Software Engineer - Audio

Cliffhanger Games is a newly formed Seattle Studio focusing on blockbuster action-adventure games and pioneering next-generation emergent storytelling beginning with Marvel's Black Panther. Join us to pursue your passion to build unique, groundbreaking, and inclusive games that empower players to create incredible stories of heroic adventure.

We are ready for an Audio Engineer to join us on this journey. Your passion for audio and expertise as an engineer will allow you to extend Wwise and UE5’s capabilities to unlock new potential for our third person, open world, action RPG. You will collaborate with audio designers, programmers, and other team members developing and optimizing audio systems, features and workflows to create an immersive and realistic gaming experience. You will report to a Lead Engineer for technical guidance and have the support of an engineering manager to ensure professional growth and well-being. You will also have access to peers across the team and the greater EA organization to both mentor and learn from, collaborate with and grow.

Responsibilities:

• Develop advanced audio systems, tools, and pipelines that enhance the audio experience in the game.
• Collaborate with audio designers to integrate audio assets, implement sound effects, music, voiceovers, and interactive audio elements using Unreal Engine 5.
• Optimize audio systems and content to ensure efficient usage of system resources while maintaining high-quality audio playback and processing.
• Develop tools, scripts and plugins to streamline audio production workflows, including batch processing, sound banks, integration with Wwise.
• Work with developers across the team including programmers, audio designers, animators, and level designers, to ensure seamless integration of audio features and meet project goals and timelines.
• Document audio systems, APIs, and tools, providing clear instructions and guidelines to facilitate collaboration and future development. Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance to the audio team.
• Maintain and stabilize engine level divergences during version updates
• Help grow your knowledge and that of your peers via technical discussions and code reviews
• Be supportive of those around you and open to exploring, proposing and adopting new ideas, technologies and practices

Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of audio processing, mixing, and playback systems, including interactive audio techniques, spatial audio, DSP algorithms, and Wwise integration.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine 5's audio system, including working with audio components, audio graphs, sound cues, and Unreal's Blueprints visual scripting.
• 3+ years of professional C/C++ experience and experience with audio programming APIs (such as FMOD or Wwise).
• Experience diagnosing and resolving complex audio-related issues.
• Enthusiasm for video games, with an appreciation for audio's role in enhancing player immersion and experience.
• Invested in the quality of your individual contributions, the game, and our team culture.
• Appreciation for maintainable, easily readable code
  
  We encourage you to apply, even if you don't match every qualification listed above. Let us know why this role appeals to you, why you will be great, what unique perspectives you will bring, and which requirements will challenge you to grow.
  
  
  Ceci ne s’applique pas au Québec.
  
  COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
  
  The base salary ranges listed below are for the defined geographic market pay zones in these locations. If you reside outside of these locations, a recruiter will advise on the range and benefits for your specific location.
  
  EA has listed the base salary ranges it in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in the locations listed, as of the time of this posting. Pay offered will be determined based on numerous relevant business and candidate factors including, for example, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business or organizational needs.
  
  BASE SALARY RANGES
  
  • California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. Sacramento):
  º $122,300 - $170,600 USD Annually
  • New York (depending on location e.g. Manhattan vs. Buffalo):
  º $104,000 - $170,600 USD Annually
  • Jersey City, NJ :
  º $137,300 - $170,600 USD Annually
  • Colorado (depending on location e.g. Denver vs. Colorado Springs):
  º $111,800 - $151,800 USD Annually
  • Washington (depending on location e.g. Seattle vs. Spokane):
  º $104,000 - $174,700 USD Annually
  • British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria):
  º $96,400 - $133,900 CAN Annually
  
  Base salary 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. For British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.