Chief Engineer

Role Overview: As the Chief Engineer at WABE you will lead the technical operations for television and radio broadcasting, and digital media and streaming ensuring optimal functionality and innovation across multiple platforms. The role of a Chief Engineer is hands on, multifaceted and crucial for ensuring the smooth technical operations of the station's equipment and systems. Your role involves overseeing RF transmission, broadcast technology, digital media, and streaming services to maintain cutting-edge capabilities. The Chief Engineer plays a pivotal role in maintaining the technical integrity, ensuring compliance with regulations, managing technical teams, and driving innovation to enhance the WABE capabilities. The Chief Engineer needs expertise in managing both traditional and digital broadcasting landscapes plays a critical role in maintaining the technical integrity and efficiency of a station's operations, ensuring seamless content delivery across multiple platforms.
Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership: This is a hands-on role. Responsible and overseeing all technical aspects of the station, including broadcast equipment, RF transmission systems, studio infrastructure, and streaming services. Provide strategic direction and technical leadership. Ability to manage, triage and fix technical issues across all systems (traditional and new) ranging from RF, over the air transmission, IP & terrestrial networks, studio production, towers and antennas, servers, digital and streaming infrastructure etc. Manage Master Control. Manage Emergency Alert System.
• 24/7 Monitoring and Response: Must be able to respond rapidly in case of outages (due to equipment failure, vendor outage, weather, etc.) to ensure systems are operational.
• Infrastructure Maintenance: Overall responsibility for all day-to-day TV & Radio broadcast activities, including compliance with all regulatory and governmental agencies (FCC, OSHA, etc.), station asset management, transmission facilities, information technology systems, and remote facilities. Ensuring the maintenance, repair, and upkeep of broadcasting and digital equipment to ensure uninterrupted operations. This includes transmitters, antennas, consoles, cameras, editing suites, streaming and digital servers, IT systems networks and related hardware etc.
• RF Transmission Management: Oversee the design, installation, and maintenance of RF transmission systems, ensuring reliability, compliance, and optimal performance of broadcast signals.
• Broadcast Infrastructure Oversight: Manage the technical infrastructure for television and radio broadcasting, ensuring seamless operation and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Streaming Technology Expertise: Lead the implementation and management of streaming services and platforms, optimizing streaming quality, reliability, and user experience.
• Team Leadership and Development: Manage engineers and technicians, fostering a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and collaborative problem-solving. Providing guidance, training, and support to ensure efficient operations and technical proficiency.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with FCC or other relevant regulatory standards for RF transmission, broadcasting, digital media and streaming services, including licensing and adherence to technical specifications. This also involves maintaining licenses, adhering to technical guidelines, and managing frequency allocations. Maintain the public file, complete all applicable FCC reports and file them in a timely manner.
• Technology Integration and Innovation: Stay updated with emerging technologies in RF, broadcasting, digital media and streaming, assessing their potential impact and leading the integration of new technologies for enhanced broadcasting capabilities. Improve broadcasting capabilities, enhance quality, and optimize workflows. This might involve evaluating new equipment or software for potential integration.
• Budget and Resource Management: Managing budgets, overseeing equipment procurement, and optimizing resource allocation to meet operational needs while staying within budgetary constraints.
• Emergency Preparedness: Develop and implement contingency plans and protocols to ensure uninterrupted broadcasting and streaming services during emergency situations such as power outages, technical failures etc.
• Troubleshooting and Problem-solving: Resolving technical issues promptly as they arise, conducting troubleshooting, and implementing preventive measures to minimize downtime.
• Collaboration with Other Departments: Working closely with other departments, such as programming, production, and content creation teams, to ensure technical support aligns with their needs and objectives.
• Innovation and Industry Awareness: Staying updated with emerging technologies and industry trends in broadcasting, evaluating their potential impact on operations, and making informed recommendations for technological advancements.

Qualifications, Skills and Requirements:

• Technical Proficiency: A deep understanding of broadcast systems, including digital media workflows, audio/video codecs, streaming protocols, and traditional broadcast technologies for radio and TV. Expert contemporary knowledge in Broadcast, IT, Digital, and Automation Technologies, including Design, Integration/Commissioning, Maintenance, and Project Management. This includes TV & FM Broadcast systems (encoders, STLs, transmitters), plus computer-based Video and Audio Production and playout/storage systems. Responsible for compliance reporting for all the above, including EAS systems.
• Transmission Systems Management: Expertise in managing RF transmission systems, including transmitters, towers, antennas, and signal propagation, to ensure optimal coverage and signal quality.
• Broadcast Equipment Knowledge: Proficiency in handling and maintaining broadcast equipment such as cameras, audio consoles, switchers, encoders, and decoders used in both digital and traditional broadcasting.
• Digital Media Management: Experience in managing digital assets, content distribution platforms, streaming services, and digital media workflows, ensuring efficient content delivery across various platforms.
• Broadcasting Standards and Compliance: Strong knowledge of FCC regulations and industry standards governing radio and TV broadcasting, ensuring adherence to legal and technical guidelines.
• Troubleshooting and Maintenance: Skilled in diagnosing and resolving technical issues promptly, conducting routine maintenance, and implementing preventive measures to minimize downtime.
• Project Management: Ability to plan and execute broadcast projects, including equipment upgrades, technology integrations, and system enhancements, while managing timelines and resources effectively.
• Emergency Preparedness: Experience in developing and implementing contingency plans for emergencies, ensuring uninterrupted broadcasting during technical failures or critical situations.
• Collaboration and Communication: Effective communication and collaboration skills to work with cross-functional teams, including content creators, production staff, and other technical teams, to support broadcasting needs.
• Adaptability and Innovation: Capacity to adapt to evolving technologies, assess their potential impact on broadcasting, and leverage innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and broadcasting capabilities.
• Analytical and Problem-solving Skills: Strong analytical abilities to identify technical issues, analyze data, and develop effective solutions to optimize broadcasting systems and workflows.
• Team Leadership: Experience in leading technical teams, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure high performance and technical proficiency among staff.
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Broadcast Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience, in depth knowledge and proven leadership in broadcast engineering with a strong background in RF transmission, digital media and streaming technology.
• Strong leadership, team management, and mentoring abilities to guide technical teams effectively. Excellent problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and project management abilities.
• Familiarity with FCC regulations and compliance standards in RF, broadcasting, and streaming.
• Able to be on-call after hours for emergencies or routine maintenance as needed.