Broadcast Engineer (Independent Contractor)

Job Description

Job Description

NTT BROADCAST

Broadcast Video and Audio Systems Engineer

Independent business services | San Francisco | $78–$88/hour
As-needed onsite relief coverage, rapid-response technical support, and separately authorized projects

The opportunity

NTT Broadcast is seeking an established independent broadcast engineering firm or consultant to troubleshoot and support professional live television, video, audio and streaming systems at a government broadcast facility in San Francisco. The facility includes two broadcast control rooms supporting live government meetings and webcasts.

Substantial experience maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing professional broadcast or integrated AV systems is required. Applicants must be able to trace video and audio signal paths, isolate equipment and configuration faults, and restore systems during live productions. Network or IT experience alone does not meet this requirement. Camera operation, directing, switching shows, or video editing experience alone does not meet this requirement.

This is an independent professional services opportunity, not an employee position. We are seeking an independently operated business with existing clients, appropriate insurance, professional tools and test equipment, and the capacity to provide dependable on-site support.

Coverage and local response

The provider will cover planned absences and, when available, short-notice absences of NTT's regularly assigned Broadcast Engineer. The provider may also respond to significant technical failures and undertake separately authorized projects.

Rapid response is a core requirement. Providers must currently maintain and service broadcast customers within the City of San Francisco and have the operational capacity to respond promptly to our San Francisco facility. Individual assignments and availability will be coordinated with the provider, recognizing its commitments to other clients.

Primary services

·       Provide planned and short-notice relief engineering coverage when requested and available.

·       Test and verify critical production systems before broadcasts, and provide technical support during live meetings.

·       Troubleshoot and restore broadcast video, audio, routing, switching, camera, control-room, recording and streaming systems.

·       Trace signal paths and isolate equipment, configuration, connectivity and system-performance problems.

·       Coordinate with production personnel, clients, integrators and specialized vendors; escalate issues requiring additional expertise.

·       Document significant incidents and corrective actions, and recommend reliability, maintenance and equipment improvements.

Required technical experience

Substantial professional engineering experience in live television, government broadcasting, corporate television, studios, production facilities or comparable professional AV and broadcast environments. Applicants must demonstrate personal responsibility for maintaining and troubleshooting integrated production systems.

·       Professional video and audio signal flow, including SDI video paths, routing, distribution, monitoring and source-to-destination troubleshooting.

·       Broadcast video switchers, camera systems and PTZ control, recording equipment, and hardware streaming encoders.

·       Audio systems and DSP, microphone paths, mixing, and audio routing between the meeting room, remote participants and webcast.

·       Integrated control systems and network-connected broadcast equipment, with networking knowledge applied to production systems.

·       Live production support where maintaining service and resolving failures promptly are essential.

·       Clear technical documentation and professional communication with production staff, clients and vendors.

Relevant technologies in NTT's broadcast and AV environment include Ross Carbonite, Blackmagic Design routing and production equipment, Q-SYS, Crestron, and hardware broadcast encoders. Experience with these or comparable systems is relevant; demonstrated broadcast troubleshooting ability is essential.

Prior government meeting broadcasting experience is desirable. Substantial transferable broadcast engineering experience is acceptable. The provider must become familiar with the facility's equipment, signal paths, operating procedures and technical documentation to provide reliable coverage.

Special project services

Separately authorized projects may include system evaluation and modernization; equipment replacement and control-room upgrades; workflow, signal-path and system-design improvements; equipment specification, installation, integration, testing and commissioning; new broadcast technologies; recurring fault remediation; and system diagrams and documentation. Project scope will be agreed based on NTT's needs and the provider's expertise and availability.

Independent business requirements

The provider must be prepared to substantiate an established broadcast engineering, television engineering or related professional consulting business. NTT may request:

·       Existing clients other than NTT, including current broadcast customers and service presence within San Francisco.

·       Business identity and contact information; registration, licensing or organizational documentation as applicable; and appropriate tax documentation.

·       Professional invoicing and accounting practices.

·       Appropriate professional and commercial insurance, including general liability and other coverage appropriate to the services, plus workers' compensation when applicable.

·       Ownership of or access to professional tools, test equipment and other business resources.

·       Ability to enter a written independent contractor or professional services agreement, and any additional documentation reasonably required to substantiate qualifications and independent business operations.

Professional services rate

$78.00-$88.00 per hour.

The applicable rate depends on the services provided, assignment requirements, technical complexity, and the provider's qualifications and specialized expertise. Separately authorized projects with materially different scopes may have project-specific pricing agreed in writing before work begins.

This rate is payment to an independent business for contracted services, not an employee wage or salary. The provider is responsible for its own business expenses, taxes, insurance, personnel, tools and equipment, and other business obligations.

Professional standards

These services support government meetings and public-facing communications. Reliability, integrity, confidentiality, professional judgment and accountability are essential. Technical problems must be communicated accurately, significant incidents and corrective actions documented appropriately, and issues requiring additional expertise escalated promptly.

About NTT Broadcast

Network Television Time, Inc. (NTT Broadcast) has provided government meeting broadcasting and related professional services for more than three decades. Our services include live broadcasts and webcasts, audiovisual meeting support, remote participation, streaming, recording and archiving, captioning, spoken-language translation and meeting transcripts.

Responding to this opportunity

Qualified independent broadcast engineering firms and consultants should submit information describing:

·       Company background, business credentials, professional qualifications and references.

·       Hands-on broadcast engineering experience, relevant clients and representative projects.

·       Experience maintaining and troubleshooting live broadcast facilities and control rooms, including equipment and systems personally supported.

·       Current broadcast customers and service presence within the City of San Francisco.

·       Availability for planned and short-notice coverage, rapid-response capabilities and special-project expertise.

·       Professional and commercial insurance coverage.

Required screening question

NTT seeks a long-term engineering resource that can become familiar with our facility and provide dependable relief coverage, rapid technical assistance and specialized project support.

NTT Broadcast helps government agencies televise democracy, allowing clients to focus on what they do best: govern. For more than three decades, we have provided live government meeting broadcasts, professional AV support, remote meeting participation, streaming, recording, captioning, translation, and transcript services. Our team combines technical expertise, professionalism, and reliable service to support public access and government transparency.

Company Description

NTT Broadcast helps government agencies televise democracy, allowing clients to focus on what they do best: govern. For more than three decades, we have provided live government meeting broadcasts, professional AV support, remote meeting participation, streaming, recording, captioning, translation, and transcript services. Our team combines technical expertise, professionalism, and reliable service to support public access and government transparency.