NBCUniversal is looking for a Lead Audio Designer to help drive the creative and technical execution of audio for an exciting and ambitious AAA project. We are looking for someone who will help develop and shape the audio team while delivering high-quality sound design and developing audio pipelines and systems. You will play a key role in establishing workflows, defining implementation approaches, and contributing to the growth of the audio team in collaboration with the Audio Director and Senior Technical Audio Designer. As a foundational member of the audio discipline at NBCU, this role combines leadership, vision, organization and task planning, hands-on sound design, technical strategizing and implementation, and helping build scalable audio solutions while contributing to a cohesive and immersive player experience. Responsibilities: • Drive innovation in sound design concepts and creation, maintaining awareness of cutting-edge recording techniques and industry trends; • Provide consistent aesthetic direction and high-quality feedback to ensure cohesion and excellence across all audio content; • Contribute directly to high-quality sound design and implementation across key areas of the project; • Collaborate with the Audio Director and Senior Technical Audio Designer to help define and evolve audio workflows, pipelines, and best practices; • Support the development and growth of the audio team, including mentoring designers as the team expands; • Help identify role needs and contribute to the hiring and onboarding of new audio team members; • Lead the execution and evolution of audio integration strategies, ensuring robust and scalable implementation of audio systems within the game engine; • Guide the development of core audio features and systems that respond dynamically to gameplay, including physics interactions, environmental modulation, player actions, and voice-over systems; • Collaborate closely with design, engineering, narrative, and animation teams to align audio behavior with gameplay mechanics and storytelling goals; • Establish and reinforce best practices for mixing workflows, including ducking, sidechaining, and hierarchical structures, while helping shape the project's sonic identity; • Support and contribute to final mix processes, including collaboration with external partners when required; • Act as a subject matter expert on audio formats, providing guidance on format selection and optimization to support both performance and production needs; • Lead audio optimization efforts, establishing best practices for memory management, streaming, and runtime performance in collaboration with technical teams; • Drive improvements in audio pipelines and workflows to ensure efficiency and scalability as the team grows; • Lead audio debugging efforts, coordinating with production and using tracking tools (e.g., Jira) to assign, monitor, and resolve issues; • Design and implement audio testing methodologies in collaboration with audio and QA teams; • Lead audio review sessions when needed, ensuring feedback is captured and integrated to improve overall audio quality and player experience. Qualifications Basic Qualifications • Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or college or equivalent experience (audio, music, game development, or related field preferred); • Extensive experience in AAA game audio development, including experience in a senior-level role; • Proven experience contributing to or helping lead audio features or disciplines on shipped titles; • Strong expertise in real-time audio systems, including procedural and system-driven implementation; • Deep understanding of mixing workflows, including ducking, sidechaining, and complex mix hierarchies; • Strong knowledge of audio formats and their implications for performance, memory, and user experience; • Experience contributing to the development of audio pipelines and workflows; • Strong understanding of cross-disciplinary dependencies within game development; • Experience participating in debugging, testing, and optimization processes; • Excellent communication, organization, and leadership skills. Desired Characteristics • Strong creative sensibility and passion for interactive audio; • Ability to balance hands-on implementation with leadership responsibilities; • Experience working in systemic or open-world gameplay environments; • Interest or experience in building and scaling teams from early project phases; • Strong mentoring mindset and ability to support team growth over time; • Experience collaborating with external partners or outsourcing pipelines; • Deep understanding of player experience and emotional impact through sound; • Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving production environment; • Interest in evolving workflows and establishing high-quality standards as the project scales.