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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Video Quality Analyst

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

Quality AssuranceMedia & EntertainmentTechnologyData Analysis

🎯 Role Definition

As a Video Quality Analyst, you are at the heart of our commitment to delivering a flawless viewing experience. You will be responsible for the systematic evaluation, measurement, and improvement of our video and audio quality across all platforms. This role involves a blend of subjective assessment, objective data analysis, and technical troubleshooting to identify and resolve issues within our complex streaming ecosystem. You will collaborate closely with engineering, product, and operations teams to define quality standards, execute rigorous testing protocols, and provide data-driven insights that directly impact the quality of experience (QoE) for millions of users.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • QA Tester / Analyst
  • Media Operator / Technician
  • Technical Support Specialist
  • Video Editor

Advancement To:

  • Senior Video Quality Analyst
  • Video / Streaming Engineer
  • QA Lead / Manager
  • Technical Product Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Data Analyst (Media)
  • DevOps Engineer
  • Technical Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform rigorous subjective and objective video and audio quality assessments on a diverse range of consumer devices, including Smart TVs, mobile phones, tablets, and streaming media players.
  • Analyze, troubleshoot, and document video playback issues such as buffering, artifacts, latency, and audio/video synchronization problems.
  • Develop, document, and execute comprehensive test plans and test cases for new video streaming features, encoding profiles, and player updates.
  • Evaluate and benchmark new video compression technologies and codec implementations (e.g., AV1, HEVC, VVC) for performance and perceptual quality.
  • Monitor live streaming events in real-time to proactively identify and escalate issues, ensuring optimal Quality of Experience (QoE) for our audience.
  • Utilize industry-standard objective video quality metrics like VMAF, PSNR, and SSIM to benchmark and compare encoding recipes and delivery performance.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Product Management, and Content Operations teams to identify, triage, and resolve complex video quality escalations.
  • Maintain and operate a lab environment with a wide array of playback devices, ensuring software and hardware are up-to-date for accurate testing.
  • Capture and analyze network traffic using tools like Wireshark and Charles Proxy to diagnose issues related to streaming protocols and content delivery.
  • Log, track, and manage defects in a bug-tracking system like Jira, providing detailed reproduction steps, logs, and supporting evidence for the engineering team.
  • Conduct in-depth competitive analysis of other video streaming services to benchmark our quality, performance, and features against the market.
  • Create and maintain thorough documentation on video quality standards, testing procedures, device behavior, and internal best practices.
  • Design and execute A/B tests on new encoding configurations and player-side logic to validate the impact of changes on key QoE metrics.
  • Analyze large datasets of client-side QoE telemetry to identify systemic issues, performance trends, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Validate the implementation and accuracy of closed captions, subtitles, and alternate audio tracks, ensuring full compliance and perfect synchronization.
  • Assess and report on the performance of our Content Delivery Network (CDN) partners, focusing on startup time, throughput, and error rates.
  • Participate in the evaluation and integration of new video analysis tools, automation frameworks, and monitoring software to enhance our QC capabilities.
  • Provide clear, concise, and data-driven feedback and reports to both technical and non-technical stakeholders on video quality performance and initiatives.
  • Test and verify Digital Rights Management (DRM) implementations (e.g., Widevine, FairPlay) across platforms to ensure robust content security and seamless playback.
  • Develop and maintain automation scripts using languages like Python or Shell to streamline repetitive testing tasks and improve team efficiency.
  • Investigate and perform root cause analysis on complex video pipeline issues, from content ingest and transcoding all the way to end-user playback.
  • Define and champion the "gold standard" for video and audio quality across all content types, including VOD, Live, and short-form video.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer critical business questions related to video performance.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap, particularly regarding the collection and use of QoE metrics.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements for our telemetry pipeline.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering and video player teams.
  • Assist in the development and calibration of automated quality control (QC) systems.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep understanding of video and audio compression standards (H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, AV1) and codecs (AAC, Opus).
  • Expertise in adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming protocols, including HLS and MPEG-DASH.
  • Experience with objective video quality metrics and tools (VMAF, PSNR, SSIM).
  • Proficiency in using bug tracking and project management software like Jira and Confluence.
  • Hands-on experience testing on a wide range of consumer electronics (iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs).
  • Knowledge of network analysis and proxy tools such as Wireshark, Charles Proxy, or Fiddler.
  • Scripting ability in a language like Python, Shell, or JavaScript for test automation and data manipulation.
  • Familiarity with command-line video analysis tools, particularly FFmpeg and MediaInfo.
  • Strong knowledge of digital media formats, containers (MP4, TS), and streaming concepts.
  • Understanding of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and their role in the streaming ecosystem.
  • Basic knowledge of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies like Widevine and FairPlay.

Soft Skills

  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: A sharp eye for spotting even the most subtle visual or audio imperfections.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Ability to logically diagnose complex technical issues from symptoms to root cause.
  • Excellent Communication: Skill in clearly articulating technical issues and findings to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: A proactive and positive attitude towards working with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
  • User Empathy: A genuine passion for ensuring the best possible experience for the end-user.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities.
  • Analytical Mindset: A data-driven approach to decision-making and quality assessment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in a related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant technical or media-focused field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Media Technology / Digital Media
  • Film Studies / Production
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Data Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of experience in video technology, digital media, streaming services, or software quality assurance.

Preferred:

  • Proven experience in a role specifically focused on video quality, streaming media analysis, or digital video engineering. A background in broadcast or post-production engineering is a strong plus. Experience working within an Agile/Scrum development process is highly desirable.
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