Audio Director
Encino, CA
Audio /
Full Time /
Hybrid
Giant Skull is an independent game studio on a mission to craft unforgettable single-player, gameplay-driven action-adventures in rich, immersive worlds. We are currently working on a new game set in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. We are highly collaborative and value empowering autonomy; each individual at Giant Skull has the opportunity to feel their impact across the game, studio, and team. If you’re ready to join a studio where every voice shapes the adventure, we’d love to create something extraordinary together.
The Role
- As the Audio Director you will set the creative vision for audio and lead the team responsible for bringing it to life, from thrilling combat to immersive exploration. You'll push for world-class quality and player experience through thoughtful sound design, while fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and excellence.
Impact and Ownership
- You will define and drive the creative vision for all things related to audio for the game, ensuring the vision aligns with the game’s tone, pacing, and overall direction.
- You will champion an approach to sound that is focused on player experience; crafting audio that enhances clarity, immersion, combat, and emotional storytelling.
- You will build and lead a high-performing internal audio team, mentoring team members and fostering positive team culture and collaboration.
- You will establish and uphold world-class quality standards across gameplay, environment, narrative, and systemic audio.
- You will oversee external development strategy for audio; managing relationships with contractors and vendors as needed to ensure effective pipelines, communication, and high quality results.
- You will be responsible for overseeing in-game dialogue and VO implementation, ensuring high quality, timely results and final mixes that sound great.
- You will work closely with composers, ensuring music is implemented in the game and enhances player experience.
- You will design and implement sound using industry-standard tools (e.g. Wwise, FMOD) and help shape scalable pipelines and technical workflows.
- You will collaborate closely across disciplines to ensure audio is fully integrated and supports the player experience.
- You will make thoughtful, decisive calls on style, scope, and fidelity, while balancing ambition with execution to deliver on time and at quality.
- You will represent audio in studio leadership forums, helping shape production strategy and advocating for the tools, talent, and resources your team needs.
- You will cultivate a healthy, inclusive team culture where creativity, accountability, and open communication thrive.
Qualifications
- Significant experience in game audio leadership (Audio Director or equivalent), ideally with multiple shipped video game titles.
- Proven ability to define and deliver a compelling audio vision that enhances gameplay and narrative across an entire game.
- Demonstrated success in building and scaling high-performing creative teams, including hiring, mentoring, and structuring departments.
- Ability to work on-site/hybrid at our physical studio based in Encino, California.
- Deep expertise in sound design, mixing, and implementation, with hands-on experience using middleware like Wwise or FMOD.
- Strong cross-functional leadership skills, with a history of collaborating effectively across disciplines.
- A passion for immersive storytelling and player experience, and a high bar for quality, polish, and emotional impact.
- Experience managing vendors or outsourcing partners, and integrating their work into internal pipelines.
Why Join Giant Skull
- You will collaborate with a passionate team of AAA veterans from studios like Epic, Respawn, Rocksteady, Riot, and more on exciting and ambitious gaming projects.
- You will enjoy a development process that balances collaborative teamwork with a high degree of individual autonomy.
- You will benefit from competitive compensation, access to cutting-edge technology and resources to support your work, as well as opportunities for career growth, personal and professional development.
- Your ultimate impact will be unconstrained by your focus areas. You will have the opportunity to shape not only the game we are making but the foundation of our studio and development cultures, best practices, team collaboration, and beyond.
- You will add to a deeply inclusive workplace where every team member is valued and respected.
Compensation
- For this position, our target base salary range is $180,000 to $250,000. Ranges may expand based on experience and location. Salary is just one aspect of our overall compensation package. We also offer opportunities for bonuses, retirement plan matching, and comprehensive benefits. We’re excited to share more about how we invest in our team during the interview process.
