Sr. Sound Designer (Contract/Fixed Term)

What's the one game you couldn't put down? The game that connected you with friends, and made you feel like you belonged? If a game has ever defined a chapter of your life, then you already know the spark we’re chasing. Our mission is to ignite that same feeling for players; the thrill of competition, the joy of community, and the belonging of finding your own corner of a larger world.

Great games begin with people who dare to dream big. If that sounds exciting, you might be exactly who we’re looking for.

Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers, proud to be creating our first original IP: Arkheron. It is a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where 15 teams of three battle their way up the Tower. In a world built from memories, you will loot powerful items to create and adapt a unique build-out that will change your strategy and combat experience with every Ascension.

The best way to understand our Audio team is in their own words — here’s how they describe their work.

Audio is never an afterthought at Bonfire. We know the true power sound has in our world to inform, immerse and entertain. Our sound design is a source of pride, but our greatest satisfaction stems from our ability to enhance our players' experience by deeply understanding what's important to them at any given moment. The Audio team works closely with our art and design teams to influence almost every aspect of the project, from the initial concept to a player's in-game experience. Whether it's guiding players through critical moment-to-moment strategy, or weaving compelling stories that take on a life of their own, we strive to provide an awesome and memorable sonic experience, with a harmonious balance of clarity and badassery.

As a Senior Sound Designer at Bonfire Studios, you’ll help shape the emotional and aesthetic impact of our games through sound. In this fixed-term contract role (up to 12 months), you’ll work closely with cross-disciplinary teams to craft memorable audio moments, define compelling sonic identities, and bring characters, environments, and gameplay to life.

Whether your strengths lie in storytelling, sound design, or audio systems, this role offers the flexibility to focus on the areas you’re most passionate about while enhancing the player experience in meaningful ways.

YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE BY:

• Designing and implementing high-quality audio assets for characters, environments, combat, abilities, UI, and systems.
• Maintaining a cohesive audio identity that supports a live multiplayer experience.
• Collaborating with designers, engineers, artists, and narrative teams to ensure audio enhances clarity, player feedback, and emotional impact.
• Implementing and iterating on audio content using Wwise and in-engine tools to create dynamic, real-time responses to gameplay.
• Helping shape dynamic mix systems and scalable content pipelines that support frequent updates and seasonal content.
• Participating in playtests and live content reviews to gather feedback and continuously improve the player experience.
• Contributing to an audio culture that values craft, innovation, and sustainability.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU:

• Bring 4+ years of experience as a sound designer in games, ideally with live service or multiplayer titles.
• Have a strong portfolio that demonstrates your ability to craft emotional, immersive, and high-quality audio experiences.
• Are comfortable implementing your work directly using Wwise and game engines such as Unity.
• Understand the unique demands of multiplayer games, including audio legibility, mix clarity, and gameplay readability.
• Thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy working across disciplines.
• Hold a strong passion for games and the creative process.
• Embrace a growth mindset, and are eager to learn, contribute, and iterate over time.
• Are comfortable working in live service environments where content evolves frequently.

THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE ROLE FOR YOU IF:

• You prefer focusing only on asset creation without hands-on implementation in tools like Wwise or Unity.
• You’re most comfortable with one-off projects and less interested in the ongoing iteration required in live service games.
• You prefer working independently, as this role relies on close collaboration with designers, engineers, artists, and narrative partners.
• You find it challenging to adapt audio for clarity and readability in multiplayer settings, where legibility is as important as immersion.
• You’re not interested in playtesting, gathering feedback, or refining your work based on live content needs.

YOU'LL LOVE WORKING AT BONFIRE BECAUSE WE:

• Embrace bold challenges with creativity and courage, making the tough calls to build a game we’re proud to play every day.
• Keep fun at the core: we play Arkheron daily, staying grounded as players. If it’s not more fun than yesterday, we fix it. We don’t chase trends; we listen by playing.
• Stay truly independent, with decisions driven by the team — not by investors or a board.
• Thrive in a culture of passion, trust, and shared ownership; where transparency matters and egos don’t.

The base salary range for this role is $150,000-$160,000. Depending on your experience and level (whether you’re closer to mid-level or principal), your offer may land above or below that range. We don’t just look at years on a résumé — we think about the impact you can have on the team and the game. Of course, compensation at Bonfire goes beyond salary. Every new teammate receives equity, plus a full benefits package and some extra perks to make work (and life) better. When we connect, we’ll happily walk you through the full details.

Want to get a feel for what it’s like to work here? You can check out more about our culture, team, benefits, and perks at www.bonfirestudios.com. And don’t worry — anything you share with us in the application process is just for recruiting and won’t be shared. You can read more in our privacy policy.