FIR/IIR filter design, beamforming, echo cancellation).

• Effective independent operation and teamwork in a dynamic, cross-functional setting.

• Experience with acoustic simulation software, e.g., COMSOL.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Acoustics, or similar.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in audio hardware development.

• Proficiency in a high-level programming language (e.g., MATLAB, Python).

• Familiarity with human perception of sound.

• Experience with psychoacoustic metrics and evaluation of speech quality and intelligibility.

• Familiarity with audio rendering techniques and speaker technologies.

• Experience in acoustics and consumer audio EE architecture.

• Familiarity with audio algorithm development, ML techniques, and/or neural network implementations.

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in EE, Computer Science, Acoustics, or related disciplines.

Sesame is committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We welcome all qualified applicants, embracing diversity in race, gender, identity, orientation, ability, and more. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Contact careers@sesame.com for assistance.

Full-time Employee Benefits: 

• 401 (k) max employer match: 3.5% of compensation

• 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits for you and your dependents

• Unlimited PTO and sick time

• Flexible spending account with employer matching up to $1,650/year (medical FSA)

• Guardian Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Opportunity to share in the company's success with competitive stock options

Benefits do not apply to contingent/contract workers.