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Audio Engineer IS-1001-11
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC, USA
USD 84,601-109,975 / year
Posted on Aug 27, 2025
OPEN DATE: August 26, 2025
CLOSING DATE: September 16, 2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Trust Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
- Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
- Application Deadline
- September 16, 2025
- Department
- Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $84,601 - $109,975 / year
OVERVIEW
This position is located at Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (Folkways) within the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (CFCH). The CFCH is a unit of the Smithsonian that promotes the understanding and sustainability of diverse traditional cultures in the United States and throughout the world. The mission of SFR promotes cultural respect, education, and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, production, preservation, dissemination, and interpretation of music/sound.
This position performs audio engineering work and other technical work in three distinct areas: mastering and sound coordination for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, collaborating with the Archivist of the Ralph Rinzler Archives and Collections, and the maintenance of all Folkways and other recordings available to the public in a satisfactory and cost-effective manner on media most commonly consumed and used by the general public, or other technology available or yet to be invented. Involves collaborative work with staff members in difference parts of CFCH.
This position performs audio engineering work and other technical work in three distinct areas: mastering and sound coordination for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, collaborating with the Archivist of the Ralph Rinzler Archives and Collections, and the maintenance of all Folkways and other recordings available to the public in a satisfactory and cost-effective manner on media most commonly consumed and used by the general public, or other technology available or yet to be invented. Involves collaborative work with staff members in difference parts of CFCH.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Audio Recording Management: Oversees the audio quality of the mastering of all Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. This includes remote recording where required, the evaluation of the sound quality of submitted prerecorded projects, digital editing with the producer or curator, mastering the final project (or supervising the work in a mastering lab), mixing tracks from 24 track to 2 track masters, transferring from older recordings (both analog and digital) into new formats and improving sound through careful digital manipulation, and the use of digital mastering systems to master recordings evaluating the reference copies provided by studios and manufacturers, and other work related to the audio productions of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Oversees the audio reproduction work of the Folkways custom CD operation, reviewing procedures and evaluating final products.
Administrative and Equipment Management: Collaborates with colleagues to evaluate the audio reproduction needs, and equipment, of the Ralph Rinzler Archive and Collections, and works with archivists to maximize the quality of the recordings made in the archives. Prepares an annual budget estimate for Folkways maintenance and purchase of audio equipment and works within the parameters of the budget. Oversees contractors who perform regular maintenance of the audio equipment off-site and ensures that proper repairs are made when required. Researches developments in audio technology, consults with audio engineer colleagues outside CFCH and recommends equipment purchases and format changes to the supervisor.
Administrative and Equipment Management: Collaborates with colleagues to evaluate the audio reproduction needs, and equipment, of the Ralph Rinzler Archive and Collections, and works with archivists to maximize the quality of the recordings made in the archives. Prepares an annual budget estimate for Folkways maintenance and purchase of audio equipment and works within the parameters of the budget. Oversees contractors who perform regular maintenance of the audio equipment off-site and ensures that proper repairs are made when required. Researches developments in audio technology, consults with audio engineer colleagues outside CFCH and recommends equipment purchases and format changes to the supervisor.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree related to this position may be substituted to meet the
experience requirements.
experience requirements.
Experience required for this position is as follows:
- Knowledge of the technical field of audio engineering to produce audio recordings in a studio environment, gained through experience.
- Ability to mix tracks from 24 track to 2 track masters transferring from older recordings into new formats, and improving sound through careful digital manipulation, and the use of digital mastering systems to master recordings, gained through experience.
- Knowledge of both analog and digital audio technologies to evaluate audio reproduction needs, gained through experience.
- Knowledge of archival and productions standards for preservation and dissemination of audio recordings.
- Ability to supervise interns and contractors, and ensure their contributions are relevant and effective.
- Ability to create a final audio product that is balanced and equalized to be suitable for listening by the average listener, or distributed via a commercial medium (cassette, CD, LP, streaming) containing music from many different musical traditions that originate in different parts of the world.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally by giving presentations or presenting verbal analyses to artists, producers, curators, engineers, and colleagues to produce the best possible projects in a timely fashion.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing by developing written presentations and presenting written plans to artists, producers, curators, engineers, and colleagues to produce the best possible projects in a timely fashion.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact: ohr-recruitment@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact: ohr-recruitment@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
About Smithsonian Institution
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 education and research facilities. There are more than 6,500 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at more than 157 million.
Our Hiring Process
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Qualifications Review
Stage 3:
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Stage 4:
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