Electronic Arts

We are looking for a Principal Sound Designer to join our Apex Legends team to help evolve the sonic identity of our world-class first-person shooter. This role is for an experienced, creative sound designer.  The sound designer must operate at both a visionary and hands-on level, shaping audio direction and creating exceptional content.  You must also solve complex gameplay and technical challenges and help raise the quality bar across the team. You bring deep craft, game audio instincts, excellent collaboration skills, and the ability to guide sound design from early concept through final implementation with clarity, taste, and purpose. You will report to the Audio Director. 

Role Responsibilities:

• Audio Vision: Collaborate with the project Audio Director and development partners to create a creative audio vision aligned with the goals of the title.

• Mentor and support other sound designers through feedback, reviews, knowledge sharing, and craft leadership.

• Sound Design and Implementation: Establish, uphold and improve quality standards for sound design, implementation, organization, naming, documentation, and workflow.

• Audio Pipeline and Workflow Innovation: Advocate for and design efficient audio pipeline features and workflow processes.

• Collaborate with Teams: Work with Design, Animation, VFX, and Audio Directors to ensure audio aligns with the game vision.

• Identify audio risks, dependencies, and opportunities early, then work with production and discipline leads to keep features moving forward.

• Participate in playtests, reviews, and mix sessions, using feedback and gameplay context to refine the player experience.

• Audio Quality Assurance: Be accountable for the audio quality and work toward excellence in all audio deliverables.

• Contribute to field recording, source creation, library management, and sound design experimentation.

• Budget and Deadline Management: Deliver audio on budget and on time, defining deliverables and schedules.

• Community Building: Foster a stronger audio community within EA and encourage the best in team members and peers.

• Troubleshoot: Troubleshoot and resolve audio bugs to maintain high-quality audio experiences.

Requirements:

• Ten years game audio and/or post-production experience.

• Artistic and creative sensibilities with a focus on leading an audio vision.

• Track record delivering high-quality audio content for games.

• 5+ years of experience with modern sound creation techniques, processing, and standards.

• Proficient in using game development tools, technology, and pipelines (e.g., Wwise, FMOD, Unreal, or Perforce).

• 5+ years of experience with audio design from scratch, including field and foley recording, processing, editing, and in-game implementation.

• Knowledgeable about music composition and voice direction and recording.

• Experience with mixing and presentation in multiple formats, including 5.1 audio mixing.

• Analytic thinker in a collaborative environment.

• Experience with a variety of AAA games, such as action, adventure, open world, and shooters.

• Please provide a link for a demo reel in your application.

• California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco)
  • $153,700 - $233,600 USD

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.