Lead Media Systems Engineer

Overview:

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Technology (DE&E Technology) is to delight consumers worldwide with the news, entertainment, and sports content they want most, with more choice, personalization, and convenience than ever before.

Comprised of Disney’s international media businesses and the Company’s streaming and linear services, the DEE Tech Engineering Services segment aligns technology, content, and distribution platforms to expand the Company’s global footprint to deliver world-class, personalized entertainment experiences to consumers around the world.

DEE Tech is responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer businesses globally, including the ESPN+ sports streaming service, programmed in conjunction with ESPN; Disney+, the Disney-branded direct-to-consumer streaming service; global advertising sales and ad technology for all of Disney’s media properties, including ABC, ESPN, Freeform, FX Networks, National Geographic, and the Disney Channels; HotStar, the leading over-the-top streaming service in India; and the Company’s majority ownership stake in Hulu.

Job Summary:

Disney Media Systems Engineers have a clear charter: to transform the capability and flexibility of how Disney acquires, produces, and distributes content worldwide, all while ensuring the highest levels of quality, efficiency, and resiliency.

Disney Media Systems Engineers often find themselves at the crossroads between hardware and software-based technology and must possess a comprehensive theoretical and practical understanding of the technology that powers the generation, monetization, and distribution of all forms of consumer- facing linear and digital video/audio content. Responsibility includes numerous systems such as Playout Technology, Studios, Production Control Rooms, Remote Production, Post-Production, Contribution/Distribution Systems, Networking, Cloud Compute, Production Software and Virtual Environment and more.

The Lead Media Systems Engineer acts as a technical leader and is responsible for the design and implementation working closely with management and Executive Leadership to make recommendations and advance Disney’s technical posture.

The Lead Media Systems Engineer will work with vendors and industry trade organizations to define and evolve industry standards, solutions that impact our business. The Sr. Media Systems Engineer will lead and own all aspects of the design and build of Disney’s most impactful projects and will leverage their experience to create documentation, procedures, and standards that drive all our technological development.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

• Direct, take a lead role for the technical implementation of traditional broadcast production systems and cloud -based infrastructure that support content acquisition, production, encoding, decoding, and content distribution across multiple DE&E Technology networks (linear, digital, and streaming platforms).

• Take lead role and ownership of projects to modernize our legacy media production infrastructure systems to make way for advancements such as SMPTE ST 2110, 4K, UHD HDR, JPEGxs, NDI, ProRes Raw, H.265, AV1, including multi resolution support across broadcast facilities (720p/1080/4K/UHD/HDR), metadata conversion, audio mapping, system outages, microservices architecture tunning and related technical problems.

• Take lead role, direct and coordinate the construction of facilities, upgrades and the installation of equipment including core routing, intercom, playout, distribution systems, non-linear edit systems, graphics, video servers, storage solutions, file acquisition, file transcode, file transfer, media asset management and automation systems. Direct installation engineers, equipment manufacturers, vendors, technical operations staff, and others involved for a successful outcome of projects.

• Drive close collaboration with DE &ET and operations’ management to assess facility needs. Develops project plans, schedules, and capital planning, forecasting and estimations. Collaborates closely with equipment manufacturers and vendors to understand the range of equipment that might be relevant to support broadcasting facilities and operations.

• Provide specialized depth and/or breadth of expertise to solve complex problems, identify innovative solutions, serve as a team lead mentoring and coaching more junior engineers, helping to improve their skills, knowledge, and productivity.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 7+ years broadcast engineering experience.

• BS in Engineering or Computer Science.

• Strong understanding of baseband/IP video, audio and digital compression, transport systems, audio/video. encoding/transcoding techniques and formats. Knowledge of file transfer acceleration technologies and techniques.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in AutoCAD.

•  Working knowledge of DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, HTTP, UDP, SSL, and SNMP.

• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

• Proficiency in at least one of the following languages: Perl, Python, Ruby, Shell, C or C++.

• Familiar with SMPTE standards for broadcast television and video production/streaming environments with a current certification such as not limited to ST 292M, ST 424M, ST 2110, ST 2059, IEE1588, ST 2022-7, SCTE-104, etc.

• Knowledge and experience with on-prem and cloud-based storage and compute infrastructure platforms and current technological offerings. File-based workflows like enterprise Media Asset Management systems (Cloud-based Cloud Compute or Local Network-based) including storage, compute, encode and distribution.

• Knowledge and experience with compression techniques such as MPEG2/4, HEVC, JPEG 2000, and JPEG XS.

• Knowledge and experience with major media systems and the vendors that supply them in areas such as signal routing infrastructure, intercom, playout, asset management systems, file-based workflows, media acquisition, transcoding/encoding, graphics, and NAS/SAN technologies.

The hiring range for this position in New York is $124,000 to $166,200 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.