Digital Preservation Specialist

Rothe Development; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Rothe Development in Houston, TX is seeking a Digital Preservation Specialist to support NASA imagery preservation and migration under the eMITS contract. You will create and maintain preservation metadata, ensure quality, and coordinate with vendors to prepare assets for long-term archival storage.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in media asset management or digital preservation, familiarity with metadata standards (Dublin Core, PBCore, MODS, MARC), and experience with XML/CSV tooling, DAM/MAM

Qualifications

• Experience with metadata standards and cataloging practices.
• Experience with audiovisual preservation or media digitization projects.
• Familiarity with digital asset management (DAM) or archival systems.
• Knowledge of metadata standards such as Dublin Core, PBCore, MODS, or MARC.
• Familiarity with digital preservation frameworks and archival best practices.
• Experience with XML, CSV data manipulation, or metadata transformation tools.
• Understanding of file formats, codecs, and digital media lifecycle management.
• Strong organizational and detail-oriented skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and databases.

Responsibilities

• Create, validate, normalize, and maintain descriptive, technical, administrative, and preservation metadata.
• Perform metadata quality assurance and resolve inconsistencies across multiple cataloging systems.
• Execute cataloging processes in accordance with organizational metadata standards and archival best practices.
• Prepare migrated assets for long-term archival storage and digital asset management systems.
• Monitor workflow status, identify bottlenecks, and provide regular project status updates.
• Coordinate with digitization vendors, engineering teams, archivists, and content owners to resolve operational issues.
• Maintain detailed documentation of migration procedures, workflows, and processing standards.
• Conduct quality control reviews to verify file integrity, metadata completeness, and successful archival.
• Support reporting on project milestones, asset counts, processing rates, and completion metrics.
• Follow established preservation, security, and records management policies throughout the migration process.

Skills

Metadata standards

Audiovisual preservation

DAM/MAM systems

XML

CSV data manipulation

File formats & codecs

Organizational skills

Analytical reasoning

Communication skills

Project management

Education

BA/BS degree in Digital Media, Multimedia Production, Film/Video Production, Photography, Visual Communications, Information Science, Archival Studies, or related

Master’s Degree in Library Information Science or Archival Studies (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Databases

XML tooling

Job description

Position:Digital Preservation Specialist

Location: Houston, TX

Remote Status: Hybrid

Job Id:646-722

# of Openings:1

Digital Preservation Specialist

Rothe is seeking a Digital Preservation Specialist to support NASA’s imagery preservation and migration portfolio in support of the NASA Enterprise Multimedia and Integrated Technical Services (eMITS) contract. eMITS is the Agency’s enterprise-level contract creating and delivering multimedia and technical communications NASA’s OCIO and Office of Communications (OCOMM). From photographing rocket launches and recoveries, producing NASA TV segments, to information technology management, to using social media to share NASA’s message, eMITS integrates services for NASA IT and provides NASA’s communication to the outside world. Come join us in support of NASA’s mission to inspire the world through information and discovery.

Job Description

The NASA Johnson Space Center imagery collection has over 50,000 video tapes and LTO data tapes that need to be converted to digital files and migrated onto a long-term storage platform. The project is looking to transition to a different storage platform and implement elements of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) tools into the workflow. Descriptive metadata from 3 different websites/databases and multiple spreadsheets must be consolidated to ensure the most accurate metadata is attached to the records which will eventually be accessioned to the National Archives.

Functional Responsibilities

Primary Duties

• Create, validate, normalize, and maintain descriptive, technical, administrative, and preservation metadata.
• Perform metadata quality assurance and resolve inconsistencies across multiple cataloging systems.
• Execute cataloging processes in accordance with organizational metadata standards and archival best practices.
• Prepare migrated assets for long-term archival storage and digital asset management systems.
• Monitor workflow status, identify bottlenecks, and provide regular project status updates.
• Coordinate with digitization vendors, engineering teams, archivists, and content owners to resolve operational issues.
• Maintain detailed documentation of migration procedures, workflows, and processing standards.
• Conduct quality control reviews to verify file integrity, metadata completeness, and successful archival.
• Support reporting on project milestones, asset counts, processing rates, and completion metrics.
• Follow established preservation, security, and records management policies throughout the migration process.

Remote, hybrid, and onsite positions the employee bears travel costs to nearest NASA Center for badging and issue of NASA IT equipment.

Education and Experience

Minimum Education: Requires a BA/BS degree in Digital Media, Multimedia Production, Film/Video Production, Photography, Visual Communications, Information Science, Archival Studies, or a closely related field.

Minimum Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting media asset management, archives, digital preservation, library services, or related operational environments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience working with metadata standards and cataloging practices.
• Experience with audiovisual preservation or media digitization projects.
• Familiarity with digital asset management (DAM), media asset management (MAM), or archival systems.
• Knowledge of metadata standards such as Dublin Core, PBCore, MODS, or MARC.
• Familiarity with digital preservation frameworks and archival best practices.
• Experience working with XML, CSV data manipulation, or metadata transformation tools.
• Understanding of file formats, codecs, and digital media lifecycle management.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent workflows and meet project deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, spreadsheets, and database applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Library Information Science, Archival Studies, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Experience/familiarity with AI/ML tools and functionality in an archival setting.
• Digital Asset Specialist (DAS) certification.

Rothe is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets Employer and complies with E-Verify.

Rothe shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.