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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Video Technology Analyst

💰 $85,000 - $135,000

TechnologyMediaEngineeringData AnalysisStreaming

🎯 Role Definition

The Video Technology Analyst is a pivotal role at the intersection of data, engineering, and product strategy. You will serve as a subject matter expert on all facets of our digital video delivery pipeline, from content ingest and encoding to CDN delivery and player-side playback. Your primary mission is to leverage deep technical analysis and data-driven insights to monitor, troubleshoot, and relentlessly optimize the Quality of Experience (QoE) for our global audience. This position requires a curious and analytical mind, eager to diagnose complex issues, collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams, and influence the future roadmap of our video products.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Video Operations Technician / Specialist
  • QA Engineer (Media/Video)
  • Data Analyst (with a media focus)
  • Network Operations Center (NOC) Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Video Technology Analyst
  • Video Engineer / Streaming Engineer
  • Product Manager (Video Platform)
  • Media Solutions Architect

Lateral Moves:

  • Data Engineer
  • Technical Program Manager (Media)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Analyze and monitor the end-to-end video delivery ecosystem, including content ingest, transcoding, packaging, DRM, CDN delivery, and client playback.
  • Utilize data analysis and visualization tools to track key Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics such as rebuffering, video start time, and playback failures.
  • Conduct deep-dive analysis into video and audio quality issues, using tools like FFmpeg, MediaInfo, and stream analyzers to identify root causes.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex, escalated technical issues related to video streaming performance across web, mobile, and connected TV devices.
  • Develop, manage, and optimize video encoding profiles and ladders (e.g., for H.264, HEVC/H.265, AV1) to balance video quality with bandwidth efficiency.
  • Perform competitive analysis of other streaming services to benchmark performance, features, and technology stacks.
  • Define and execute A/B tests on video player configurations, encoding recipes, and CDN strategies to validate performance improvements.
  • Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for video workflows, standards, and operational procedures.
  • Collaborate closely with Video Engineering, Player, and Infrastructure teams to diagnose problems and guide the implementation of technical solutions.
  • Evaluate and test emerging video technologies, codecs, and streaming protocols (e.g., Low Latency HLS/DASH, new codecs) for potential adoption.
  • Monitor and analyze Content Delivery Network (CDN) performance, working to optimize routing, caching, and traffic management strategies.
  • Validate the implementation and performance of Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems such as Widevine, FairPlay, and PlayReady.
  • Partner with advertising technology teams to troubleshoot and optimize Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI) workflows, including VAST/VMAP compliance.
  • Develop and maintain real-time monitoring dashboards and alerting systems to proactively identify and address video delivery impairments.
  • Manage the technical lifecycle of video assets within our Media Asset Management (MAM) system, ensuring integrity and availability.
  • Provide expert analysis and reporting on video performance trends and incidents to technical leadership and business stakeholders.
  • Investigate anomalies in video performance data to uncover hidden issues or opportunities for optimization within the streaming pipeline.
  • Ensure all video and audio streams adhere to internal quality standards and external industry specifications.
  • Lead technical investigations for high-impact live streaming events, providing real-time monitoring and support to ensure successful delivery.
  • Certify new devices and platforms for video playback, conducting rigorous testing to ensure a high-quality, consistent user experience.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis from product and business teams.
  • Contribute to the organization's long-term video technology strategy and product roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate high-level data needs into specific engineering and analysis requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning, retrospectives, and other agile ceremonies within the engineering and data teams.
  • Engage with external technology vendors and partners to evaluate new solutions, manage relationships, and stay informed of industry trends.
  • Develop training materials and provide guidance to internal teams (e.g., Customer Support, Operations) on video technology best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep understanding of video and audio codecs (e.g., H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, AV1, VP9) and their impact on quality and performance.
  • Expertise in adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming protocols, including HLS and MPEG-DASH, and their underlying mechanics.
  • Proficiency in data analysis and querying using SQL, and experience with data visualization tools like Tableau, Looker, or Grafana.
  • Hands-on experience with video analysis tools such as FFmpeg, FFprobe, and MediaInfo for inspecting and troubleshooting media files.
  • Familiarity with Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies (Google Widevine, Apple FairPlay, Microsoft PlayReady).
  • Solid knowledge of Content Delivery Network (CDN) architecture, caching logic, and performance metrics.
  • Scripting ability in a language like Python or shell scripting for task automation and data manipulation.
  • Understanding of media container formats (e.g., MP4, TS) and their role in the streaming workflow.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional analytical and systematic problem-solving skills, with the ability to deconstruct complex technical issues.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining complex concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • A highly collaborative mindset with a proven ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams (Engineering, Product, Operations).
  • Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality, accurate analysis and results.
  • Proactive, self-motivated, and intellectually curious, with a genuine passion for digital media and emerging video technologies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline or equivalent, demonstrable practical experience in the field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field of study.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Media Technology
  • Data Science
  • Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of experience in video technology, streaming media, broadcast engineering, or a related data analysis role.

Preferred:

  • Direct experience working for an OTT streaming service, broadcaster, or a major video technology vendor.
  • A proven track record of using data to drive improvements in a large-scale video delivery system.
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