Perceptual Audio Evaluation Manager

Meta•Redmond, WA

About The Position

The Wearables Audio Technology Team (WATT) is looking for an experienced leader to manage a team of researchers and engineers in Perceptual Audio Evaluation (PAE) within Audio Experience Team (AXT). In this role you will be leading domain experts, influencing within WATT, and collaborating cross-functionally to deliver audio quality and features in the next generation of Meta devices. The PAE team supports development of new technologies, features, and products in collaboration with audio labs, user experience researchers, algorithm developers, audio hardware engineers, product managers, and other professionals across the company. Our success is based on a data driven development process, combining objective measurements with perceptual audio evaluation to guide trade-offs with focus on customer experience. The Perceptual Audio Evaluation Manager will play a critical role in developing leading class audio performance for all Reality Labs products.

Requirements

Bachelor’s in Acoustics, Electrical Engineering, Sound Design, Behavioral Science, or similar field
2+ years of experience leading and managing Engineering or Research teams
8+ years of experience in perceptual evaluation and statistics, influencing cross-functional teams and leadership for the improvement of consumer products
5+ years of experience in perceptual audio evaluation, psychoacoustics, acoustics, user experience research, field testing or allied fields
Proven track record of developing and validating new evaluation methods or quality metrics
Proven track record of partnering effectively and guiding engineers or researchers through challenges
Proven track record of driving project decision making, influencing behaviors of project team, and resolving conflicts

Nice To Haves

10+ years of experience in perceptual audio evaluation in consumer electronics
5+ years experience in a team lead / research lead capacity
Professional experience in fundamental psychoacoustics or related fields with MSc/PhD preferred
Expertise in setting up user studies to test audio metrics
Experience in delivering professional or consumer audio devices to market
Familiar with end-to-end acoustic and audio processing architectures to create optimal end-user experiences
Demonstrated expertise in relevant statistical analyses and modeling for perceptual data
Experience in driving (ML/AI) model development, from efficient data collection through to validated product impact
Awareness of audio architecture, design, optimization, testing, manufacturing, failure analysis
Proven track record on managing programs, resources, and people to scale research, innovation, and product development
Demonstrated expertise in communication and situational management
Experience publishing research results in academic journals, books and international conferences in alignment with technology and product strategies

Responsibilities

Manage the team’s projects, processes, and resourcing
Allocate and balance resources (including people, budget, skills) to ensure project timelines, goals, and impact are met
Understand how to load balance and anticipate additional resource needs. Identify team resourcing needs and present potential solutions
Lead Engineers and Researchers, develop and mentor less experienced team members
Leverage your technical knowledge, guiding the team to make informed decisions between implementing complex studies and relying on domain expertise
Identify areas for improvement in processes, tools, quality, and overall productivity. Develop and drive strategies to increase functional efficiency
Assist product and technology development teams with audio performance context. Advise product level trade off decisions in collaboration with system/audio PM
Contribute in setting device / feature success metrics and communicating cost / schedule / quality risk vs. customer benefit
Contribute to the strategic direction of the engineering team as well as the organization
Identify, communicate, and drive medium term strategic objectives