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 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.
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: 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: Exceptional ability to communicate technical audio concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Ability to work independently while remaining deeply integrated within a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team. 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.
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.
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.
Software Product Designer (Audio) - Sonnox employer: The Focusrite Group
At Sonnox, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that encourages creativity and collaboration in the heart of Oxfordshire. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our open-door policy and dedication to innovation, providing unique opportunities for our team to shape the future of professional audio. With excellent benefits, including private health cover and a picturesque working environment on The Cornbury Estate, we ensure that our employees feel valued and inspired every day.
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 potential colleagues 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 hiring managers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to audio product design. Think about how you can demonstrate your understanding of UX principles and your experience with DAWs—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 by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Sonnox team and contributing to our mission.
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 aligns with our mission at Sonnox.
Tailor Your Portfolio:Make sure your portfolio is spot on for the Software Product Designer role. Highlight projects that showcase your UX design skills and any experience with audio software. We’re looking for evidence of your journey from concept to finished product, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your written application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain your design process and decisions. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your thought process and technical skills.
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 The Focusrite Group
✨Know Your Audio Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your audio knowledge before the interview. Familiarise yourself with different audio plug-in categories and be ready to discuss your experience with DAWs like Pro Tools or Logic Pro. This will show that you’re not just a designer, but someone who truly understands the craft.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Prepare to talk about your design process in detail. Bring examples of your previous work that demonstrate how you've taken a project from concept to functional specification. Be ready to explain your rationale behind design decisions, especially in relation to UX and audio functionality.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, highlight your collaboration skills. Share examples of how you've successfully worked with engineers or product managers in the past. Emphasising your ability to communicate technical concepts clearly will set you apart.
✨Be Ready for Prototyping Questions
Expect questions about your prototyping experience. Be prepared to discuss the tools you’ve used, like Max/MSP or Python, and how you’ve validated your designs through user testing. Showing that you can iterate based on feedback will demonstrate your commitment to creating world-class products.
