Lead Engineer, Broadcast Services

Job Description

The Lead Engineer, Broadcast Services is a hands-on, senior engineering role responsible for the design, on-site delivery, and technical execution of CHESA's broadcast and AV systems projects nationwide. As the senior technical authority, this role translates customer requirements into actionable system designs, leads installation and commissioning, and partners with Project Managers, Solutions Architects, and Sales to keep projects well-scoped, on schedule, and on budget. They also support proposals and SOWs and assist the Director of Professional Services in interviewing freelance engineers and third-party contractors. The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in broadcast or studio systems, deep knowledge of broadcast infrastructure, media workflows, and systems integration, and the ability to work autonomously across multiple projects.

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This role requires frequent travel to support installs and client sites nationwide. Travel varies with the project pipeline, from minimal during quieter periods to extensive when multiple installs overlap. While the position is posted in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area, candidates based in New York, Los Angeles, and Denver will also be considered.

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Core Responsibilities:

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Project Engineering & Design Ownership

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• Collaborate with project managers, solutions architects, and engineers to translate project scope and customer requirements into clear, actionable system designs, owning technical alignment across major broadcast projects to ensure solutions are consistent, scalable, and aligned with departmental standards.
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• Provide technical leadership throughout design, implementation, and final delivery, balancing performance, schedule, scope, and long-term maintainability.
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• Partner with Solutions Architects to provide engineering support during bids, proposals, and solution development, validating assumptions and ensuring scopes are technically sound and deliverable.
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• Read and translate engineering drawings and system designs into actionable install and commissioning plans, and mentor junior engineers through on-site and structured technical training.
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Budget, Schedule & Delivery Accountability

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• Support on-time, on-budget delivery by weighing cost, schedule, and resourcing impacts in technical decisions, and by partnering with project management to identify and mitigate technical risks early in the project lifecycle.
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• Provide clear technical guidance and trade-off recommendations to maintain project momentum, minimizing scope creep and flagging delivery risks before they impact budget or schedule.
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Staffing & Surge Support

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• Support the Director, Professional Services in interviewing and evaluating freelance broadcast and AV engineer candidates, as well as third-party contracting companies, to fill project labor needs.
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• Maintain a network of freelance broadcast engineers and vendor partners to support surge staffing needs, providing technical evaluation to confirm candidates meet CHESA's quality standards.
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Integration, Commissioning & On-Site Leadership

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• Serve as the on-site lead for install teams and the escalation point for complex technical challenges, ensuring work is completed to spec, on schedule, and to CHESA quality standards.
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• Work alongside project engineers during installation and commissioning to maintain design intent, support system validation during testing and acceptance, and resolve issues efficiently.
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• Coordinate directly with clients on site to manage expectations and resolve issues in real time, escalating unresolved issues to the appropriate internal teams.
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• Ensure safety, quality, and documentation standards are met throughout the install process, providing hands-on support for smaller projects as needed. Potential nationwide travel is required.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration

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• Partner with project management and Solutions Architects to align deliverables, scope, labor, and timelines with schedules and execution plans.
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• Collaborate with sales and solutions teams to ensure proposed approaches transition smoothly into delivery, contributing engineering insight during solution reviews and customer-facing discovery sessions.
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• Contribute to pre-sales activity, including client site surveys and discovery calls, and support the creation of proposals, statements of work, and RFP responses for broadcast-related projects.
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• Coordinate with internal teams to support smooth transitions between project phases, and feed field observations back to Product and Solutions Architects on tooling or platform gaps.
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Documentation & Continuous Improvement

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• Contribute to and maintain standard broadcast documentation, including system designs, workflows, and as-built records, and contribute broadcast-specific content to the Professional Services Knowledge Base.
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• Ensure engineering processes are normalized and consistently applied across the broadcast division, continuously improving documentation standards, templates, and workflows to support scalability and repeatability.
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Required Skills

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• Deep, hands-on technical background in broadcast and AV systems design, integration, and commissioning.
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• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., AVIXA CTS, Q-SYS, SMPTE) 
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• Read and translate engineering drawings and designs into actionable install and commissioning plans, and ensure those plans are followed on site.
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• Clear and effective communication, with the ability to translate complicated technical concepts to all parties, from field engineers up to executive leadership.
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• Proven experience building and implementing engineering processes and documentation standards, with the ability to pivot and develop new approaches when current systems do not meet project needs.
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• Comes with a network of freelance broadcast engineers and industry connections to support surge staffing needs.
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• Ability to mentor and train junior engineers, both on site and through structured training.
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• Ability to work autonomously across multiple concurrent projects and locations.
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Compensation and Benefits

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Salary Range: $125,000-$150,000

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Our compensation package includes:

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• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
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• Retirement plan options
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• Paid time off and holidays
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• Professional development and training opportunities
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Equal Employment Opportunity

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We are a proud equal opportunity employer and value diversity at every level of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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About CHESA

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Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Baltimore, MD, CHESA is a national leader in digital workflow solutions for federal, corporate, and Media & Entertainment clients. As a value-added reseller, systems integrator, and consulting firm, CHESA enables organizations to efficiently create, manage, and monetize digital content. Our experts architect, deploy, and support high-performance, scalable, and reliable systems across media asset management, storage, cloud, automation, and custom workflows. We pride ourselves on being trusted advisors to our clients — from major production agencies to studios, broadcasters, and publishers.

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With regional hubs in Northern Virginia, New York City, Denver, Dallas, and Los Angeles, CHESA remains committed to innovation, excellence, and industry leadership.