Company Overview |

Frontier is on a mission to make hundreds of millions of critical frontline workers superhuman through a hardware and software AI voice wearable. The company, which is headquartered in Chicago and in stealth mode, has multimillion dollar contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and just raised $4.7M in funding from tier 1 investors, including the first investor in Oculus. The company has more than 10 of the most critical U.S. companies as paid pilot customers, including the largest U.S. steel company and two of the top five U.S. airlines. It has an extremely talented and ambitious team committed to building one of the most foundational companies of the 21st century.

Job Description |

Frontier is looking for a Founding Audio Systems and DSP Engineer who wants to do the most important work of their life. The selected individual will own the digital and physical sides of the audio systems enabling Frontier's wearables (think headphones, earbuds, glasses) and their work will have extreme impact on the productivity, safety, and comfort of the critical frontline workers and warfighters powering and protecting the world. Being scrappy, resourceful, and flexible is critical to this role and it is 100% in-person in Chicago. Expected compensation is $80K-160K base, way-above-market equity, relocation support, and good benefits. This role is ideal for someone who wants to (1) be a cornerstone member of a rapidly growing team and (2) do critically important work for an underserved end-user group, and (3) iterate rapidly on the cutting edge of audio and AI.

Responsibilities |

Drive audio system design, architecture, and algorithms/DSP to create incredible wearable/hearable acoustic experiences
Innovate in challenging areas including speech pick-up, accurate transparency pass-through, and active noise cancellation in extreme noise environments
Full design cycle from simulating acoustic systems to rapidly prototyping in the physical and digital domains to testing and listening
Solve challenging acoustic system problems around form factor & comfort, battery life, high noise environments, processing speed, sound quality, the end-user experience, etc.
Build out state of the art acoustic testing capabilities and accompanying systems
Creating audio system prototypes/demos for internal and external use cases
Empirically and subjectively tune, measure, and analyze, and conduct critical listening
Select, evaluate, test, and develop speaker drivers, microphones, vents, and other components, working closely with Frontier's contract manufacturering partner as projects reach mass production
Collaborating with mechanical, DSP, and electrical/hardware engineers

Qualifications |

Required

Dedication to creating products stretching the boundaries of possible
2+ years of experience designing acoustic systems for wearables (headphones/earbuds)
5+ years of experience with acoustic test and measurement and systems such as like Audio Precision, Clio, Klippel, or SoundCheck/Listen.
3+ years of experience working closely with audio algorithms and digital signal processing
Proficient knowledge around audio ASICs, transducers, microphones, amplifiers, and DSP
Proficient understanding of acoustics and psychoacoustics and strong critical listening
Strong understanding of capabilities/experiences/systems on market and the cutting edge of wearable audio research
Self-driven engineer who can independently prioritize and “get things done”
Must have ability to be qualified to work in the U.S. in less than 3 months and have no restrictions for international travel
Ability to commute to Frontier Audio Labs’ Chicago office on a daily basis

Preferred

5+ years of experience in acoustic wearables/hearables (headphones, earbuds, hearing aids, etc.)
Experience implementing adaptive active noise cancellation, transparency, or other cutting edge modes
5+ years of experience developing algorithms / DSP
Experience working with Qualcomm, GreenWaves, ADI, or Airoha chipsets
3+ years of psychoacoustics experience

Members of our engineering team have degrees in Acoustics or a similar field (mechanical or electrical engineering, physics, etc.), but if you have taken a different route to gain the required experience, that is acceptable

Frontier Audio Labs evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

In addition to applying through Indeed, you should also email your resume, answers to the questions on Indeed, and your portfolio to pmoeckel@frontieraudio.com.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Professional development assistance
Relocation assistance
Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

Please describe your audio system experience with specific examples of what you have worked on.
Please describe your audio algorithm/DSP experience with specific examples of what you have worked on.
Please confirm you are willing to relocate to Chicago (w/ relocation assistance).

Work Location: In person

Frontier Audio Labs

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Founding Audio Systems and DSP Engineer