INTERNSHIP DETAILS

PhD Research Intern - Acoustic Data (Fall 2026)

CompanyDolby
LocationSan Francisco
Work ModeOn Site
PostedJune 11, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
Develop cutting-edge technologies for immersive audio experiences, focusing on acoustic mapping and numerical optimization. Responsibilities include simulating microphone arrays, analyzing room impulse responses, and maintaining technical documentation.
Internship Type
full time
Company Size
1987
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
We're the rain on the roof in a movie. The music flowing through your earbuds when you're at the gym. The footsteps lurking behind you in a video game. The voice of a colleague on a call who seems to be right next to you. The sight of a breathtakingly bright and vivid sunset on your TV. Making experiences come alive through technology is what we do. It's been our mission since day one. It began with our founder, Ray Dolby, a visionary scientist and inventor. As a young engineer and music lover, he was driven to improve the listening experience. And with that simple motivation, plus countless hours of experimentation, he created a solution—a solution that was elegant and practical, highly sophisticated, and wholly devoted to the artist's vision. Even as we've become a global company, Dolby Laboratories continues to reflect Ray Dolby's values. Here, science meets art. And high tech goes far beyond computer code. Founded in 1965 and headquartered in San Francisco, Dolby has grown into a leading global innovator and developer of audio, imaging and voice technologies for cinema, home theaters, PCs, mobile phones, and games. Our products include Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, Dolby Voice, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. Today, over 2,000 individuals around the globe share their talents and energy to enable the most immersive experiences that technology can deliver.
About the Role

 Join the leader in entertainment innovation and help us design the future. The Advanced Technology Group (ATG) is the research division of the company. ATG’s mission is to look ahead, deliver insights, and innovate technological solutions that will fuel Dolby’s continued growth. As a valued member of the Dolby team, you’ll see and hear the results of your work everywhere, from movie theaters to smartphones. We continuously push the boundaries of audio, imaging, and cloud technology to create spectacular entertainment experiences.  

As a diverse and dynamic group, our ATG researchers work on cutting-edge projects related to computer science and electrical engineering for audio, video, and cloud technologies, exploring exciting domains such as AI/ML, algorithms, digital signal processing, audio processing, image processing, computer vision, AR/VR, data science & analytics, distributed systems, cloud, edge & mobile computing, computer networking, and IoT. 

Summary: 

We are a key research team within Dolby’s Advanced Technology Group focused on creating cutting edge technologies that drive immersive audio experiences. As an Acoustic Mapping Intern, you will be exposed to the technologies that enabled Dolby Atmos FlexConnect and be responsible for developing some of the technologies that will enable the next generation of products. In addition to a relevant degree, you will need good communication skills and will be the type of researcher who loves collaborating with and enabling others to jointly produce high-quality outcomes.  

Responsibilities:  

  1. Numerical Optimization 

    • Solve constrained linear and nonlinear optimization problems 

    • Formulate real-world problems as within optimization frameworks 

  1. Acoustics 

    • Measurement and simulation of microphone arrays and loudspeakers 

    • Direction of arrival estimation and beamforming algorithms 

    • Room impulse response analysis and general acoustic signal processing 

  1. Data Analytics 

    • Monte Carlo analysis 

    • Data pipelines – continuous integration workflows, data models, SQL, Spark 

    • Visualization dashboards 

  1. Technical Documentation and Communication 

    • Write and maintain detailed technical documentation 

    • Communicate clearly with colleagues through technical discussions and presentations 

    • Read, write, and publish technical reports and papers 

    • Protect intellectual property by filing patents  

Requirements: 

  • Pursuing a Master’s or PhD degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related fields.  

  • Experience with Python, C/C++  

  • Experience with machine learning / AI 

  • Experience with acoustic simulations 

Highly Desired: 

  • Familiarity with acoustic modeling tools e.g. COMSOL, Treble, pyroomacoustics 

  • Experience with measurement of real-world acoustics e.g. SMAART 

  • Experience with data visualization 

  • Experience with data intelligence platforms e.g. Databricks 

We recognize that applying to internships can be a daunting process, especially if you have not had any previous internships, or if this is a new field of interest to you. Even if you do not have previous professional experience to meet the listed qualifications, we will consider relevant project, volunteer, and extracurricular experiences, and we encourage you to include them on your resume and apply.  

We will review applications on a rolling basis. For the best chance to have your resume reviewed and considered, we recommend submitting your application by June 26, 2026.      

Eligibility   

Working towards a Master’s or PhD in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related fields. Recent grads who are within 6 months of graduation are also eligible to apply. Must be available to work full-time Monday – Friday for 12 weeks between September 2026 – December 2026.  

The start date for this internship is as follows (please note these dates are not flexible):  

  • September 21, 2026 

The San Francisco/Bay Area base hourly range for this internship position is $62/hr and can vary if outside of this location. Our hourly ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific hourly range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

Dolby will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12

Equal Employment Opportunity:
Dolby is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

Key Skills
Numerical OptimizationAcoustics MeasurementBeamforming AlgorithmsRoom Impulse Response AnalysisPythonC/C++Machine LearningAIAcoustic SimulationsData AnalyticsSQLSparkData VisualizationTechnical DocumentationMonte Carlo AnalysisDigital Signal Processing
Categories
Science & ResearchEngineeringTechnologyData & AnalyticsSoftware