Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Video Systems Engineer

🎯 Role Definition

As a Video Systems Engineer, you will be the technical cornerstone of our media delivery ecosystem. You are responsible for the entire lifecycle of our video processing and distribution systems, from signal ingest and encoding to cloud-based transcoding and delivery. This role demands a deep understanding of both traditional broadcast engineering and modern IP-based streaming workflows. You will work hands-on with hardware and software, automate processes, troubleshoot complex issues, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to push the boundaries of our video platform. Your expertise will directly impact the quality, reliability, and scalability of our services, ensuring an exceptional viewing experience for millions of users.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Broadcast Engineer
Network Engineer (with a media focus)
Senior AV/IT Technician

Advancement To:

Senior or Principal Video Systems Engineer
Video Architect
Manager of Media Engineering or Broadcast Operations

Lateral Moves:

Cloud Media Engineer
DevOps Engineer (Media Focus)
Solutions Architect (Media & Entertainment)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, build, and maintain complex video delivery pipelines, from signal acquisition and encoding to distribution and playback, ensuring high availability and low latency for live and VOD content.
Manage, configure, and optimize video processing hardware and software, including encoders, transcoders, video routers, and media servers (e.g., AWS Elemental, Harmonic, Telestream).
Troubleshoot and resolve complex, time-sensitive issues within the video broadcast and streaming infrastructure, performing deep root cause analysis and implementing preventative measures.
Develop and implement comprehensive monitoring and alerting systems using tools like DataMiner, Nagios, Zabbix, or custom scripts to proactively identify and address system performance degradation.
Lead the integration and testing of new video technologies, compression standards (H.264, HEVC, AV1), and streaming protocols (HLS, DASH, SRT, RIST) to enhance system capabilities.
Oversee the entire lifecycle of video systems, including system architecture design, vendor evaluation, procurement, installation, configuration, and end-of-life decommissioning.
Provide tier-3 level technical support for high-profile live events, master control operations, and on-air systems, ensuring flawless execution of critical broadcasts.
Author and maintain meticulous system documentation, including architectural diagrams, wiring schematics, configuration guides, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Collaborate with network engineering teams to design and optimize network infrastructure (on-prem and cloud) to support high-bitrate video transport and robust distribution.
Automate repetitive operational tasks, system deployments, and configuration management using scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
Manage and maintain sophisticated video-over-IP workflows, including SMPTE 2110, NDI, and SRT, ensuring interoperability and reliability across IP-based production environments.
Conduct regular system health checks, performance tuning, and capacity planning to ensure the video infrastructure can scale to meet future business demands.
Lead the technical execution of system upgrades, migrations, and expansion projects, effectively coordinating with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
Ensure strict compliance with broadcast standards and specifications (e.g., SMPTE, EBU, ATSC, SCTE) throughout the entire video signal chain.
Integrate video systems with ancillary platforms, such as ad insertion systems (SCTE-35), content management systems (CMS), and digital rights management (DRM) solutions.

Secondary Functions

Partner with product managers, developers, and operations teams to translate business needs into robust technical requirements for new video features and services.
Evaluate and provide insightful technical recommendations on new hardware and software solutions from vendors to keep our platform at the cutting edge of video technology.
Provide training and mentorship to junior engineers and operations staff on complex video systems, emerging technologies, and industry best practices.
Participate in an on-call rotation to provide 24/7 support for critical video infrastructure and rapidly resolve emergent issues outside of normal business hours.
Contribute to the development of the long-term technology roadmap for video engineering, identifying key opportunities for improvement and strategic investment.
Manage vendor relationships and service level agreements (SLAs) to guarantee timely support and effective resolution of escalated technical issues.
Represent the video engineering team in cross-functional project meetings, providing expert guidance on all aspects of video technology and workflows.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep expertise in video compression standards (MPEG-2, H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, AV1) and audio codecs (AAC, AC-3, E-AC-3).
Mastery of adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming protocols such as HLS, MPEG-DASH, and CMAF.
Proficiency with reliable transport protocols including SRT, RIST, and Zixi.
Hands-on experience with broadcast and video processing hardware/software (e.g., Evertz, Grass Valley, Lawo, Harmonic, AWS Elemental Media Services, Telestream Vantage).
Strong understanding of video-over-IP technologies, including SMPTE ST 2110, ST 2022, and NDI, and associated network requirements like PTP.
Knowledge of cloud-based media services (AWS Elemental MediaLive/MediaConvert/MediaPackage, Azure Media Services, Google Cloud Transcoder API).
Proficiency in scripting and automation using languages like Python, Bash, or PowerShell for system management, API integration, and task automation.
Solid foundation in networking principles (TCP/IP, UDP, Multicast, Unicast, QoS, BGP) as they apply to real-time video transport.
Experience with monitoring, logging, and analysis tools such as Wireshark, Telestream Sentry, DataMiner, Splunk, or similar packet/transport stream analyzers.
Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Ansible) in a media context.

Soft Skills

Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to perform root cause analysis under pressure during live events.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, capable of explaining highly technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to creating and maintaining high-quality, comprehensive system documentation.
A highly collaborative mindset with a proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams including DevOps, Network Engineering, Product, and Operations.
Strong project management aptitude, with the ability to manage timelines, resources, and vendor relationships for complex technical projects.
Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt to a fast-paced, evolving technological landscape.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent professional experience in broadcast or media engineering.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline. Certifications in Networking (CCNA/P) or Cloud (AWS Certified Solutions Architect) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Broadcast Technology
Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-8+ years

Preferred: 8+ years of hands-on experience in a large-scale broadcast, OTT, or media distribution environment with a proven track record of designing and supporting mission-critical video systems.