Shaughnessy graduated from The Florida State University School Of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts with a degree in Motion Picture Sound in the fall of 2000. While at Florida State he learned the art of Sound Effects Editorial and Design under the tutelage of one of the industry greats - Academy Award-winning Mixer Richard Portman.

Shaughnessy moved to Los Angeles in the winter of 2001 to begin a career in Post Production Sound. Since then he has edited sound and music for major motion pictures such as Ali and Red Dragon as well as for TV shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In early 2004 Shaughnessy joined Rocketwerks in order to bring his major motion picture experience to independent features.