Electrical Engineer with Audio

Sigma Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401(k)

401(k) matching

Life insurance

FSA

HSA

Employee Assistance Program

Referral program

Disability insurance (CA)

Job summary

Sigma Connectivity is seeking an enthusiastic Audio Electrical Engineer to drive design and debugging of the complete audio chain, from codecs to microphones, across cross-functional teams. You will contribute to new audio technologies and test readiness for production, communicating complex concepts clearly and effectively.

The ideal candidate has strong data-driven design, hands-on verification, and a passion for high-quality audio.

Qualifications

• BS in EE, Physics, Acoustics or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience focused on audio system design with leadership experience.
• Proficient in designing and debugging analog and digital circuits.
• Experience with SPICE simulation, Audio Precision, OrCAD or Cadence or similar tools.
• Experience with PCBA and product-level failure modes (production and field).

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and debug all circuits for the audio chain (codecs, embedded DSPs, headphone amps, speaker amps, microphones).
• Define and develop new audio technologies in audio ICs.
• Lead cross-functional interfaces with PD/PM/ID/EE/MTE/SWE/etc.
• Set electrical performance targets using literature- and data-driven design goals.
• Perform holistic audio system design, definition, and ownership (render/capture/amplifier/power delivery/audio chain).
• Collaborate with internal/external specialized teams.
• Develop POC demos to demonstrate performance and gain cross-functional buy-in.
• Design and specify product factory test procedures.

Skills

Audio system design

Cross-functional leadership

Analog & digital circuits

SPICE simulation

PCB layout

Education

BS in EE or Physics

MS/PhD in EE or Physics

Tools

OrCAD/Cadence

Audio Precision

Job description

Sigma Connectivity is a design house with a heritage in mobile phone development at Sony Ericsson and Sony. We are a team of 600 talented engineers with a main office in Lund, Southern Sweden. Primarily, we run in-house projects focused on connected products in consumer electronics and IoT. We have the capability in terms of people, expertise, and labs to realize the most demanding products on the market. In the US, we have operations in San Jose, San Diego, and Seattle. Our San Diego office is close to Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, and our San Jose office is just by the San Jose airport. As a fast-growing company, we are constantly looking for open-minded, talented people who want to join our journey. The Sigma Connectivity company culture is about sharing experiences and knowledge, and with a Scandinavian work culture, we strive for work-life balance and taking care of people. Within Sigma Connectivity, you will never work alone.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Sigma Connectivity is looking for an enthusiastic, hands-on Audio Electrical Engineer. The successful candidate will be an instinctive engineer who involves their head, heart, and hands in the design process. We are looking for meaningful experience in all aspects of consumer-product audio system design - from building early proof-of-concept technologies and developing and testing products, through to production readiness. The ideal engineer employs data-driven design, objective and subjective audio evaluation, and a common-sense mindset to complex engineering challenges. The best fit for the role will be a gregarious communicator who can clearly and concisely describe audio activities and relate qualitative experience to quantitative data. The points below describe a strong candidate; however, we highly value motivation, work ethic, and enthusiasm. If you don’t fit this profile but believe you are right for this position, we still want to hear from you.

RESPONSIBILIES

• Architect, design, and debug all circuits for the audio chain (including codecs, embedded DSPs, headphone amps, speaker amps, and microphones)
• Define and develop new audio technologies in audio ICs.
• Primary cross-functional interface with PD/PM/ID/EE/MTE/SWE/etc.
• Define electrical performance targets using literature- and data-driven design goals.
• Holistic audio system design, definition, and ownership (i.e., render/capture/amplifier/power delivery/audio chain).
• Collaboration with internal/external specialized teams.
• Develop POC demos to demonstrate performance and gain cross-functional and leadership buy-in.
• Product factory test design and specification.

Required Qualifications:

• BS in EE, Physics, Acoustics, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience focused on audio system design, influencing cross-functional teams and leadership for the improvement of audio
• Proficient in designing and debugging Analog and Digital circuits
• Product development utilizing: SPICE simulation (filter design, frequency analysis, transient analysis), Audio Precision, OrCAD or Cadence (or similar schematic capture and PCB layout tool)
• Experience with PCBA and product-level failure modes (production and field)

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in EE or Physics
• Experience in transducer design (speakers, microphones, MEM's, etc) and acoustic test development (lab, factory)
• Understanding of transistor-level IC design and silicon manufacturing process
• Understanding of design, testing, algorithm prototyping, as well as algorithm and audio chain prototyping and demos
• Experience in audio speech quality testing, optimization, and tuning (using B&K or ACQUA)
• Experience in Bluetooth audio design or debugging
• Personal project experience with: Speaker enthusiast, audio hobbyist, musician/production/recording, instrument design, or something completely unexpected

Soft Skills:

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work in fast-paced, client-facing environments
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Adaptability to changing requirements and priorities
• Team player
• Proactiveness in collaboration and execution
• Flexibility to switch technical context
• Willingness to learn new methods/tools/processes
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and take ownership
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The annual salary range for this role is $140,000 – $170,000
• The Annual Salary depends upon various job-related factors such as professional background, training, work experience, location, business needs, and market demand. This range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
• Sigma Connectivity, Inc. also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following:
• Paid Time off/Vacation and Paid Holidays
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Healthcare and Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee and Customer Referral Program
• For positions in California, long-term and short-term disability insurance