Broadcast Field Engineer

Job Description

The Role

The Broadcast Field Engineer provides timely and professional engineering support for CNN's newsgathering and Warnermedia's production operations, in a deadline-led news environment, for broadcasting and editorial clients who expect high standards of performance and productivity.

Field engineers are often the only formally qualified technicians working on a location. Their communications abilities, self-confidence and engineering skills must therefore be of a high standard.

The Broadcast Field Engineer can build an installation of a site in varying environments and will give guidance to other stakeholders & team members.

The Daily
• Provide timely and professional engineering support for CNN's Field-based newsgathering and Warnermedia's production operations, in a deadline-led news environment, for broadcasting and editorial clients who expect high standards of performance and productivity.
• TV broadcast systems design & implementation, technical quality control, electronic maintenance, equipment installations and operations; working with all types of equipment required for remote TV broadcasting, at possibly any location worldwide.
• This Broadcast Engineering professional will be tasked with timely and professional technical support of the 24x7x365 news, and IT/IP/Video/Audio production environment. Individuals must fully demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to set up and operate a satellite news gathering (''SNG'') system, perform quality control, and perform minor maintenance and repair (when needed) of all television remote broadcast and/or satellite transmission & receiving equipment.
• Frequent assignments for work in the field, both in UAE and overseas sometimes in hostile locations are expected, and protracted periods of duty are anticipated.
• When not deployed on a field assignment, Field Engineers work at the engineering office/workshop located at the Abu Dhabi production centre. From there, they provide technical, maintenance and logistical support for the technical resources of the department, UAE facilities including 3 other offices in Dubai and other regional overseas bureaus.
• This position will liaise closely with the Abu Dhabi bureau staff and CNN engineering teams, across all areas of common interest and purpose. Wider communications with many other Warnermedia departments, our vendors and overseas bureaus are also required in relation to news assignments, equipment issues and planning.

The Essential
• A creative ability to overcome system and equipment level problems and quickly find workaround solutions is vital.
• Prior experience in a TV/OB Broadcast maintenance, or operations engineering environment.
• Good team player with excellent personal communication skills
• Appreciation of studio and TV production, editing, IP transmission and ENG production techniques, terrestrial and satellite communications systems, computers and data networks
• Understanding of technical jargon, schematic circuit and systems diagrams, and all-round engineering skills
• Competence and confidence in the use of specialised test equipment for undertaking electrical/electronic troubleshooting, diagnostics and maintenance work
• Some knowledge and experience of the configuration and alignment of complex equipment and systems
• Creative ability to overcome system and equipment level problems quickly finding workaround solutions
• Ability, willingness and capability to travel extensively on regional and international remote assignments, at short notice and for potentially indeterminate periods is vital
• Practical ability to fabricate basic supportive items on site or in base and work with various materials by hand to achieve this e.g. cables, wood, metal and plastics
• Must be computer literate, with experience in data networks, software and peripherals
• Ability to stay calm and self-motivated whilst working under pressure and in possibly hostile environments
• A level (or equivalent) supporting a higher diploma or pass degree in Electronics and/or Communications engineering (or closely related engineering field). Vocational qualifications in electronics and/or communications engineering (or a closely related engineering field) or equivalent experience.

The Desirable
• Previous news organisation experience
• Experience from other relevant professions e.g. electrical engineering, metalwork, carpentry, vehicle maintenance, A/V Installation, IT support, photography, sound engineering, cine production, equipment hire, telecoms, military signals, avionics, and airfreight/shipping
• Valid driving license with van driving ability and experience of driving overseas
• Languages competency and experience living and working overseas.
• First Aid and health and safety training/experience
• Willingness to work in hazardous environments/war zones
• Newsroom computer and server systems experience.
• Manufacturers training courses are highly desirable, Eg. BBC technical training courses, Sony Broadcast maintenance training, Cisco Network engineering, NDI techniques, Adobe Creative Cloud, Evertz etc and in-house training.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rn8wnm-216-73-216-202-42 in your application.