Principal Acoustic Engineer

Sonos, Inc.; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonos, Inc. is seeking a Principal Acoustic Engineer to lead the design and integration of passive acoustic elements and mid/high frequency transducer systems across our next-generation audio products.

You will own passive acoustic domains, optimize waveguides, horns, and enclosure boundaries, and ensure seamless transducer-waveguide integration to achieve optimal directivity and distortion characteristics.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of hands-on acoustic engineering experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics is required.
• Master's degree in Science/Engineering with emphasis in audio/acoustics is desirable.
• Deep knowledge of waveguide theory, horn loading, boundary interactions, and port/enclosure design.
• Strong foundation in high-frequency transducer design including domes, voice coils, phase plugs, and motor topologies.
• Proficiency with acoustic simulation and multi-physics software (e.g., COMSOL).
• Experience with acoustic measurement systems (e.g., Klippel, Audio Precision, SoundCheck) and rapid prototyping.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end concept, design, and optimization of passive acoustic elements (waveguides, horns, ports, slot-loaded geometries).
• Design, simulate, and validate high-frequency driver assemblies and phase plugs for optimal directivity and frequency response.
• Apply advanced source manipulation techniques for compact, high-performance systems.
• Use acoustic modeling tools (FEA/BEM) to optimize beamwidth and directivity before prototyping.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate acoustic architectures into Sonos products.
• Develop internal expertise and refine waveguide design tools for novel acoustic problems.

Skills

Passive Acoustic Expertise

Transducer & HF Knowledge

Simulation Proficiency

Measurement & Validation

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics

Master's degree in Science/Engineering (audio/acoustics)

Tools

COMSOL

Klippel

Audio Precision

SoundCheck

Job description

At Sonos we want to create the ultimate listening experience for our customers and know that it starts by listening to each other. As part of the Sonos team, you’ll collaborate with people of all styles, skill sets, and backgrounds to realize our vision while fostering a community where everyone feels included and empowered to do the best work of their lives.

Principal Acoustic Engineer: Passive Acoustics & Transducer Integration

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Acoustic Engineer to lead the design and integration of passive acoustic elements and mid/high frequency transducer systems across our next-generation audio products.

In this role, you will bridge the gap between advanced acoustic simulation, loudspeaker systems design, and physical transducer development. You will own the passive acoustic domain of loudspeaker architectures including but not limited to: waveguides, horns, slot-loading, load plate, phase plugs, and enclosure elements. A critical part of this role involves solving complex boundary problems, enclosure pressure fields, and optimizing high-, mid-, and wide-bandwidth driver performance and enclosure integration. You will be instrumental in elevating our technical capabilities in high-frequency source manipulation, particularly for soundbars, multi-channel loudspeakers, and unique loudspeaker architectures of the future.

What You Will Do

• Passive Acoustic Architecture: Lead the end-to-end concept, design, and optimization of passive acoustic elements including: custom waveguides, horns, ports, slot-loaded geometries, and enclosure acoustic boundaries.

• Transducer Integration & Phase Plug Design: Design, simulate, and validate high-frequency driver assemblies and phase plugs. Ensure seamless acoustic coupling between transducers and waveguides to achieve optimal directivity, frequency response, and distortion characteristics.

• Source Manipulation & Advanced Geometries: Solve complex acoustic boundary challenges for traditional drivers, collinear designs, asymmetric acoustic designs, to name a few. Must be capable of applying advanced source manipulation techniques for compact, high-performance systems.

• Acoustic Simulation & Modeling: Utilize advanced acoustic modeling tools (FEA/BEM) to optimize beamwidth, directivity, and overall acoustic performance prior to physical prototyping. Must then correlate simulation with actual devices with an emphasis on the physical end result.

• Strategic Development: Help elevate the team’s internal expertise in high-frequency elements and wide-bandwidth drivers. Leverage and refine our internal automated waveguide design tools. This role should anticipate focus on highly constrained and/or novel acoustic problems.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with audio systems engineers, mechanical engineers, industrial designers, and the broader audio team to integrate acoustic architectures into premium soundbars, All in One loudspeakers (AiOs), and home theater products.

What You Will Need

• Education:

  • Required - A Bachelor's degree of Engineering or Physics

  • Desired - A Masters Degree of Science/Engineering with an emphasis in audio and acoustics.

• Experience: 12+ years of hands-on experience in acoustic engineering, with a proven track record of shipping high-volume consumer audio or premium professional audio products.

• Passive Acoustic Expertise: Deep theoretical and practical knowledge of waveguide theory, horn loading, boundary interactions, and port/enclosure design.

• Transducer & HF Knowledge: Strong foundation in transducer component design—specifically high-frequency domes, voice coils, phase plug synthesis, and motor topologies.

• Simulation Proficiency: Advanced experience with acoustic simulation and multi-physics software (e.g., COMSOL) focusing on coupled transducer-waveguide domains.

• Measurement & Validation: Extensive experience with acoustic measurement systems (e.g., Klippel, Audio Precision, SoundCheck) and rapid prototyping techniques (3D printing, CNC) for iterating complex acoustic geometries.

• Problem Solving: A strategic mindset with the ability to identify team knowledge gaps and autonomously drive complex, ambiguous design challenges from concept to mass production

Your profile will be reviewed and you'll hear from us once we have an update. At Sonos we take the time to hire right and appreciate your patience.