At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative audio plug-ins and enhance user experience in professional sound tools.
- Company: Join Sonnox, a creative hub within the Focusrite Group, dedicated to audio 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: Shape the future of audio mixing and mastering while collaborating with passionate experts.
- Qualifications: Experience in product design or audio software development with a strong portfolio.
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.
As a proud member of the Focusrite Group, we are entering an ambitious new chapter of growth, seeking to evolve our brand and scale our impact with innovative new projects in intelligent DSP that offer our team unique opportunities to define the future of professional sound.
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.
Skills and Experience Required
- 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 of Figma.
- Experience working directly with cross‑functional teams, particularly alongside DSP or software engineering.
Benefits and EEO Statement
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.
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.
Software Product Designer (Audio) - Sonnox employer: Focusrite
At Sonnox, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions creativity and innovation in the audio industry. Our collaborative work culture encourages curiosity and respect for the craft, while our beautiful location in Oxfordshire offers a peaceful environment conducive to inspiration. With excellent benefits, including private health cover and opportunities for professional growth within the Focusrite Group, we empower our team to shape the future of professional sound.
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 and design community, attend meetups or webinars, and don’t be shy about sliding into DMs. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings at Sonnox or other cool companies.
✨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 is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and UX principles. Be ready to discuss your design decisions and how they relate to audio production. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly—communication is key!
✨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 genuinely interested in joining the Sonnox team. Don’t forget to follow up after applying—it shows initiative!
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 production, mixing, or mastering, and how they’ve shaped your design perspective. We want to see that you’re not just a designer, but someone who truly understands the craft.
Tailor Your Portfolio:Make sure your portfolio is relevant to the role. Highlight projects that showcase your UX design skills in audio software. We’re looking for examples that demonstrate your ability to take concepts from idea to execution, so pick your best work that aligns with what we do at Sonnox.
Be Clear and Concise:In your written application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language to explain your design process and decisions. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point, showing us you can communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical folks.
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 reaches the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Sonnox and contributing to our mission of empowering creators.
How to prepare for a job interview at Focusrite
✨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 show your passion for the craft and your understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Prepare to walk through your design process during the interview. Bring examples of your work that highlight how you've taken a project from concept to functional specification. This will demonstrate your ability to translate product direction into actionable designs, which is key for the role.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, be ready to discuss your collaboration experiences. Share specific examples of how you've successfully integrated feedback from different stakeholders, like engineers or product leads, to enhance your designs.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about Sonnox's current projects and future goals. This shows your genuine interest in the company and helps you understand how you can contribute to their mission of building intelligent tools for creators.
