At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead research and engineering to enhance audio/video quality at Spotify.
- Company: Join Spotify, a leader in media technology with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Flexible work options, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how millions experience music and video.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in media tech, strong Python skills, and a passion for problem-solving.
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 Audio/Video Quality Research Engineer employer: Dormont Manufacturing Co
Spotify is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and inclusivity, making it an ideal place for a Senior Audio/Video Quality Research Engineer. With a commitment to employee growth, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge media technology in a flexible environment, whether in London or Stockholm. The collaborative atmosphere encourages diverse perspectives, ensuring that your contributions will have a meaningful impact on how millions experience audio and video content.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Audio/Video Quality Research Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the audio/video industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to media technology. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled real-world challenges in audio/video quality.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Audio/Video Quality Research Engineer
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 deep expertise in audio and video can contribute to our media experiences at Spotify.
Be Specific About Your Skills:When you mention your skills, be specific! Talk about your knowledge in signal processing, Python, and C++. We love seeing how you’ve used these skills in real-world scenarios, so don’t hold back!
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Mindset:We’re all about solving meaningful problems here at Spotify. Share examples of how you've tackled challenges in the past, especially those that moved from research into real-world impact. It’s all about showing us your thought process!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
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 that will likely come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Research Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience with structured experiments and evidence-based decision-making. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've applied research to solve real-world problems in audio or video quality.
✨Demonstrate Technical Proficiency
Since this role requires strong programming skills, be prepared to talk about your experience with Python and C++. You might even want to brush up on some coding challenges to showcase your technical abilities during the interview.
✨Collaborate and Communicate
Highlight your ability to work across multi-functional teams. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated complex ideas and turned research insights into actionable outcomes, as collaboration is crucial for this role.
