A leading Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturer is looking for a Principal Audio Systems Architect to join their team in Knysna, Western Cape. 

As the Principal Audio Systems Architect, you will own the end-to-end audio pipeline. You will be responsible for designing an ANC system that outperforms current market leaders while ensuring a unique IP path. You will work at the intersection of traditional Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and cutting-edge Deep Learning to create a headset that adapts to the pilot's environment and physical state in real-time

Responsibilities

• Proprietary ANC Development: Architect and implement a high-performance ANC system. Focus on "Deep ANC" to bypass legacy feedback/feedforward patent constraints.
• AI Integration: Design and deploy AI-assisted noise-canceling models, specifically leveraging Convolutional Recurrent Networks (CRNs) for real-time speech enhancement and noise suppression.
• Spatial Audio Architecture: Develop a 3D spatial audio engine to provide pilots with directional audio cues, improving situational awareness in high-stress environments.
• Bio-Sensor Synthesis: Collaborate with our hardware team to integrate heart rate (HR), HRV, and sensors. You will help build the data layer that synthesises these bio-metrics with the audio environment to trigger adaptive noise-canceling profiles.
• IP & Patent Strategy: Work alongside legal counsel to navigate the existing patent landscape, ensuring our DSP methodology is unique and defensible.
• Hardware-Software Co-Design: Influence the selection of SoCs, ADCs/DACs, and microphone arrays to ensure the hardware supports ultra-low latency requirements forDeep ANC.

Required Experience & Skills

• Academic Background: Ph.D. or MS in Electrical Engineering, Acoustics, DSP, or a related field with a heavy focus on audio.
• ANC Mastery: Proven track record of shipping ANC products. You must have a deep understanding of adaptive filters (LMS, NLMS, RLS), control theory, and acoustic feedback paths.
• Deep Learning for Audio: Expertise in training and deploying neural networks for real-time audio (RNNs, LSTMs, and CRNs). Experience with quantisation and optimisation for edge deployment (DSP/NPU).
• Spatial Audio: Deep knowledge of HRTFs (Head-Related Transfer Functions), Ambisonics, and object-based audio for three-dimensional sound staging.
• Acoustic Engineering: Familiarity with the unique acoustic challenges of the aviation environment (high-decibel low-frequency engine noise vs. high-frequency wind noise).
• Tools: Mastery of MATLAB/Simulink, Python (PyTorch/TensorFlow), and C/C++ for embedded DSP.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in the aviation or high-end professional audio industry.
• Understanding of FAA/EASA certification requirements for cockpit electronics.
• Experience with multi-modal sensor fusion (combining audio with physiological data).
• A "hacker" mindset—the ability to look at a locked patent landscape and find a creative, superior way through it.

Requirements 

• 1+ years of Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing experience

• Commute to this job’s location

• 1+ years of work experience with Spatial Audio Production

• 1+ years of work experience with C++

• 1+ years of work experience with Acoustical Engineering

• Master's Degree

• Working in a hybrid setting

Apply for this role today, contact Gaby Turner at [email protected]  or on Linkedin 
You can also visit the Hire Resolve website: hireresolve.us or email us your CV: it [email protected]