Principal Acoustic Engineer

Sonos, Inc.; Hilversum; Hybrid; EUR 94,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonos, Inc. is seeking a Principal Acoustic Engineer to lead the design and integration of passive acoustics and transducer systems for our next-generation audio products.

You will bridge acoustic simulation, loudspeaker design, and physical transducer development, owning the passive acoustic domain and enclosure integration. You will work with audio and mechanical teams to deliver premium soundbars and AiOs, optimize waveguides, phase plugs, and high-frequency drivers, and translate simulations

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 7+ years of acoustic engineering experience with consumer or premium audio products.
• Deep knowledge of waveguide theory, horn loading, boundary interactions, and enclosure design.
• Strong foundation in transducer components—high-frequency domes, voice coils, phase plug synthesis, motor topologies.
• Advanced experience with acoustic simulation and multi-physics software (e.g., COMSOL).
• Experience with acoustic measurement systems (Klippel, Audio Precision, SoundCheck) and rapid prototyping (3D printing, CNC).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end concept, design, and optimization of passive acoustic elements (waveguides, horns, ports, enclosure boundaries).
• Design, simulate, and validate high-frequency driver assemblies and phase plugs for optimal directivity and frequency response.
• Solve complex acoustic boundary challenges for traditional and collinear/novel driver designs.
• Utilize acoustic modeling tools to optimize beamwidth, directivity, and overall performance before prototyping.
• Collaborate with audio systems, mechanical, and industrial design teams to integrate acoustics into premium products.
• Refine internal waveguide design tools and contribute to mass production readiness.

Skills

Acoustic engineering

Waveguide theory

Transducer design

Acoustic simulation

Measurement systems

Prototype fabrication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics or related field

Tools

COMSOL

Klippel

Audio Precision

SoundCheck

3D printing

CNC

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
Location: Nieuw-vennep - Hybrid (3 days)
Salary: €94,000 - €117,000
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

• Experience: 7+ years of experience in acoustic engineering, with a proven track record of shipping high-volume consumer audio or premium professional audio products.
• Education: A Bachelor's degree of Engineering, Physics or related subject
• 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.