Senior Video Acquisition Engineer

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the end-to-end video acquisition process from multiple content sources such as satellite, fiber, IP streams, and OTT platforms.
• Ensure video signals are acquired at the highest possible quality, conduct regular quality checks and assessments on the incoming video streams, implementing error correction mechanisms when necessary.
• Manage video ingest systems for live and VOD content, ensuring efficient content capture and handoff to video headend systems.
• Monitor and troubleshoot acquisition feeds, ensuring minimal downtime and rapid resolution of signal or quality issues.
• Ensure the proper system and security configuration and maintenance of satellite and OTA receivers, Live and VOD Encoders, Transcoders ad splicers, and other equipment used in video acquisition ecosystem.
• Implement signal normalization and grooming techniques to ensure consistent video quality and format across all streams.
• Architect and implement Video Acquisition solutions, ensuring scalability, redundancy, and high performance.
• Lead the design and implementation of new video acquisition systems for satellite, IP, or fiber acquisition.
• Implement multicast, unicast, and other streaming protocols to efficiently transport content to the headend or distribution platforms.
• Install and configure Satellite receivers, Encoders, Transcoders, Ad splicers.
• Monitor IPTV services and linear channels for Audio/Video quality. Analyze real-time and historic data from monitoring systems to proactively address issues.
• Monitor video systems, including hardware, software, and network performance, to identify potential issues. Perform diagnostics and ensure equipment is operating within optimal parameters.
• Work closely with the network team to manage and optimize the IP transport of video signals over various networks
• Troubleshoot network-related issues impacting video transport, ensuring stable and efficient content delivery.
• Plan and implement system upgrades, including new codec deployments (HEVC, H.264), 4K, HDR, and emerging video/audio standards.
• Implement and maintain secure and reliable protocols to ensure content protection in the acquisition chain.
• Ensure compliance with content provider agreements, including content usage rights and broadcasting rules.
• Plan coordinate and conduct scheduled maintenance during low-traffic periods or designated maintenance windows to minimize disruption. When issues are detected that can't wait for regular maintenance windows, coordinate quick-fix efforts to minimize downtime. Ensure all maintenance work strictly adhere to the company’s change management procedure and efficiently communicate maintenance schedules with stakeholders.
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the

knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, or equivalent job experience. Master's degree is a plus.
• 7 years of experience in video acquisition, IPTV or broadcast engineering, with a strong focus on satellite, IP, and fiber video transport.
  
  

Preferred Experience:

• Strong background in IPTV headend operations and video distribution technologies.
• Hands-on experience with video ingest, encoding, and decoding systems.
• Proven track record of designing and managing video acquisition systems for live and ondemand content.
• Hands-on experience with video encoding/transcoding (H.264, HEVC), multiplexing, and modulation systems.
• Hand on experience with MPEG analysis of Elementary streams for encoding compliance, PTS/DTS, Gop structure, buffer analysis.
  
  

Preferred Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks effectively.
  
  

Preferred Certifications:

• SCTE Digital Video Engineering Professional (DVEP)
• SCTE IPEP certified
• Linux Professional Institute LPIC-1
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or equivalent.
• AWS, Harmonic or Ericsson-specific video equipment certifications.
  
  

BENEFITS:

• We truly appreciate and value all our employees and show our appreciation by offering a wide range of benefits, including:
• Comprehensive Healthcare/Dental/Vision Plans
• 401K Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Additional Holidays (including your Birthday!)
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Paid Parental Leave
• Hotwire Service Discounts – for employees who live on a property serviced by Hotwire. Discounted service offerings are provided for high-speed internet, video service, phone, and security service
• Employee Referral Bonuses
• Exclusive Entertainment Discounts/Perks
  
  

Hotwire provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.