Houston Public Media Chief Engineer

University of Houston•Houston, TX

36d

About The Position

Daily management of all aspects of Houston Public Media (HPM) technical facilities. Manages the installation, maintenance and on-air presentation of the station. Pursuant to the State of Texas Executive Order No. GA-48, this position researches, works on, or has access to critical infrastructure and requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the University infrastructure. This position requires personnel be routinely reviewed to determine whether or not criminal history or continuous connections for the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the employee from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

Requirements

Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline.
Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed.
Requires a minimum of five (5) years of directly job-related experience.
Department is willing to accept experience in lieu of education
Able to lift 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of TCP/IP, UDP, RTP, VLANs, and multicast protocols.
Advanced knowledge of current and future video/audio and television systems and formats, including SMPTE 2110, NDI, DANTE, AES67.
An understanding of common video compression standards (MPEG2, H.264/AVC, HEVC) as well as video transmission protocols/formats (MPEG2 transport stream, SCTE35, ASI, RTP, SRT, RIST) a plus.
Basic understanding of AWS architectures and methodologies.
Strong skills in scripting for automation, data processing, and workflow optimization. Extensive Linux and Python experience a plus.
Self-learner, independent, with outstanding problem-solving skills.
Understanding of fiber optic and copper networking technologies.
Proxmox and TrueNAS experience
BS in a related field and two years of broadcast/studio engineering experience, or AS in a related field and 7+ years in general broadcast/studio engineering experience
Demonstrated knowledge of broadcast studio systems
Basic radio and video production knowledge
SBE certification preferred
CCNA or Network+ certification preferred

Responsibilities

Ensures that both long-range technical performance of the station and overall performance of station equipment meet Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements, station requirements and all other appropriate licensing authorities.
Directs and supervises the use of all engineering personnel.
Manages the technical operations and utilization of station equipment.
Plans future maintenance and installation activities.
Oversees budget management for departmental personnel, parts and materials.
Monitors changing regulatory requirements and adjusts procedures and operations as necessary.
Designs and documents technical facilities; interacts with other departments who use technical facilities and services.
Maintains knowledge of industry standards and practices.
Serves as the primary emergency contact for the station outside of standard business hours.
Performs other job-related duties as required.
Install, maintain, repair and oversee the operation of radio and TV studio equipment and broadcast transmitters.
Troubleshoot and solve equipment and air chain issues quickly and efficiently. Including IPbased distribution components.
Ensure strict compliance with FCC rules, FAA guidelines, and other regulatory requirements.
Create and maintain system drawings and documentation.
Serve as the primary 24/7/365 technical emergency contact during unattended nights, weekends and university holidays.
Work closely with content, digital, and technology teams to ensure smooth integration of technical systems into company workflows.
Provide training and technical guidance to staff on use of broadcast and facility systems.
Stay up to date on current technology and seek opportunities to learn new skills