Manager - Broadcast Engineering

Job Summary

The Manager of Broadcast Engineering plays a critical role in ensuring the seamless transmission of broadcast signals, delivering various transport models efficiently and reliably. This position is responsible for managing and maintaining broadcast transmission equipment and systems, including IP encoding/decoding, compression standards, and related infrastructure. The Manager of Broadcast Engineering also troubleshoots technical issues, proactively optimizes system performance, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to drive innovation in broadcast distribution. This role requires deep expertise in live broadcast networks, a strong technical foundation, and a passion for advancing broadcast technology in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide deep expertise in live broadcast networks to support and oversee all technological requirements, solutions, and operations for News 12’s broadcast distribution platforms across 24/7 linear channel operations and all OTT distribution systems.
• Manage and contribute to the design of high-reliability network infrastructures that support video, audio, comms, and data transport in real-time.
• Interface with News 12 engineering, operations, commercial insertion and corporate IT teams to coordinate signal flow and infrastructure uptime.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategies for optimizing content delivery.
• Secure and help manage relationships with third party vendors/contractors for all broadcast needs.
• Work as part of a team to research, design, purchase, and implement broadcast technology.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively to ensure cost-efficient operations.
• Monitor system performance and respond to issues with minimal disruption to signal distribution.
• Implement monitoring solutions to proactively detect signal quality and integrity for all possible critical thresholds.
• Work in partnership with corporate IT to maintain security best practices, including access control, device hardening, and firewall policy management.
• Work in partnership with AlticeUSA/Optimum and affiliate headend distribution teams to ensure transport is being distributed properly beyond the facility handoff.
• Work in partnership with Commercial Insertion teams to make sure that all advertising is airing as expected across all distribution platforms.
• Support and troubleshoot Nielsen and other signal encoding, decoding, and muxing technology across all News 12 content.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans ensuring redundancy and failover strategies are in place for critical production paths.
• Communicate regularly with senior management and provide reports on the performance of broadcast distribution operations.
• Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams, translating complex technical concepts into easily understandable terms.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Create and update network diagrams and documentation for system-specific configurations using AutoCAD, Visio, and other tools as needed.
• Collaborate with vendors, integrators, and corporate IT teams to ensure system compatibility and compliance.
• Handle any other facilities-related, security, IT, or operations related issues as they arise, responding promptly to any technical issues or emergencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or related experience required
• 10+ years of experience in broadcast engineering, including experience with IP video distribution systems
• Highly knowledgeable in many kinds of technology including video and audio production equipment, Windows, Linux and Mac OS systems administration, cloud computing, and many areas of IT and network design/administration
• Deep experience with engineering technologies possessing the ability to troubleshoot and maintain down to component level
• Previous experience helpful in satellite uplink/downlink infrastructure, RF technology, transmitters, antennas and related equipment
• Understanding of fiber distribution and fiber types, connectors, level loss, and related test equipment
• Working knowledge of test gear such as Oscilloscopes, MPEG/ASI Analyzers, and Waveform/Vectorscopes
• Previous experience helpful in all areas of technical production: repair, configuration, and operation of studio production equipment, including Broadcast Audio, Video and Control Systems, Video Servers, Storage Area Networks, RF Systems, Editing, Post-Production Systems, and Master Control playout software/hardware
• Advanced knowledge of IP video distribution systems
• In depth knowledge of network design, layer 2 and 3 switching, TCP/IP protocols, and multicast protocols and implementation as well as industry best practices
• Knowledge of SCTE-35/104, GPI/GPO, Serial Communications, and other IP-based triggering systems
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to communicate and interact with employees and leaders at all levels of the organization and communicate highly complex technical problems or projects to a non-technical audience
• Ability to apply conceptual thinking and creativity to complex business problems
• Must be willing and able to travel within News 12’s broadcast footprint to support or resolve system outages as necessary, and available for flexible hours to best support and complete upgrades during overnight maintenance schedules
• Cisco CCNA/CCNP, preferred
• Vendor encoder/decoder certification, preferred
• Dante Level 2 or 3, preferred