Broadcast Engineer – East Operations Lead

Washington State University • Pullman, WA

2d • $4,509 - $5,072 • Onsite

About The Position

The Broadcast Engineer – East Operations Lead is a technical position responsible for the operation, reliability, maintenance, and continuous improvement of radio broadcast transmission, studio, and supporting technical systems for Northwest Public Broadcasting (NWPB). Based at NWPB’s headquarters, this position provides engineering leadership for East Operations while maintaining the organization’s core broadcast infrastructure, including centralized program origination, audio distribution, automation, and signal transport systems that support broadcast operations throughout the network. Working with a high degree of independence, this position manages complex broadcast, RF, IP networking, and IT-based systems; leads technical projects from planning through implementation; and ensures compliance with applicable FCC regulations, industry standards, and organizational policies. The Broadcast Engineer collaborates closely with engineering staff, program operations, information technology, and other stakeholders to maintain reliable, mission-critical broadcast services, centralized content distribution, and public safety communications across NWPB’s multi-state broadcast network.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years professional experience OR a combination of education and experience totaling seven (7) years from which comparable knowledge and abilities are acquired. Education and experience may be tailored to specific need requirements of position.
• Demonstrated experience installing, operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing radio broadcast transmission, studio, and associated technical systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations applicable to broadcast operations, including technical compliance, logging, licensing, and operational standards.
• Proven experience troubleshooting and maintaining complex broadcast infrastructure, including RF transmission systems, AoIP networks, automation systems, audio processing, IP networking, and related broadcast technologies.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose, prioritize, and resolve complex technical issues in a timely and effective manner.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound technical judgment, prioritize competing responsibilities, and manage multiple projects in a dynamic operational environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate successfully with engineering staff, information technology professionals, vendors, contractors, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience, including coordinating projects, mentoring or training technical staff, and providing guidance during system installations, upgrades, and troubleshooting activities.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Washington and areas of Oregon, and Idaho to support engineering projects, emergency response, preventative maintenance, and technical operations.
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.
• Ability to safely travel to and work at remote transmitter facilities under varying terrain and weather conditions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting AoIP systems, radio automation systems, centralized audio routing, and HD Radio (IBOC) transmission technologies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of RF theory, transmission lines, antenna systems, propagation principles, and broadcast signal measurement techniques.
• Experience installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting FM and AM broadcast transmitters, including high-power RF systems, associated support equipment, and electronic test instruments.
• Experience with satellite reception and distribution systems, Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment, remote-control and telemetry systems, and studio-to-transmitter links (STLs).
• Experience administering or supporting IP-based broadcast networks, including managed switches, VLANs, routing, network diagnostics, and cybersecurity best practices.
• Experience supporting Windows and/or Linux server environments used for broadcast automation, audio routing, monitoring, or other mission-critical broadcast applications.
• Experience planning or leading technical projects involving broadcast system integration, equipment replacement, facility upgrades, or infrastructure modernization.
• Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) certification (e.g., Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer (CBRE), Certified Broadcast Technologist, or Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist (CBNT), or the ability to obtain certification.
• Experience working in a public broadcasting, educational broadcasting, or multi-station broadcast network environment.
• Experience supporting centralized broadcast origination, content distribution, or network operations serving multiple transmitter sites.

Responsibilities

• Maintain broadcast infrastructure, including studio-to-transmitter links (STLs), satellite reception systems, Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment, telemetry and remote-control systems, and associated support equipment to meet operational, quality-of-service, and regulatory requirements.
• Operate, maintain, and support broadcast technologies, including Audio-over-IP (AoIP) networks, radio automation systems, FM (including HD Radio), AM transmission systems, satellite reception, emergency standby power systems, and centralized routing, processing, monitoring, and control platforms.
• Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade radio studio equipment and supporting technologies, including AoIP servers, network switches, operating systems, audio consoles, microphones, signal processors, and related hardware and software.
• Maintain and support NWPB’s centralized broadcast origination, program distribution, automation, and signal transport systems that provide programming and operational services across the statewide network.
• Manage assigned broadcast facilities to ensure operational continuity, including oversight of transmitter sites, emergency power systems, HVAC equipment, building infrastructure, and preventative maintenance activities.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineering staff, contractors, vendors, and project teams by coordinating installations, system upgrades, troubleshooting efforts, and technical training.
• Support and administer network infrastructure supporting broadcast operations, including servers, switches, storage, virtual or physical computing platforms, and related IP-based systems.
• Travel as required to support engineering projects, emergency response, equipment installation, preventative maintenance, and technical operations throughout Washington, and areas of Oregon, and Idaho.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FCC, FAA, OSHA, and organizational policies, engineering standards, and operational procedures.

Benefits

• paid sick and vacation leave
• paid holidays
• medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• retirement
• deferred compensation
• optional supplemental retirement accounts
• training and development
• employee tuition waiver

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior