Video Solutions Architect

JOB SUMMARY

The Video Solutions Architect oversees the design, implementation, and maintenance of Cox Media Group’s digital video infrastructure to meet the goals of the business and the functional requirements of the customer. In a fast-paced news environment, you will support the day to day operations related to online video content publishing with a focus on CMG’s digital branded platforms including websites, mobile and OTT media applications. As well as be a thought leader and digital video subject matter expert informing the CMG product roadmap and coordinating with technology teams to identify how to get there.

Candidates should have proven experience in building broadcast solutions, designing digital production workflows, integrating with hardware and cloud-based systems, deploying video ads and analytics solutions, and have a passion for researching the latest industry trends.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with CMG leadership and technology teams to inspire a clear and realistic vision of the digital video product roadmap.
• Establish project guidelines and prioritize requirements considering technical, logistical, and monetary constraints.
• Survey and engage with customers to understand operational pain points and technical limitations.
• Identify key integration points and continually evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of existing systems versus emerging solutions/alternative vendors.
• Formulate actionable plans and directions for technology teams.
• Lead on design, buildout, testing, and demonstration of innovative PoCs.
• Diagram existing and potential digital video infrastructure and provide technical and support documentation for solutions.
• Nurture relationships with vendors, content providers, and other 3rd party partners.
• Forecast operational and capital expenditures for current and potential hardware and services
• Facilitate integrations, migrations, and other technical transitions.
• Work closely with Project Managers and Business, Product, Ads, Analytics, App Development, Support, and Broadcast Engineering teams to implement and launch new products.
• Orchestrate ingest from, and distribution to, 3rd party content partners.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of digital video systems and tools in production.
• Seize opportunities to standardize equipment, processes, and workflows across properties.
• Train engineers, producers, support, and training staff on digital video platforms, workflows, and processes.
• Provide concierge-level support for high profile events and deployments, and Tier-3 level support as last line of defense for technical support issues.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

Required Skills

• Experience with online video platforms (OVPs) specifically Anvato, Arc Video, Brightcove, and YouTube.
• Understanding of video encoding and common video codecs and formats.
• Experience with web content management systems including Arc and WordPress.
• Familiarity with APIs and video feeds in XML formats such as MRSS and JSON.
• Intermediate knowledge of HTML, CSS, XML, JS, and python.
• Understanding of Flash and HTML5 video player development.
• Experience with streaming media including live video streaming protocols such as RTMP, HLS, MPEG-DASH, and CMAF.
• Quick learner with an aptitude for Internet technology and becoming proficient in multiple user interfaces.
• Architectural knowledge of Amazon AWS product suite for live streaming services, storage, and delivery.
• Experience with live production and encoding software including Tricaster, Wirecast and Flash Media Live Encoder (FMLE).
• Experience with encoding hardware including Cisco AnyRes 9300, 8300, Elemental, Telestream, LiveU and cloud encoding such as Wowza.
• Customer service orientation and attention to detail.
• Experience with online ad servers including Google Ad Manager and an understanding of VAST/VPAID video ad standards.
• Experience with web metrics tools such as Google Analytics.
• Familiarity with online video publishing workflows and infrastructure including media asset management (Avid Interplay, BitCentral Precis/Oasis), Newsroom Systems (iNews, ENPS) and video editing programs (Avid Newscutter, Grass Valley Edius).
• Intermediate understanding of IT networking as related to streaming media.
• Working knowledge of Wireshark and other packet analyzer tools.
• Production software proficiency: MS Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio.

Additional Qualifications

Education: B.S./B.A. degree required. Degree in Math/Engineering, Computer Science, Business/Finance preferable.

Experience:

• 4+ years digital video broadcast, publishing, and hosting workflows and operations
• 4-10 years in digital video systems design, implementation, and optimization

Competencies/Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills required. Technical/analytical skills, continuous learning, innovation, ability to manage work, and strong work standards/ethics is also required. Candidates must also have customer focus, contribute to a team’s success, and be quality-oriented.