Lead Media Systems Engineer

Job Summary:

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company’s media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world. 

Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here:

1. Building the future of Disney’s media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.

2. Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney’s technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company’s brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News…and many more. These products and brands – and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry – matter to millions of people globally. 

3. Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Content Platforms & Operations is responsible for the development and ongoing advancement of the technical and operational functions driving the worldwide distribution and monetization of Disney’s linear networks and theatrical content. This includes Disney’s media supply chain and storage, network and theatrical distribution operations, media localization, network transmission and origination, and more. The global team also plays a critical role as the primary collaboration point for Product & Technology with Disney’s EMEA, APAC, and LATAM regional business teams.

Job Summary:

Disney Media 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 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 is an expert engineer in several disciplines related to the acquisition, production, or distribution of media content. They are well-versed in multiple technical standards and have hands-on experience in both the sustainment and design/build of production systems.

The Lead Media Systems Engineer is part of a tiered sustainment model where incidents are escalated from a shared Operations team (tier 1) to the Media Engineer I’s, II’s and Sr. Media Engineer (tier 2), Lead Media Engineer (tier 3) and beyond. They are the heart of the sustainment efforts in the technology they lead. The Lead Media Engineer will interface with both external and internal partners to ensure their technical areas are operating with peak efficiency and reliability. Lead Media Engineers are also focused heavily on the design/build of their areas of expertise, often advancing innovative technology to maintain Disney’s competitive technical edge. Lead Media Engineers perform beyond the technical to truly understand the businesses that benefit from our technology and make decisions and recommendations based on the complete business, operational and technical outlook, and requirements.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

• Respond to and resolve issues that affect acquisition, production, and content distribution across multiple DEE networks including system outages, malfunctions, and related technical problems, and conduct diagnostic testing, repair, and replacement activities necessary to solve routine, specialized, and complex problems.

• Utilize system health and performance monitoring software and platforms; troubleshoot and participate in repairing system problems and failures, participates in maintenance of systems, installs software patches, updates etc., to resolve and avoid service problems, and troubleshoots system problems as they relate to these services.

• Analyze and troubleshoot streaming audio/video signals in traditional SDI and IP 2110 essence flow routing environments.

• Analyze and troubleshoot cloud platforms as necessary

• Support third-party service providers by enforcing the agreed upon scope of services within the various signed service agreements (i.e., full time, freelance, union agencies, maintenance providers, contractors, service providers, etc.).

• Select, train, motivate and evaluate technical staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.

• Support the procurement of equipment, supplies and materials for Media technology systems within budget guidelines; receive and maintain equipment and supplies.

• Support long range planning for future media technology needs, including capital improvements, to enhance production and distribution capabilities.

• Lead the development and implementation of policies and procedures regarding technology facilities with a focus on maximizing the integration of all systems to meet business, marketing, and entertainment goals.

• Lead operational support of all activities related to operating, maintaining, and programming the audio and video production/distribution systems across the enterprise and other connected properties. When required perform preventative maintenance on all broadcast systems and equipment, such as distribution systems, switchers, consoles, playout servers, cameras, robotics, electromechanical equipment, automation systems and radio facilities to ensure optimum broadcast performance.

• Participates in engineering projects at the direction of more experienced engineers.

• Reviews and contributes to system/workflow documentation.

• Participates in regular training and development objectives.

• Extraordinary influencer who is skilled at connecting the dots at the organization, strategy, program, project, and event levels.  Able to persuade and change the thinking of others without damaging relationships.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growth environment with minimal direction, delivering under tight deadlines while multitasking, prioritizing projects, and communicating priority updates to team members.

• Able to operate with limited resources, exhibit objective critical-thinking, and creatively solve problems. Motivated and inventive, always finds a way forward—eternal optimist with a committed drive for contributing and making a difference.

• Any other duties needed to help achieve Business Objectives.

Required Education, Experience/Skills/Training:

Minimum Qualifications:

• 7 + years of previous and relevant experience in leading others, developing technical strategies ensuring efficient sustainment, uptime, and overall stability of the technical environments of Media Engineering and live media production and distribution environments.

• Expert level knowledge and experience with integrating, implementing, or refreshing broadcast control room equipment, including familiarity with modern broadcast cabling infrastructure used in broadcast environments.

• Proficient with technologies like microservices, DevOps tools, design principles, practices, standards and guidelines

• Scripting proficiency will be an advantage (Python, NodeJS, Bash, PowerShell)

• Proficient in 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.

• Advanced level knowledge and experience with on-prem and cloud-based storage and compute infrastructure platforms and current technological offerings. At least one foundational cloud certification required, including but not limited to Microsoft Certified: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, CompTIA Cloud+, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate.

• Advanced level knowledge and experience with compression techniques such as MPEG2/4, HEVC, JPEG 2000, and JPEG XS

• Expert level knowledge and experience with Evertz software control systems such as frame control via VistaLink or Magnum, EQX/EXE routers, and their monitoring software VLPRO, SDVN, VIP, VUE, MVP.

• Advanced level knowledge and experience with major media systems and the vendors that supply them in areas such as asset management systems, file-based workflows, media acquisition, transcoding/encoding, graphics, and NAS/SAN technologies.

• Expert level knowledge and experience with Nielsen (NACAT), VANC equipment, Linear Acoustics, and other related systems.

• Expert level knowledge and experience with coordinated receiver decoders IRDs, core devices, edge devices, timing of video and audio systems, audio and video media file formats are a plus.

• Ability to create, read and interpret AutoCAD and other technical drawing/documentation tools.

• Demonstrated expert troubleshooting and sustaining in one or more of the following:

  • IP-based broadcast equipment including routers, switchers, audio boards, signal processers, encoder/decoder, video scalers, playback systems, etc.

  • Studio technology includes video walls, cameras, VR set technology, image processing systems, touch screens, lighting, etc.

  • File-based workflows like enterprise Media Asset Management systems (Cloud-based Cloud Compute or Local Network-based) including storage, compute, encode and distribution.

  • Production control systems such as Imagine Communications or Grass Valley automation systems, Avid, Adobe, Viz, Dalet, Riedel trunking, Lawo, Calrec, Evertz, Ross and others.

  • Transmission systems such as RF (Radio Frequency), Satellite Distribution, Fiber Distribution, etc.

  • Proven track record for troubleshooting and sustainment knowledge of AWS Infrastructures and other cloud-based technologies including S3/Glacier storage and cloud compute (EC2) services.

• Physical requirements and work environment: Ability to climb ladders, work on raised structures and building roofs, operate areal lift platforms and have valid driver’s license.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience

#DisneyTECH

The hiring range for this position in The Woodlands,TX is $123,000 - $165,000 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.