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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Video Technology Consultant

💰 $140,000 - $220,000+

TechnologyConsultingMedia & EntertainmentVideo EngineeringStreaming MediaSolutions Architecture

🎯 Role Definition

A Video Technology Consultant is a senior-level strategic advisor and technical expert who guides organizations through the complexities of the digital video landscape. This role is a linchpin, bridging the gap between executive business goals and deep-seated engineering realities. You'll be the go-to authority on everything from live streaming architecture and VOD workflows to content protection and viewer experience optimization. Success in this position means empowering clients or internal stakeholders to make informed, future-proof decisions about their video technology stack, ensuring their services are scalable, reliable, and cutting-edge. You won't just solve problems; you'll anticipate them, crafting the roadmaps that define the next generation of media consumption.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Video Engineer / Streaming Engineer
  • Media Systems Architect
  • Senior Product Manager (Video & Streaming Platforms)
  • Solutions Architect (Media & Entertainment Vertical)

Advancement To:

  • Principal Consultant / Director of Technology Strategy
  • Head of Media Architecture / VP of Video Engineering
  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in a media-focused company
  • Independent Consulting Practice Principal

Lateral Moves:

  • Enterprise Architect (Media & Entertainment)
  • Director of Product Management (Video Platforms)
  • Senior Engineering Manager (Video Streaming Teams)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Architect end-to-end video delivery ecosystems, encompassing everything from signal acquisition and live encoding to packaging, multi-CDN delivery, and client-side playback.
  • Serve as the primary technical advisor to C-level executives and business leaders, translating complex technological concepts into clear, actionable business strategies and investment cases.
  • Conduct in-depth technical due diligence and comparative analysis of video technology vendors, platforms, and third-party solutions to inform critical build-versus-buy decisions.
  • Lead the design and execution of proof-of-concept (PoC) and pilot projects for emerging video technologies, such as low-latency streaming, AV1 encoding, or interactive video features.
  • Formulate and document comprehensive strategies for video processing workflows, including multi-bitrate encoding ladders, container formats (CMAF), and packaging for HLS and DASH.
  • Design and consult on the implementation of robust, multi-DRM content protection strategies, integrating technologies like Widevine, FairPlay, and PlayReady into the content pipeline.
  • Champion initiatives to optimize video player performance and overall Quality of Experience (QoE), analyzing playback metrics to reduce startup times, buffering, and error rates.
  • Drive the migration of legacy, on-premise broadcast and video infrastructures to modern, scalable cloud-based media services on platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure.
  • Act as the highest escalation point for troubleshooting complex, systemic issues within the video delivery chain, performing root cause analysis across disparate systems.
  • Develop and maintain extensive technical documentation, including high-level and low-level architecture diagrams, data flow models, and operational best-practice guides.
  • Continuously research and evaluate emerging industry standards, protocols, and compression technologies (e.g., HLS/DASH enhancements, VVC, LCEVC) and assess their business impact.
  • Devise and implement sophisticated advertising technology stacks, providing expert guidance on Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) versus Client-Side Ad Insertion (CSAI) and VAST/VMAP compliance.
  • Establish a comprehensive QoE/QoS monitoring and analytics framework, defining key performance indicators (KPIs) and leveraging tools like Conviva, Mux, or custom solutions.
  • Provide strategic counsel on multi-CDN strategies, including the selection, integration, and performance-based switching logic for content delivery networks.
  • Lead technical workshops, training sessions, and deep-dive presentations for a diverse audience, ranging from engineers to non-technical stakeholders.

Secondary Functions

  • Perform forensic analysis and deep-dive investigations into high-impact video service incidents to identify root causes and recommend preventative measures.
  • Advise on the development of a comprehensive video data and analytics strategy, ensuring the right metrics are captured to drive product and business decisions.
  • Mentor and provide technical leadership to senior video engineers and architects, elevating the overall technical competency of the organization or client team.
  • Collaborate closely with product management, legal, and finance teams to assess the technical feasibility, cost, and compliance implications of new video-related product offerings.
  • Provide expert oversight and guidance during agile ceremonies (sprint planning, backlog grooming) to ensure video engineering work is correctly prioritized and technically sound.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Streaming Protocols & Formats: Deep, expert-level knowledge of HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), MPEG-DASH, and Common Media Application Format (CMAF), including low-latency variants.
  • Video & Audio Codecs: In-depth understanding of the trade-offs and applications of codecs such as H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, AV1, and VP9, as well as audio codecs like AAC and Opus.
  • Content Protection (DRM): Hands-on experience architecting solutions using multi-DRM technologies, including Google Widevine, Apple FairPlay, and Microsoft PlayReady, and understanding the role of a license server.
  • Cloud Media Services: Proven experience designing solutions with major cloud provider media stacks, particularly AWS Elemental Media Services (MediaLive, MediaConvert, MediaPackage), but also Google Cloud Transcoder API and Azure Media Services.
  • Ad Insertion Technologies: Familiarity with the digital advertising ecosystem, including VAST/VMAP standards and the architectural differences and challenges of Server-Side (SSAI) and Client-Side (CSAI) ad insertion.
  • Player Development & Optimization: Knowledge of modern video player frameworks (e.g., Shaka Player, Video.js, hls.js) and the browser/native APIs they use (MSE/EME).
  • CDN & Caching: Strong understanding of Content Delivery Network architecture, caching strategies, traffic management, and token authentication.
  • QoE/QoS Monitoring: Experience with industry-standard Quality of Experience monitoring platforms like Mux, Conviva, Touchstream, or similar analytics systems.
    s- Video Processing & Encoding: Expertise in using video processing tools like FFmpeg and configuring enterprise-grade encoders and transcoders (e.g., Elemental, Harmonic).
  • Network & Systems Analysis: Proficiency with network analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark, Charles Proxy) to diagnose delivery and playback issues.

Soft Skills

  • Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to engage, influence, and manage expectations with stakeholders at all levels, from engineers to the C-suite.
  • Strategic & Analytical Thinking: The capacity to see the bigger picture, analyze industry trends, and connect technological capabilities to long-term business objectives.
  • Client-Facing Communication: Polished and persuasive communication skills, with the ability to articulate highly technical information clearly and concisely to non-technical audiences.
  • Complex Problem-Solving: A natural aptitude for dissecting multifaceted, ambiguous problems and systematically driving towards a resolution.
  • Business Acumen: A solid understanding of business models in the media and entertainment industry (e.g., SVOD, AVOD, FAST) and how technology decisions impact revenue and cost.
  • Technical Leadership & Mentorship: A passion for sharing knowledge and elevating the skills of the teams and colleagues you work with.
  • Influence & Negotiation: The ability to build consensus around a technical vision and negotiate effectively with vendors, partners, and internal teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant technical field. Significant, directly-related work experience (10+ years) may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in a technical or business discipline.
  • Industry-recognized certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Broadcast or Media Technology
  • Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8-15+ years of progressive experience within the video engineering, streaming media, or broadcast technology space.

Preferred: We find the most successful individuals in this role often have a background that includes several years of hands-on engineering, followed by a move into architecture or a senior technical leadership position within a major streaming service (OTT/SVOD/AVOD), broadcaster, or technology provider in the M&E sector.

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