Sound Designer

The Opportunity:

The Sound Designer is essential in shaping the sonic identity of our diverse content slate, which includes scripted single-voice productions, high-production-value audio stories, and original music projects. This person is responsible for gathering all sonic elements from pre-production and principal recording, and driving the process through to completion and final delivery. Their involvement with a project, however, begins during development and piloting, during which time they are collaborating with the Producer on building a pilot, experimenting with music, and setting up recording sessions to ensure the highest quality possible. 

The ideal candidate has a strong background in audio engineering, sound design, music composition, and audio editing, with experience in both narrative-driven and music-led productions. They should be adept at balancing creativity with efficiency, capable of handling multiple projects at different stages of production, and comfortable collaborating with producers, writers, and talent.

Key Responsibilities:

Piloting & Production

• Work closely with Producer on devising the tone, style and feel of a show, culminating in a proof of concept pilot which becomes our guide for production
• During pre-production, begin collecting and organizing elements that will be in the final product, including original music, themes, and library material
• In advance of principal recording, set up a tech check with any third part studios and run an audio test, as well as share the specific file specifications for delivering Hatch audio content
• Responsible for ensuring that all audio collected, either in a professional grade studio, or remotely, is aligned with Hatch’s standards of quality
• Oversee recording sessions, monitoring and troubleshooting from a technical perspective as needed

Post-Production Sound Design & Mixing

• Design and implement soundscapes, original music, and effects for scripted single-voice productions and multi-voiced immersive stories.
• Edit and mix dialogue to ensure clarity, natural pacing, and emotional impact.
• Integrate original and library music cues, ensuring seamless transitions and dynamic movement between dialogue, music, and SFX.
• Mix and master final tracks to meet technical specifications and ensure optimal playback across various platforms.

Music Composition & Original Scoring

• Collaborate with producers and composers to create and integrate original music for audio projects, including theme songs and underscore.
• Identify musical moments in scripts and oversee the placement of score and licensed music.
• Work closely with composers and musicians to ensure original compositions align with creative direction.

Workflow & Collaboration

• Work alongside producers and writers in pre-production to anticipate sound design needs and establish sonic direction.
• Provide creative input on scripts and rough cuts to enhance storytelling through sound.
• Maintain organized session files and stems for streamlined revision cycles and final asset delivery.
• Collaborate with the team to establish best practices for post-production workflows.

QC & Delivery

• Deliver final audio assets in the correct formats for both online and hardware listening experiences.
• Ensure all final mixes meet quality, balance, and level standards before entering the Hatch content catalog.
• Conduct final QC on hardware devices, verifying optimal audio experience across all listening environments.

What You’ll Do:

Within 3 Months:

• Master post-production workflows for each content type and establish a rhythm for delivering V1s on schedule.
• Complete at least one full production cycle (from dialogue edit through final mix) for a scripted single-voice or immersive audio project.
• Develop a strong understanding of the team’s music composition process, including how to best collaborate with composers and integrate original music into projects.
• Refine session organization and workflow to ensure efficiency, reducing bottlenecks in revisions and final asset delivery.

Within 6 Months:

• Take ownership of sound design for multiple projects, working across different content types and delivering high-quality, creative audio experiences.
• Identify and document areas for workflow improvements, such as more efficient note-sharing processes or refining how sound libraries are managed.
• Contribute to at least one original music or theme composition, either through direct music production or collaboration with composers.
• Establish a collaborative rhythm with producers and stakeholders, ensuring smooth communication and effective creative execution.

After 1 Year:

• Lead the post-production sound design for a major project, from pre-production planning to final delivery.
• Help refine team-wide sound design best practices and develop reference materials for future sound designers.
• Support the development of a resource library for sound assets, helping to streamline the use of SFX, music cues, and dialogue processing templates.
• Mentor or assist in onboarding junior team members or freelancers, helping scale the sound design function for future growth.
• Innovate within the sound design process, introducing new tools or techniques (such as AI-assisted audio tools or immersive audio formats) that improve efficiency or creative output.

What You’ll Bring:

• 3+ years of experience in sound design, audio editing, or music composition, ideally in podcasting, radio, or immersive audio.
• Expertise in Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, or Reaper, with a deep understanding of mixing and mastering for voice-driven content.
• Strong understanding of music composition, scoring, and sound design techniques for narrative storytelling.
• Ability to balance creative direction with technical execution while meeting structured deadlines.
• Experience in dialogue editing and vocal processing to ensure clarity and performance quality.
• Familiarity with audio asset management, version control, and efficient deliverable formatting.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work across teams of producers, editors, and talent.

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience working with voice actors and musicians in a recording environment.
• Knowledge of spatial or immersive audio formats (e.g., Dolby Atmos, binaural sound design).
• Familiarity with AI-assisted audio tools to optimize workflows.

Why You Will Love Working at Hatch!

• We are certified as A Great Place to Work! 97% of our employees have reported that Hatch is a great place to work.
• We have an amazing leadership team that truly values its employees and lives our company values each and every day.
• We delight our customers with something everyone needs: a good night’s sleep!
• Our team is collaborative, fun, and brilliant!
• You have an opportunity to make a large impact in people’s lives
• We are backed by world class investors including True Ventures and have strong revenue growth.
• We let you take care of what you need by offering a flexible/remote work environment

We also take care of you through our comprehensive compensation package and many other perks and benefits including:

• 100% paid medical, dental, and vision for employees and 80% coverage for dependents
• Meaningful equity
• 401(k) match with no vesting schedule
• 16 weeks paid parental leave for those important moments in life
• 16 free therapy sessions on Samata Health's platform for you and one other adult dependent
• Financial Support for Family Planning
• Remote office allowance
• Monthly Internet reimbursement allowance
• Friends and Family discount on our products
• Discount program from popular brands in travel, entertainment and retail
• Many other spontaneous perks