Staff Audio Systems Engineer

About the Company Inspiren offers the most complete and connected ecosystem in senior living. Founded by Michael Wang, a former Green Beret turned cardiothoracic nurse, Inspiren proves that compassionate care and technology can coexist - bringing peace of mind to residents, families, and staff.  Our integrated solutions seamlessly fit into existing workflows, capturing everything happening within a community. Backed by nurse specialists and powerful analytics, we provide the data operators need to make informed clinical and operational decisions - driving efficiency, profitability, and better care outcomes. About the Role We are seeking a highly-skilled Staff Audio Systems Engineer to serve as the chief architect of Inspiren’s voice and audio ecosystem. In this role, you will hold the technical authority to define the system-level architecture and technical roadmap for our hardware and software audio stacks, prioritizing high-level orchestration over daily implementation. You will lead the integration between physical hardware and cloud-based AI, making critical "Make vs. Buy" decisions for the stack and direct JDM partners to ensure their acoustic designs meet our rigorous requirements. As a senior member of the hardware engineering team, you will be the final word on the connectivity, intelligence, and reliability of our voice-driven technical solutions. What You'll Do Architect the Audio Roadmap: Define the end-to-end technical strategy and architecture for 2-way audio, e-call systems, and passive monitoring across the Inspiren ecosystem. Strategic Vendor & JDM Management: Act as the primary technical authority when interfacing with JDM partners; oversee their acoustic designs, validate their implementation, and ensure they meet Inspiren’s rigorous standards for quality and reliability. Voice-AI Orchestration: Evaluate and integrate third-party Conversation AI and Chatbot platforms, determining the optimal balance between edge-based processing and cloud-based intelligence. Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work closely with hardware engineers, embedded systems engineers, software developers, product managers, and clinical stakeholders to translate human needs into technical audio specifications. Innovate and Optimize: Stay current with industry trends in voice-AI and IoT. Introduce new methodologies to enhance system performance, observability, and reliability while meeting clinical design specifications. Embed Rigorous Design for Excellence (DfX) Mindset: Partner with design and development partners to drive rigorous Design for Cost (DfC), manufacturability (DfM), and reliability (DfR) across the global supply chain. Mentor Team Members: Provide technical guidance and mentorship, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation through a culture of continuous learning. Ensure Quality & Compliance: Oversee the verification of audio systems performance against product requirements, ensuring all voice data handling is secure and HIPAA-compliant. What You Bring  Educational Background: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Audio Engineering, or a related engineering field Experience: 10+ years of experience in audio systems engineering where hardware, software, and cloud-AI intersect, including the successful launch and ongoing maintenance of multiple products. System-Level Architecture: Proven ability to define end-to-end audio strategies and architectural standards that scale across multiple product lines and hardware generations. Voice Interface Stack: Deep understanding of the full voice-AI stack—from beamforming and AEC at the edge to low-latency telemetry and cloud-based voice processing/NLP. JDM/ODM Collaboration: Proven track record directing external design partners to deliver robust acoustic and electrical hardware without needing to be the sole SME for every sub-specialty. Architectural Decision Making: Demonstrated ability to lead "Make vs. Buy" analyses for complex subsystems like VoIP stacks, voice-recognition engines, or conversational AI interfaces. Validation & Performance Benchmarking: Proficiency in defining test methodologies (SNR, THD, STI) and using professional lab equipment to hold external partners accountable for audio quality. Secure Audio Pipelines: Knowledge of secure voice data handling and encryption for 2-way streams to ensure HIPAA-compliant audio pipelines across the full system lifecycle. Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly. Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapting to changing priorities. Start-up experience is a plus. Details The annual salary for this role is $200,000-$225,000 + equity + benefits (including medical, dental, and vision)  Flexible PTO Location: Remote, US or Canada - NYC Preferred.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. Compensations & Benefits At Inspiren, we are committed to fair, transparent, and equitable compensation. We know that every candidate brings a unique combination of experience, skills, and perspectives, and we take these factors into account when determining pay. While compensation may vary depending on your background, role, and location, we are proud to offer a competitive base salary and total benefits package, alongside eligibility for equity awards in the form of stock options. We believe great work deserves great rewards. Our compensation and benefits are designed to recognize your contributions and reflect the standards of leading organizations in our field. Your recruiter will be happy to walk you through the full compensation package, including what your total pay could look like, so you have a clear picture of both the immediate and long-term value of joining our team.