Feature Lead Augmented Hearing (RL Research Audio), Research Scientist

At Meta’s Reality Labs Research, our goal is to make world-class consumer virtual, augmented, and mixed reality experiences. Come work alongside industry-leading scientists and engineers to create the technology that makes VR and AR pervasive and universal. Join the adventure of a lifetime as we make science fiction real and change the world. We are a world-class team of researchers and engineers creating the future of augmented and virtual reality, which together will become as universal and essential as smartphones and personal computers are today. And just as personal computers have done over the past 45 years, AR and VR will ultimately change everything about how we work, play, and connect.

We are developing all the technologies needed to enable breakthrough Smartglasses, AR glasses and VR headsets, including optics and displays, computer vision, audio, graphics, brain-computer interfaces, haptic interaction, eye/hand/face/body tracking, perception science, and true telepresence. Some of those will advance much faster than others, but they all need to happen to enable AR and VR that are so compelling that they become an integral part of our lives.

The Audio team within RL Research is looking for an experienced, innovative Research Scientist acting as an Augmented Hearing Feature Lead, with a specialty in audio processing to join our growing team. You will be directing applied research in technologies that improve listener’s hearing abilities under challenging listening conditions, with a team of dedicated researchers, developers, and engineers. You will operate at the intersection of acoustics, hearing and signal processing algorithms with hardware and software co-design.Feature Lead Augmented Hearing (RL Research Audio), Research Scientist Responsibilities

• Oversee and set direction for technology development in close collaboration with researchers and engineers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across scientific and engineering disciplines and ensure the team is aligned on a well-defined research direction and goals.
• Transform technology requirements to research goals for discrete technologies, including productization, maturation, optimization, implementation under limited compute requirements.
• Deliver research goals against the team’s roadmap, ensuring execution against the goals and timelines.
• Communicate strategy and project objectives with the team.
• Collaborate with and support other research scientists and engineers within the audio team and the larger RL Research organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in Experimental Psychology, Audio, Acoustics, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Perception, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience directing research and development in scientific/engineering product development.
• Experience with and track record of managing research and technology transfer in an industrial setting.
• Experience developing technology specifications under limited compute capacity.
• Experience with cross-team collaboration in developing research and/or product roadmap.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with auditory perception, hearing sciences, machine learning, or research in microphone-array audio capture.
• Proven track record of achieving significant results and innovation as demonstrated by first-authored publications and/or patents.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in developing hardware and software technologies into research or consumer products in time bound and multi-partner initiatives.

LocationsAbout Meta Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics. Meta is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations) in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected]. $213,000/year to $293,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Individual pay is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base salary, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.