At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive research-to-production work in audio/video signal processing and enhance media quality.
- Company: Join Spotify, a leader in media technology with a focus on inclusivity.
- Benefits: Flexible work options, competitive salary, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how millions experience music and video.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in applied research, strong skills in Python and C++, and media expertise.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Senior Applied Research Engineer who brings deep research expertise and strong engineering skills across both audio and video. In this role, you will help advance how Spotify understands, evaluates, and improves media experiences across platforms. You’ll work across the full media pipeline—from backend processing such as ingestion, encoding, and delivery to frontend playback, buffering, and synchronization—solving product problems with research discipline: structured experiments, solid metrics, and evidence-based decisions, in a real production environment.
What You’ll Do
- Own research-to-production work across audio/video signal processing, perceptual quality, and media intelligence.
- Partner with teams to integrate prototypes into production systems and decision‑making across areas like music and video information retrieval and quality-aware processing.
- Work across the full media pipeline, from encoding and delivery to playback, buffering, and synchronization.
- Build evaluation frameworks and support media platform and codec decisions grounded in measurement.
- Design perceptual studies, develop tooling that connects quality metrics to real user experience outcomes.
- Collaborate with multi‑functional teams, turning research insights into scalable capabilities used across Spotify.
- Help improve how we evaluate and enhance media quality across the platform.
- Drive high‑impact initiatives from idea through to measurable outcomes.
Who You Are
- You have 8+ years of experience in applied research and engineering in media technology, audio, or video.
- You bring deep expertise in audio and/or video, with working knowledge across both domains.
- You understand media systems end‑to‑end, from backend processing through to client‑side playback.
- You have strong foundations in signal processing and experience with perceptual quality or feature design.
- You are comfortable working in Python and have experience with C++ or similar languages.
- You have experience running perceptual evaluations or quality benchmarking.
- You enjoy building systems that move from research into real‑world impact.
- You collaborate effectively across disciplines and communicate complex ideas clearly.
- You are curious, pragmatic, and motivated by solving meaningful problems.
Where You’ll Be
This role is based in London or Stockholm. We offer you the flexibility to work where you work best! There will be some in‑person meetings, but still allows for flexibility to work from home.
Spotify is an equal opportunity employer. You are welcome at Spotify for who you are, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what’s playing in your headphones. Our platform is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward‑thinking! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our differences that we will find the power to keep revolutionizing the way the world listens. At Spotify, we are passionate about inclusivity and making sure our entire recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We have ways to request reasonable accommodations during the interview process and help assist in what you need. If you need accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know - we’re here to support you in any way we can.
Senior Applied Research Engineer - Media Quality employer: Dormont Manufacturing Co
At Spotify, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our London and Stockholm offices provide a flexible environment where you can thrive, with opportunities for professional growth and the chance to make a real impact in media technology. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, making Spotify not just a workplace, but a community where you can truly belong.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Applied Research Engineer - Media Quality
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those at Spotify. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got projects or research that highlight your expertise in audio and video, don’t hesitate to share them during interviews. Real-world examples speak volumes.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical challenges! Brush up on your Python and C++ skills, and be ready to tackle some practical problems related to media quality during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Spotify team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Applied Research Engineer - Media Quality
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your 8+ years of experience in applied research and engineering. We want to see how your background in media technology, audio, or video aligns with what we do at Spotify.
Be Specific About Your Skills:When you mention your skills, be specific! Talk about your expertise in signal processing, Python, and C++. We love seeing how you’ve used these skills in real-world scenarios.
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Mindset:We’re all about solving meaningful problems here at Spotify. Share examples of how you've tackled challenges in your previous roles, especially those that led to measurable outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to get your application and for you to stay updated on your progress. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dormont Manufacturing Co
✨Know Your Media Pipeline
Make sure you understand the full media pipeline, from backend processing to frontend playback. Brush up on your knowledge of encoding, delivery, and synchronization, as these are key areas for the role. Being able to discuss how these components interact will show your depth of understanding.
✨Showcase Your Research Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience with structured experiments and evidence-based decision-making. Bring examples of past projects where you’ve applied research to solve real-world problems, especially in audio or video contexts. This will demonstrate your ability to drive high-impact initiatives.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Tools and Languages
Since the role requires proficiency in Python and familiarity with C++, make sure you can talk about your experience with these languages. If you’ve developed tools for quality metrics or perceptual evaluations, be ready to share specific examples that highlight your technical skills.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
This position involves working with multi-functional teams, so be prepared to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, as this is crucial for turning research insights into scalable capabilities.
