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- Tasks: Create immersive horror soundscapes and enhance gameplay with spine-chilling audio.
- Company: Join a passionate indie games studio known for Phasmophobia.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, free lunches, and a training budget for personal growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team where your ideas shape thrilling gaming experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Sound Designer with a strong portfolio in horror games.
- Other info: Hybrid work options and opportunities to attend major industry events.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 40000 £ per year.
We’re an independent games studio best known for creating Phasmophobia, enjoyed by millions of players worldwide. Our team is passionate, creative, and collaborative and we’re looking for someone equally enthusiastic about games to join our growing team. We’re a small, friendly team that values creativity, openness, and personal growth. Whether you’re helping various departments or talking about your favourite horror game, you’ll be part of a supportive environment where passion and curiosity are celebrated. You’ll be joining a small but ambitious team where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your development truly matters.
About the role:
Kinetic Games is looking for a Sound Designer with a keen ear for realism and strong creative ability, to help build the audio experience of Phasmophobia. You will craft terrifying, atmospheric soundscapes, tactile interactions and be responsible for creating memorable immersive experiences. As a Sound Designer, you will use your skills and technical understanding to ensure every door squeak, footstep in the dirt, flickering light and paranormal encounter amplifies the fear at the heart of Phasmophobia.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Ensure high quality horror audio design, understand spatial audio concepts such as occlusion, obstruction and real-time effects to heighten realism and fear.
- Record, create and implement compelling sound effects, ambience, and ghost audio that intensify horror and enhance gameplay immersion.
- Collaborate with design, art, and programming teams to integrate audio seamlessly with mechanics, environments, and narrative elements.
- Be conscious of asset optimisation, understand audio pipelines and file organisation.
Requirements:
- Professional experience as a Sound Designer with at least one shipped title.
- Strong understanding of middleware concepts, systems and workflows preferably in Wwise.
- Experience working directly in-engine (preferably Unity).
- Thorough working knowledge of spatial audio concepts, VR, 3D audio.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating atmospheric, tension-building audio, foley, physics audio within horror games or media.
- Expertise ideally in Reaper or other DAWs such as Cubase, Pro Tools, or Logic Pro for editing, mixing, and mastering.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Ability to work with linear media to spec, trailers, promotional material etc.
- Passion for horror games and a deep appreciation of sound’s role in evoking tension.
- Eligibility to work in the UK.
- Due to our office location, the ability to drive is highly recommended.
Nice to have:
- Previous work on co-op or emergent gameplay titles.
- Field recording and foley artistry skills for creating bespoke horror assets.
- Experience composing music or working closely with composers for tension-driven soundtracks.
- Familiarity with version control systems such as Perforce, Plastic or Git.
Benefits:
- Weekly free team lunches – good food, great company!
- Regular social events – we love bringing our teams together!
- Hybrid & flexible working options.
- Flextime – because life doesn’t always fit 9–5.
- Opportunities to travel to amazing industry events like GDC, Gamescom, TwitchCon (EU & US), EGX & Develop: Brighton.
- Relocation package to help you settle in.
- Employee of the Month vouchers.
- Training & Development Budget – invest in your growth with courses, conferences & learning resources.
- 30 days holiday, including your birthday and a dedicated wellbeing day.
- Christmas studio shutdown – enjoy the holidays, on us!
The pay range for this role is: 35,000 - 40,000 GBP per year (UK Office).
Sound Designer in Southampton employer: Kinetic Games
Contact Detail:
Kinetic Games Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sound Designer in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get your portfolio in shape! Make sure it showcases your best work, especially any atmospheric soundscapes or horror audio you've created. We want to see how you can amplify the fear factor!
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Join gaming forums, attend industry events, and connect with other sound designers. We love meeting passionate people, so don’t be shy about reaching out to us through our website!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your favourite horror games and how sound plays a role in them. Show us your enthusiasm for the genre and how you can contribute to our team.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on audio tech! Familiarise yourself with the latest tools and middleware like Wwise and Unity. We value creativity and technical skills, so show us you’re on top of your game!
We think you need these skills to ace Sound Designer in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Sound Design: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for sound design and horror games shine through. Share your experiences and what excites you about creating immersive audio experiences, especially in a game like Phasmophobia.
Tailor Your Portfolio: Make sure your portfolio highlights your best work relevant to horror games. Include examples that showcase your skills in creating atmospheric soundscapes and tension-building audio, as this will really grab our attention!
Be Clear and Organised: We love a well-structured application! Keep your CV and cover letter clear and concise, making it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience. Use bullet points where necessary to highlight key achievements.
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, we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kinetic Games
✨Know Your Sound Design Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your sound design skills, especially in horror games. Be ready to discuss your portfolio and how your previous work aligns with the atmospheric soundscapes needed for Phasmophobia. Highlight specific examples where your audio design heightened tension or created memorable experiences.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Tools
Since the role requires knowledge of middleware like Wwise and experience in Unity, ensure you're comfortable discussing these tools. If you’ve worked with DAWs like Reaper or Pro Tools, be prepared to share how you've used them in past projects to create immersive audio.
✨Show Your Passion for Horror Games
This studio values enthusiasm for horror games, so don’t hold back! Share your favourite horror titles and discuss what makes their sound design effective. This will show that you not only have the skills but also a genuine passion for the genre.
✨Be Ready to Collaborate
Collaboration is key in this role, so think of examples where you've worked with other departments, like design or programming. Discuss how you integrated audio with gameplay mechanics and narrative elements, showcasing your ability to work in a team-oriented environment.
