ABC Network Maintenance Engineer (daily hire)

About the role

ABC Network (Los Angeles) provides professional targeted engineering and support to production, postproduction and broadcast departments in the Los Angeles area. This role supports a wide variety of broadcast systems that provide television production, transmission, communications, monitoring and various technical support for the ABC Network. It is a great opportunity for someone who wants to be an important part of a cutting-edge network level broadcast operation.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers.

This team is responsible for the development and ongoing advancement of the technical and operational functions driving the worldwide distribution and monetization of Disney’s linear networks and theatrical content. This includes Disney’s media supply chain and storage, network and theatrical distribution operations, media localization, network transmission and origination, and more.

The Maintenance Engineer supports the operation, maintenance, repair, and technical advancement of broadcast, studio, production, and media systems.

The ideal candidate has experience working in a fast-paced television production environment and can respond to immediate, time-critical technical issues with calm urgency. This individual must be a proactive self-starter who can work independently, troubleshoot complex problems, perform preventative maintenance, and support live productions without unnecessary delays. 

This role will be covered by the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians – Communication Workers of America – ABC collective bargaining agreement. the daily hire pay rate for this role is $65.18 per hour.

Responsibilities:  

• Maintain and support broadcast, production, transmission, and content distribution systems, restoring service and resolving technical issues across media technology environments. 

• Perform installation, configuration, maintenance, repair, and upgrades of broadcast, audio, video, networking, RF, automation, and electromechanical systems, including both hardware and software components. 

• Analyze, diagnose, and resolve complex signal flow and infrastructure issues across traditional SDI and IP-based environments, including audio, video, control, timing, and network connectivity systems. 

• Execute preventive maintenance programs and system health monitoring to maximize reliability, identify developing issues, and minimize operational disruptions. 

• Support engineering projects, technology refreshes, equipment deployments, remote productions, live broadcasts, and infrastructure enhancements under the direction of senior engineering staff. 

• Assist with the evaluation, specification, procurement, inventory, deployment, and lifecycle management of technical equipment, systems, and related resources. 

• Develop, maintain, and improve technical documentation, operating procedures, system diagrams, and workflow standards while supporting training and knowledge-sharing initiatives. 

• Collaborate with internal teams, vendors, contractors, and service providers to deliver operational support, resolve technical challenges, and ensure media technology systems align with business and production objectives. 

Basic Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent years of work experience. 

• 5+ years supporting, maintaining, designing, or deploying broadcast, studio, live-production, media-production, or content-distribution environments, including experience leading technical efforts or supporting critical production systems. 

• Strong troubleshooting skills across broadcast, audio, video, hardware, software, networking, and media technology systems, including component-level electronic repair and time-critical production support. 

• Working knowledge of SDI and IP-based broadcast infrastructures, SMPTE standards (including ST 2110, ST 2059, ST 2022-7, ST 292M, and ST 424M), audio/video signal transport, synchronization, compression technologies, and modern broadcast cabling systems. 

• Experience with TCP/IP networking, fiber-optic infrastructure, signal-flow analysis, technical documentation, AutoCAD or similar drawing tools, and the installation and troubleshooting of broadcast and data cabling. 

• Experience integrating, maintaining, or upgrading production control rooms, media workflows, storage and compute platforms, asset management systems, transcoding and distribution systems, and related broadcast technologies. 

• Knowledge of broadcast equipment and platforms from industry vendors such as Evertz, Grass Valley, Ross, Lawo, Calrec, Riedel, Imagine Communications, and similar media technology providers. 

• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, equipment manuals, system documentation, and workflow diagrams; experience creating technical documentation is a plus. 

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced production environment, effectively prioritize multiple tasks, and communicate clearly under pressure. 

• Valid driver's license  

Additional Requirements: 

• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, extended shifts, on-call support, and emergency response assignments. 

• Must be willing to travel for remote productions, equipment deployments, and other technical assignments, and work in a variety of technical environments including studios, control rooms, equipment rooms, rooftops, and remote production sites. 

• Must be able to safely perform physical tasks such as climbing ladders, working from aerial lifts, maneuvering in confined spaces, and lifting/moving equipment up to 50 lbs., while following all established safety procedures around electrical, mechanical, RF, networking, and fiber-optic systems. 

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experience with electronic modification, circuit design, system integration, and the deployment or support of enterprise and standalone broadcast, production, and media networks. 

• Experience with advanced media workflow technologies, including encoding/transcoding platforms, media asset management (MAM), file-based workflows, NAS, SAN, and cloud-based storage and compute environments. 

• Familiarity with AWS and Microsoft Azure cloud platforms; foundational cloud certification preferred. 

• Experience developing automation solutions using Python, PowerShell, Bash, Node.js, or similar technologies. 

• Hands-on experience with broadcast fiber infrastructure, including SMPTE 311M hybrid fiber systems and single-mode SC, ST, and FC fiber-optic connectors. 

• Experience with professional broadcast video and signal-management systems, including Evertz frame synchronizers, distribution amplifiers, VIP Multiviewers, Magnum controllers, Xenon routers, master clocks, character generators, For-A color-correction systems, Leader and Tektronix waveform monitors, Grass Valley Kayak switchers, CP300 routers, SDI video infrastructure, synchronization systems, encoders, transmission equipment, and tally-routing systems. 

• Experience with professional production equipment and camera systems, including Sony HDC4300 cameras, HDCU camera-control units, BPU baseband processors, MSU master setup units, RCP remote-control panels, Sony viewfinders, Fujinon lenses, Vinten Quattro and Fulmar pedestals, Vinten Merlin crane arms, and Stanton Jimmy Jib systems. 

• Experience with broadcast audio, communications, and infrastructure technologies, including Studer Vista V audio consoles, Wohler monitoring systems, Shure wireless systems and Wireless Workbench, Riedel wireless intercom systems, RTS ADAM and ADAM-M intercom frames, RTS KP-96 keypanels, TCP/IP network infrastructure, RF and CATV systems, spectrum analyzers, system-monitoring platforms, and industry-standard broadcast and data cabling using BNC, XLR, RJ45, Elco, F-type, TRS, SMPTE 311M, SC, ST, and FC connectors. 

• Ability to operate forklift and aerial lift equipment. 

PAY TRANSPARENCY

This role will be covered by the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians – Communication Workers of America – ABC collective bargaining agreement. the daily hire pay rate for this role is $65.18 per hour.

This position is with American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology.

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American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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