People Strategy, Equity, and Culture

Media Services Operations Engineer

  • Title: Media Services Operations Engineer
  • Category: Classified
  • FLSA: Non-exempt
  • Grade: 23

Job Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Media Services, the Media Services Operations Engineer is responsible for engineering, design, and operation of college IP video, microwave, satellite, cable television, broadcast, and streaming video and rich media capture facilities. The MSOE researches and recommends design changes and new technology to the manager, and coordinates the development and implementation of changes and additions. The MSOE is responsible for the installation, integration, operation, and maintenance of equipment used for broadcast programming throughout the PCC district. The position also provides engineering and operations support for the Distance Learning and other departments with regards to master control, cable television facilities, and other delivery methods used for delivering educational programming. The MSOE is responsible for maintaining current and accurate records of cable plant and equipment configuration, as well as equipment inventory for all facilities mentioned above. Additionally, the coordinator provides training, documentation, and user support for supported systems.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Design, integrate, engineer, operate, and maintain broadcast and IP video facilities to PCC and industry standards.
  2. Maintains campus-wide IP video classrooms, master control, and all college video related delivery systems, infrastructure and facilities.
  3. Ensures the technical integrity, performance, reliability, and user friendliness of supported systems. Required to conduct usability studies to support this goal.
  4. Ensures that supported systems match engineered specifications.
  5. Coordinates, operates, trains and directs staff in the use of video acquisition and encoding devices, video broadcast servers, near-line storage units, video streaming servers, rich media content recording, analog video tape recording, digital capturing, disc burning, closed caption encryption, and production facilities for classroom, broadcast and Distance Learning applications.
  6. Advises faculty and instructional departments in appropriate technologies and methods to effectively deliver course content using supported technologies.
  7. Responsible for Media Services supported video servers, IP bridges, MCU conferencing systems and related routers, switches and network equipment. Also recommends and participates in out-sourcing services or programming when it benefits the college.
  8. In cooperation with TSS staff, provides various signal delivery methods for video and audio utilizing the campus-wide network technologies for special events that include both temporary and permanent pathways.
  9. Works with customer and peer organizations to perform research, testing, evaluation and implementation of systems, and when directed to do so, serves as technical contact between cable companies, external network gateways and service providers, educational institutions, business and governmental agencies, general public and students.
  10. Participates in training for faculty, staff and students in the operation of IP Video classrooms, equipment, and other related facilities, including quality production aspects and presentation procedures.
  11. Consults with and advises Distance Learning and other Instructional departments about appropriate technologies to provide facilities used in teaching and learning.
  12. Facilitates programming and computerized graphics for classes and airing on the PCC cable channel.
  13. Monitors and advises the work of contractors and service providers in the construction of building facilities, equipment installation and wiring infrastructure related to responsibilities.
  14. In cooperation with management, may acquire pricing and bids on major equipment and services, and work with the TSS Technology Buyer to purchase supply items and needed components.
  15. Maintains technical expertise, certifications, and current knowledge for video industry best practice and technology, and acts as a college technical resource for technologies in assigned field. Recommends modifications or changes that will improve efficiency and/or effectiveness.
  16. Expected to make decisions regarding day to day operations, staff scheduling, systems integrity and implementing backup responses and fixes.
  17.  Monitors and oversees the overall quality of operations, must quickly analyze and resolve problems and is on call, when authorized, to support staff on duty.
  18. Trains and oversees the work of Master Control Assistant, student help, and casual employees.

Positions in this classification may perform all or some of the responsibilities above and all positions perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate’s degree in media communication/production, television production, electronics, broadcast engineering or related area. Experience performing the duties of the job may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Five years of experience engineering, designing, installing, maintaining and repairing broadcast and presentation systems.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:

IP based video conferencing systems, from design to installation and maintenance; video conferencing bridges, software, operations and maintenance; multimedia production, analog and digital video production and distribution, audio production, satellite systems, audio/video signal routing systems; and industry and Federal Communications Commission quality standards.

Ability to:

Work from schematics, blueprints and engineering data and to use a wide variety of diagnostic equipment such as oscilloscopes, waveform vectors, spectrum analyzers, VTMs, oscillators, color bar generators; communicate technical information effectively orally and in written form; design, operate, and maintain a wide variety of automated broadcast systems such as IP video systems, rich media capture systems, multi-channel microwave systems, television broadcast equipment, satellite earth stations, campus CATV and telephone networks; plan and schedule work priorities to meet deadlines and emergencies; estimate materials and time costs, prioritize work and perform duties independently; provide transportation for off-site travel.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Must be able to work under stress, meet deadlines and work irregular hours as needed. Employee may be assigned to be on-call as the need is identified. Work areas may include hazardous areas such as roofs, tunnels and high voltage equipment areas. Noise is also a daily work environment factor. Working conditions are somewhat disagreeable and may be performed in a cramped or awkward position. Incumbent must stay abreast of changes in job related technology.

Reviewed: 12/18

  • Revised: 1/07
  • Rev: 11/2/06
  • Replaces: Master Control/Video Systems Engineer Technician