Solutions Architect

Encompass Digital Media; Chiswick; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Encompass Digital Media seeks a Solutions Architect to define and cost robust broadcast/OTT solutions, collaborating with Sales, Account Management, Engineering and Operations to meet customer requirements.

You will create designs and cost models, engage suppliers and partners, and present final solutions to clients, while aligning with Encompass strategy and industry standards.

Qualifications

• Deep technical understanding of broadcast and OTT technologies.
• Experience designing strategic solutions for broadcast, video on demand, post production and OTT systems.
• Knowledge of security standards and best practice for design of systems and applications.
• Experience with OTT technologies including encoding, transcoding, packaging, DRM and DAI.
• Knowledge of IP networks as they pertain to broadcast and OTT.
• Knowledge of containers and orchestration for cloud deployments.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design and cost robust, efficient and innovative solutions.
• Work with presales to analyse and define customer requirements.
• Refine requirements for new services and change requests.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to cost solutions.
• Standardize technology and approach where possible.
• Maintain relationships with customers as technical envoy.
• Present final solutions to customers.
• Create high-level design docs for engineering and delivery teams.
• Coordinate and lead product demonstrations.
• Handover and refine solution designs with suppliers and teams at project start.
• Act as Design Authority through project phases.
• Suggest improvements to existing technical systems for efficiency/reliability.
• Maintain relationships with suppliers.
• Provide ROI-focused analysis of potential solutions.
• Gather market intelligence to inform design decisions and product feedback.
• Assist product teams in architecting regional solutions.
• Support prototypes and POCs with wider teams.
• Own and manage customer/supplier technical relationships.
• Act as principal specialist in a technical area.
• Represent Encompass at industry events and technical forums.

Skills

Broadcast & OTT tech

Pre-sales support

Solution architecture

Cloud architectures

Vendor management

Networking fundamentals

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Telecom/CS or related field

Tools

Playout automation

Video workflow tools

Content delivery networks

Job description

Working closely with Encompass Sales, Account Management, Engineering and Operations departments along with strategic partners, suppliers and customers, the Solutions Architect is accountable for the definition and cost modelling of robust, efficient and innovative solutions in support of the services provided by Encompass.

• Responsible for architecting, designing and costing robust, efficient and innovative solutions
• During the presales phase, work alongside Encompass Sales and Account Management teams to analyse and define customers’ requirements
• Work with clients to analyse and refine requirements for new services and change requests.
• Work with suppliers, partners and internal teams to define, document and cost appropriate solutions
• Continually work towards standardizing technology and approach, where possible, as well as ensuring solutions align with Encompass’ strategy
• Create, maintain and develop relationships with Encompass’ customers, acting as Encompass’ technical envoy
• Create presentations of final solutions and present to customers
• Create high-level design documentation suitable for engineering and operational delivery teams
• Coordinate and lead all facets of product demonstrations
• At project initiation, work with suppliers and other Encompass technology & operations teams to support a formal handover and refinement of solution designs
• Continue to act as Design Authority throughout subsequent phases of project implementation
• Analyse and suggest improvements to existing technical systems to increase efficiency and/or reliability
• Create, maintain and develop relationships with Encompass’ suppliers
• Provide objective analysis of potential technical solutions and products with a view to ROI, reliability and operational efficiency/ease of use
• Gather product requirements and market intelligence, including identifying and analysing industry technology and pricing trends, in order to inform future design decisions as well as to provide additional feedback to the Encompass product and senior management teams
• Assist Encompass product teams in architecting solutions, with a focus on regional requirements
• Work with the wider Solutions, Products and Engineering teams in the design, build and assessment of prototypes and proof of concepts
• Own and manage specified customer and supplier technical relationships
• Act as principal specialist and authority in a specified technical area
• Represent Encompass at industry events and technical forums as required

Educational Level/Qualifications Required:

• Candidates must be able to demonstrate a deep technical understanding (to principle/architect level) of a wide array of broadcast and OTT technologies

Experience/Knowledge:

• Demonstrated experience in the design of strategic solutions for broadcast, video on demand, post production and OTT systems
• Knowledge/Experience in the design and implementation of automation, playout servers, routing, branding, control, monitoring and modular glue technologies
• Knowledge/Experience of content management, storage and workflow solutions for broadcasters and content owners, including media asset management, meta-data management, transcode, media transfer and fulfilment
• Knowledge of security standards and best practice for design of systems and applications.
• Knowledge/Experience of occasional use/event-based broadcast and OTT services and the necessary approach to these as it pertains to the development of supporting solutions
• Knowledge/Experience in the design and implementation of OTT technologies, including encoding, transcoding, packaging, DRM and DAI
• Knowledge of SCTE standards for signaling program and advertising events along with transmitting program schedules with blackout and alternate content policies.
• Detailed knowledge/experience of IP networks as they pertain to broadcast and OTT
• Knowledge/Experience of architecting for the cloud, including the use of containers and orchestration
• Commercial awareness and demonstrated ability to assess the viability of technical solutions from a commercial perspective
• Demonstrated experience of managing technology suppliers
• Knowledge of broadcast engineering practices and principles
• Knowledge of software engineering practices and principles
• Experience of analysis and design processes and documentation
• Knowledge of analysis and design techniques
• Knowledge of impacts design decisions have on sustainability

Personal skills required for role:

• Team player with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to communicate technical solutions to non-technical people
• Openness to change and willingness to embrace new ideas
• Commercial awareness and negotiation skills
• Logical and methodical approach to problem solving
• Highly organized and able to effectively prioritise workload based on business demands
• Willingness to take ownership and see things through to completion
• Willingness to own and learn from one’s mistakes and ensure these are not repeated
• Constant drive to learn and improve
• Passion for technology and the media industry