Junior Sound Designer, Texas Immersive Institute, Moody College of Communication
The University of Texas at AustinJob Posting Title:
Junior Sound Designer, Texas Immersive Institute, Moody College of Communication----
Hiring Department:
Moody College of Communication----
Position Open To:
All Applicants----
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
12----
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt----
Earliest Start Date:
Feb 24, 2026----
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue Until Jun 08, 2026----
Location:
UT MAIN CAMPUS----
Job Details:
General Notes:
Texas Immersive Institute is looking for a junior sound designer for an Interactive Spatial Sound Aquarium project for SNF Nostos. The project will go live in Athens, Greece in June 2026.
The Interactive Spatial Sound Aquarium is a 22m x 6m LED installation premiering at SNF Nostos 2026. Festival visitors design personalized sea creatures via a WebXR app, which are deterministically generated and released into a persistent, Unity-powered digital ocean.
This installation is not a static display — it is a living ecosystem that evolves across 8 days. The soundscape must feel organic, layered, and emotionally resonant while adapting dynamically to fish density, movement, and lifecycle behaviors. The system must support thousands of concurrent users and remain technically stable under continuous operation.
Position Opened To:
Undergraduate and Graduate Students, (NO WORK STUDY)
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
10-12 hours/week
Project Timeline:
March - June 2026
Location:
In-person at the Texas Immersive Lab (CMA 5.102)
Job Details:
We are seeking a Junior Sound Designer to support the development of a spatialized underwater sound environment for a large-scale immersive installation. This role will assist in building and implementing a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound design that feels poetic rather than transactional — enhancing the sense of belonging, emergence, and collective presence within the digital ocean. You will work closely with the Unity Lead, 3D team, and project leadership to integrate procedural and reactive audio into the real-time system. This is an execution-focused role under guidance, ideal for a student or early-career sound designer interested in immersive and interactive media.
Responsibilities:
Sound Design & Asset Creation
Design underwater ambient sound layers (currents, subtle movement, tonal beds).
Create fish-based audio elements (movement textures, group motion cues).
Develop gentle emergence/resurfacing audio moments.
Design density-aware sound layers that evolve as more fish populate the system.
Create short sonic accents tied to lifecycle events.
Spatial Audio Implementation
Assist in building a 5.1 or 7.1 surround output for the LED installation.
Support spatial positioning of fish-generated sounds in Unity.
Work with Unity Lead to implement audio triggers and behaviors.
Optimization & QA
Ensure audio never clips under stress conditions.
Optimize file sizes and playback performance for continuous 8-day operation.
Participate in LED wall and speaker system testing.
Adjust mix based on real-world acoustics of the installation space.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with digital audio workstations (Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, Reaper, etc.)
Understanding of surround sound (5.1 or 7.1) mixing principles
Basic knowledge of spatial audio workflows
Light experience/knowledge exporting audio for Unity integration
Strong ear for ambient and atmospheric sound design
Attention to detail in levels, dynamics, and layering
Career Competencies
- System and Technology Integration
- Cross Team Integration
- Teamwork
Salary Range:
$20/hr
Required Materials:
Resume
One-page Cover Letter
Link to portfolio or work samples
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Employment Eligibility:
Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and you can perform all of the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.----
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
Students in this position may choose to enroll in the UTSaver voluntary retirement programs.----
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
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Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
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Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
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Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
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E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
- E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
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Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.