Student Placement: Growth Sports Systems Operator 27/28

Hawk-Eye Innovations (HEI); Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawk-Eye Innovations (HEI) is seeking a motivated student to join Growth Sports as an operator for elite events worldwide. You will receive training and then work hands-on at events across athletics, motorsports and more, travelling frequently and supporting live broadcasts.

Join a dynamic, rapidly expanding team that values innovation, proactive learning and on-site excellence, with opportunities to grow within a global sports tech leader.

Qualifications

• Must be currently studying towards an undergraduate degree.
• Strong teamwork skills and ability to communicate under pressure.
• Willingness to travel domestically and overseas and to work weekends.
• Able to adapt quickly to changing requirements across sports.

Responsibilities

• Pre-Match & Tournament preparations: liaise with broadcast personnel, match officials and teams while taking on-site ownership to ensure contractual obligations.
• Technology setup: set up Hawk-Eye Tracking and SMART Replay at venues worldwide, including rigging cameras and running cables.
• System checks: conduct thorough pre-match checks to ensure reliable operation.
• Match-day operations: monitor and operate Hawk-Eye technologies during matches.
• Performance monitoring: observe hardware and software and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
• Agile deployment & cross-training: adapt to on-site, office-based and remote environments as the department expands.
• Post-match reporting: prepare detailed reports to support future operations and client satisfaction.
• Off-season maintenance & development: maintain equipment and contribute to R&D for new projects.

Skills

Technical proficiency

Communication

Teamwork

Proactive attitude

Adaptability

Travel flexibility

Education

Undergraduate degree student

Job description

Location: Event-based (UK & International travel) with occasional visits to the Basingstoke office

Contract: Full-time, Fixed Term 12 Months

Travel: Regular travel across the UK, Europe and Internationally. There will be occasional work at our head office in Basingstoke.

Expected Start Date: Summer 2027

Why Hawk-Eye & Why Growth Sports?

This exciting opportunity to join our passionate and enthusiastic team will take you to elite-level sporting events all around the world. As a member of our team, you will be responsible for delivering Hawk-Eye technology across a diverse range of current sports, including Athletics, Gaelic Sports, Volleyball, Horse Racing and Motorsports. Presently, Badminton makes up the large majority of our global deployments, but our landscape can shift quickly. The 'Growth' in Growth Sports is literal: we are a highly agile department built for rapid expansion, significant pivots, and the continuous pursuit of new sporting opportunities. You will play a crucial role in maintaining excellence in our current sports, while helping us deliver innovative solutions to an ever-expanding roster of new clients.

The Growth Sports department delivers our Tracking and Replay products across a wide range of sporting applications, both in the UK and globally. We are always growing and developing new cutting-edge services for our clients, and with this expansion comes the need for new faces to join our team and help drive our ongoing innovation.

Successful applicants will receive training on the basic skills and knowledge required to be a Hawk-Eye operator - and then it’s time to get to an event and get immediately hands-on with our technology! We pride ourselves on supporting the development of our people, and we look forward to challenging you in a job that is truly unique.

What Does A Typical Day Look Like?

• Pre-Match & Tournament Preparations: Liaise with key stakeholders such as broadcast personnel, match officials, and teams while taking ownership of our system on-site and representing our company in the best possible manner to ensure all contractual obligations are seamlessly delivered;

• Technology Setup: Set up our cutting-edge Tracking and SMART Replay technologies at venues around the world (this can involve physically demanding work, such as rigging cameras and running cables);

• System Checks: Conduct thorough pre-match system checks to ensure everything runs efficiently;

• Match-Day Operations: Monitoring and operating Hawk-Eye technologies during matches;

• Performance Monitoring: Keep a close eye on hardware and software, troubleshooting any issues that arise;

• Agile Deployment & Cross-Training: Adapt quickly to operational changes across on-site, office-based, and remote environments, applying your technical knowledge to new sports, systems, and teams as the department expands and pivots;

• Post-Match Reporting: Complete detailed reports to enhance future operations and client satisfaction;

• Off-Season Maintenance & Development: Build and maintain our hardware and equipment, and aid with research and development into new projects and technologies.

Why Is This the Right Job for You?

This position is perfect for you if you possess:

• Passion & Innovation: Passionate about sport in general with a desire to innovate.

• Technical Proficiency: A strong foundation in technology with a desire to problem-solve.

• Communication: Professional and approachable, with strong listening skills under pressure.

• Great teamwork skills.

• Proactive Attitude: Ability to take initiative with a willingness to learn as much as possible.

• Agility & Adaptability: Highly resilient to change. You thrive in a dynamic environment where the primary focus can pivot rapidly from one sport to another as the business scales.

• Flexibility: Willingness to travel domestically and overseas and to work weekends.

• Time Management: Excellent time management skills to thrive in a live broadcast environment.

• Must be currently studying towards an undergraduate degree.

What Difficulties Might I Face?

Up to this point, I’m sure there have been many things that you find intriguing about the role, however, it is not without its unique challenges. Here are some that you can expect to find with the role:

Dynamic & Changing Scope: Because our department is built for growth, our primary focus can shift rapidly. You must be comfortable with the unpredictability of scaling up new sports at short notice and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Working Hours: Due to the nature of the sports industry, there is often work on weekends and midweek evenings and we are expected to fulfil our roles until the last bounce.

Travelling Abroad: You can expect to spend periods of the year working throughout Europe and internationally, based on the events in the sporting calendar.

High-Pressure Situations: Working in a live broadcast environment on a production that is distributed globally and widely seen by many will bring levels of pressure.