Job Title:
Hardware Engineer
Client Location:
Cambridge - fully on-site
Starting:
Oct/Nov 25
Pay Comments:
PAYE (40hrs/week)
Minimum Pay (per hour):
40.38
Maximum Pay (per hour):
40.38
Hours:
Full-time
Duration:
12 months
Job Description:
Join a pioneering research and development division, partnered with Aquent, that is at the forefront of creating the future of immersive technologies. This is your chance to profoundly impact how people connect and interact in virtual and augmented worlds. We're seeking a passionate Acoustic Research Engineer to push the boundaries of audio experiences, making virtual sounds indistinguishable from reality and redefining human hearing. Your work will directly enable deeper connections and seamless communication, transforming how individuals feel together, even when physically apart.
**About the Opportunity**
Our innovative audio research team is dedicated to two ambitious goals: crafting virtual sounds that are perceptually identical to real-world audio, and fundamentally enhancing human hearing capabilities. These groundbreaking initiatives are designed to foster profound connections, allowing people to feel truly present with one another and converse effortlessly in any environment. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in conducting advanced acoustic measurements, processing complex audio data, and designing auditory perception experiments. You'll leverage your scientific coding prowess and deep expertise in audio signal processing, audio hardware systems, and acoustics to develop cutting-edge methods and tools within our state-of-the-art audio labs.
This is a 12 months, fully on-site contract, based in Cambridge. This role is open for a limited time. Next steps will be shared with shortlisted candidates by COB Monday 29th Sept. Due to the high volume of applicants, we may be unable to reply to each applicant individually.
**What You'll Do**
* Develop robust systems, intuitive user interfaces, and precise protocols for acquiring and processing acoustic and behavioral data, utilizing Python, MATLAB, and MaxMSP.
* Collaborate seamlessly with multi-disciplinary researchers to integrate sophisticated data acquisition and processing algorithms into diverse platforms.
* Execute meticulous acoustic data collection using complex capture systems, prototype devices, and human subjects within controlled laboratory environments.
* Produce high-quality technical reports that clearly articulate research findings and methodologies.
**What You'll Bring**
**Must-Have Qualifications:**
* Master's degree in a relevant technical field combined with industry experience in audio technology development, or an equivalent blend of education and experience.
* Hands-on experience in designing and conducting audio acoustic experiments within controlled laboratory settings.
* Proven programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or MaxMSP specifically for audio applications.
* A strong, foundational understanding and practical experience in acoustics and audio signal processing.
**Nice-to-Have Qualifications:**
* Expertise in real-time audio coding using C/C++.
* Specialized knowledge in psychoacoustics, auditory perception, spatial audio, room acoustics, and/or physical acoustics.
* Experience utilizing PyTorch or other machine learning frameworks.
* Familiarity with prototype hardware devices.
* Experience with motion tracking systems.
* Proficiency in large-scale automated data collection and analysis.
* Experience in designing and setting up acoustic laboratory spaces.
* A track record of successful collaboration in cross-functional, inter-disciplinary environments.
* Demonstrated ability to author high-quality technical reports and/or publications.
Client Description:
Our Client is the largest social media company in the world. They have substantial B2B and B2C advertising and media platforms, as well as a nonprofit initiative. With the mission of bringing people together, they now boast over 2 billion users, and are rapidly developing as they influence the world around us.
Aquent is dedicated to improving inclusivity & is proudly an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from under-represented groups & are committed to providing support to applicants with disabilities. We aim to provide reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, to those with a medical condition, disability or neurodivergence.