At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative audio software and collaborate with a creative team to shape the future of sound.
- Company: Join Sonnox, a leading audio tech company with a passion for music and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private health cover, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Work in a beautiful location with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the music industry while working with cutting-edge audio technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in product design or audio software development is essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Finstock, Oxfordshire
Term: Permanent, Full Time
Salary: Dependent on experience + excellent benefits
About Sonnox
Encourage curiosity. Respect the craft. At Sonnox, our mission is to build trusted, intelligent tools that empower creators to shape music with confidence and clarity. We foster a culture where we pull together, own it, and keep growing, combining a deep respect for the craft of audio with the curiosity needed to innovate.
Role Purpose
We are looking for an Audio Product Designer to help shape the next generation of professional audio mixing and mastering plug‑ins. The role takes product direction and turns it into a finished plug‑in design, bridging the gap between product management and software development. Working at the heart of our technical team, you will collaborate with the Brand & Product Lead, DSP experts, and software developers to translate product direction into actionable concepts that drive the research and development process. You will be responsible for bridging the gap between a functional test build and the finished product, obsessing over the UX details that elevate a prototype into a world‑class Sonnox experience. Success in this role requires seamless integration with both engineering and product stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Concept & UX Design: Translate briefs into design concepts—control sets, signal flow, workflow logic (wireframes)—with rationale for decisions.
- Prototyping & Validation: Build functional prototypes to validate workflow assumptions and demonstrate intent to the engineering team. Lead listening tests and user validation to iterate on the sonic and functional experience.
- Translate Research to Reality: Collaborate with the Lead DSP Developer to turn algorithmic concepts into high‑fidelity musical tools.
- The "Trusted Ear": Collaborate with the Brand & Product Lead to identify the musical and product intent during the prototyping phase.
- Quality Control: Provide the critical link between math and music; when the logic is sound but the audio isn't, you are responsible for diagnosing the issue and articulating the path forward.
- UI Execution: Collaborate with the Brand & Product Lead to define UI behaviour and interaction requirements; providing direction and design review to ensure visual execution matches the product intent; partner with Graphic Design talent to deliver a world‑class final aesthetic.
- QA & Beta Partnership: Support QA/support teams during test planning, beta feedback loops, and bug triage with context, intent, and prioritisation input.
- Knowledge Transfer & Documentation: Champion product knowledge by creating presets, co‑authoring intuitive user documentation, and leading internal training to ensure all teams are equipped to support new releases.
- Post‑Release Evolution: Contribute UX/audio design input to the planning of future updates as well as maintenance cycles and bug‑fix releases.
Experience & Qualifications
Required Experience
- Experience in product design, UX design, or audio software product development.
- Significant time spent in professional audio – production, mixing, mastering, or post – with a credible portfolio of work.
- Demonstrable experience designing software UXs, with examples of taking a project from concept to functional specification.
- Expert‑level experience using DAWs (e.g., Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live) and a deep familiarity with audio plug‑in categories (EQ, Dynamics, Reverb, etc.).
Technical Skills
- Proficient in at least one prototyping environment for audio: Max/MSP, Pure Data, Python with audio libraries, or similar.
- Strong understanding of audio signal flow and the technical principles of music production.
- Excellent technical writing skills for creating user‑facing and internal documentation.
Soft Skills
- Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate technical audio concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
- Collaboration: Ability to work independently while remaining deeply integrated within a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary team.
- Proactivity: A "can‑do" attitude with a willingness to explore unconventional design solutions while maintaining a focus on delivery.
Desirable Skills
- Familiarity with plugin development pipelines (JUCE framework, VST3/AU/AAX).
- Experience conducting formal user research or usability testing.
- Working knowledge of DSP concepts: filter design, dynamics, time and frequency domain manipulation.
- Knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design principles in software.
- Experience with Figma.
- Experience working directly with cross‑functional teams, particularly alongside DSP or software engineering.
About Us
Focusrite plc is a global music and audio group that develops and markets music technology products. Used by audio professionals and amateur musicians alike, our solutions facilitate the high‑quality production of recorded and live sound. Our audio technology brands stand together, seeking to enrich lives through music by removing barriers to creativity – ‘we make music easy to make’.
The Focusrite Group trades under thirteen established and rapidly growing brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Novation, ADAM Audio, Sequential, Oberheim, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, Ampify Music, Linea Research, Sonnox, OutBoard and TiMax. With a high‑quality reputation and a rich heritage spanning decades, its brands are category leaders in the music‑making industry. Music technology is an enriching space to work in and we enjoy a Group‑wide open‑door culture which encourages innovation. This culture, combined with a passion for the inspirational solutions we create, has led to the group winning numerous accolades, including six Queen's Awards, the AIM Company of the Year Award 2021 and regular appearances in 'The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For'.
The Focusrite Group is dedicated to building a great place to work and as an equal opportunity employer we are committed to Diversity and Inclusion. The group mission is to cultivate an equitable culture, internally and externally, where all people feel they are welcome, safe and positively represented, because at Focusrite they truly are. Equally, we recognise the major impact that climate change is having on our world and work every day towards being industry leaders in a carbon neutral future.
Benefits include pension, private health cover and lifestyle benefits. Small company atmosphere with the support of a large group, Beautiful and peaceful location on The Cornbury Estate in Oxfordshire.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Focusrite Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to Diversity and Inclusion. We welcome all qualified applicants and will not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age.
Software Product Designer (Audio) - Sonnox employer: ADAM Audio GmbH
At Sonnox, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that encourages curiosity and innovation in the audio technology space. Located in the serene Cornbury Estate in Oxfordshire, our team enjoys a supportive environment with ample opportunities for professional growth, competitive benefits including private health cover, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Join us to be part of a passionate group dedicated to shaping the future of music technology while enjoying the balance of a small company atmosphere backed by the resources of the Focusrite Group.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Product Designer (Audio) - Sonnox
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the audio industry, attend events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work in product design and audio software. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases your process from concept to final product—this will impress potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and showcasing your knowledge of audio technology. Be ready to discuss your design process and how you’ve tackled challenges in past projects—confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at Sonnox.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Product Designer (Audio) - Sonnox
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Audio:When you're writing your application, let your love for audio shine through! Share your experiences in music production or any projects you've worked on that relate to audio design. We want to see your enthusiasm and how it connects to the role.
Tailor Your Portfolio:Make sure your portfolio is spot on for this role. Highlight projects that showcase your UX design skills and any audio software you've designed. We’re looking for evidence of your journey from concept to finished product, so pick your best work!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain your experience and skills. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for the team.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Sonnox!
How to prepare for a job interview at ADAM Audio GmbH
✨Know Your Audio Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your audio knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with DAWs and audio plug-ins, as well as any projects you've worked on that showcase your design skills. This will help you demonstrate your passion for audio and your understanding of the craft.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Prepare to talk about your design process in detail. Bring examples of your work that illustrate how you've taken a project from concept to functional specification. Highlight your prototyping skills and how you've validated your designs through user testing or feedback.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining technical audio concepts in a way that's easy to understand for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This will show that you can bridge the gap between different teams, which is crucial for the role at Sonnox.
✨Be Ready to Collaborate
Sonnox values collaboration, so be prepared to discuss how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Share examples of how you've integrated feedback from engineers and product leads into your designs, and express your enthusiasm for working in a team-oriented environment.
