DSP software engineer

About us:

Detroit Sonavox Inc. is building a world-class automotive audio engineering department in the heart of Silicon Valley, CA and Detroit, MI. We develop advanced DSP amplifier systems, spatial audio solutions, and connected vehicle audio platforms for the world's leading Tier 1 OEM customers. You'll be joining at the ground floor of a growing US engineering team with direct impact on product direction and customer relationships.

Role Overview:

We're looking for a hands-on DSP / Audio Engineer to lead the development, tuning, and optimization of digital signal processing algorithms for our next-generation automotive amplifier and spatial audio products. You'll work across the full stack from algorithm development through to in-vehicle deployment and OEM sign-off.

What you'll do:

• Design and implement DSP algorithms including equalization, dynamic range control, crossover filtering, phase correction, acoustic correction, non-linear processing, spatial processing, time alignment, and loudness management etc. for automotive audio systems
• Design and implement new proprietary algorithms and AI technologies
• Work closely with acoustic engineers to translate target curves, industry standard quality metrics, and psychoacoustic goals into implemented signal processing
• Support spatial audio feature development including HRTF-based binaural processing, virtualization, and object-based audio for Dolby Atmos and OEM proprietary upmixers
• Perform in-vehicle listening evaluations and objective measurement analysis to validate tuning
• Collaborate with OEM engineering teams during integration, tuning reviews, and sign-off
• Contribute to ASPICE-compliant development processes including requirements traceability, design documentation, and verification evidence
• Maintain ‘ICTS / BIS CVS clean’ development with appropriate documentation and evidence

Must have:

• 5+ years of experience in DSP algorithm development, preferably in automotive or consumer/pro audio
• Strong understanding of digital filter design, signal flow architecture, and psychoacoustics
• Hands-on experience with various graphical DSP development environments
• Familiarity with A2B (Automotive Audio Bus) network topology and distributed amplifier architectures
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or C/C++ for algorithm prototyping and analysis
• Experience with low level (Assembly) DSP optimization
• Comfortable working in ASPICE or ISO 26262 regulated development environments
• Strong communication skills — able to present tuning rationale to OEM customers and internal stakeholders
• Awareness of technology access controls relevant to automotive audio IP, including restrictions on toolchain and algorithm provenance under US export control frameworks.

Nice to have:

• Experience with Dolby Atmos for automotive, spatial audio rendering, or HRTF personalization
• Familiarity with AudioReach (Qualcomm's automotive audio framework) or headunit SoC audio pipelines
• Experience developing DSP modules or audio processing graphs within Unreal Engine — including MetaSounds DSP graph authoring, custom DSP node/plugin development in C++, and integration with Unreal's audio rendering pipeline for spatial audio simulation and tuning visualization applications
• Familiarity with Android Automotive OS (AAOS) audio processing architecture and equivalent DSP algorithm deployment patterns, including Qualcomm Audio Calibration and Tuning (QACT) tooling and algorithm integration within the Snapdragon Automotive Audio platform
• Prior OEM-facing engineering experience

ICTS / Regulatory Awareness requirements:

• All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. This role sits within a firewalled US engineering entity and is subject to technology access controls consistent with the BIS Connected Vehicles Rule (15 CFR Part 791)
• Candidates should be aware that DSP algorithm IP, toolchain components, and third-party processing libraries used in connected vehicle applications are subject to supply chain provenance requirements under the BIS Connected Vehicles Rule; experience navigating these constraints — or a demonstrated ability to do so — is essential
• Familiarity with export control implications for DSP algorithm IP and software components with foreign-entity supply chain links is a plus