Director, Broadcast Engineering - Live Sports & TV Ops

Churchill Downs Incorporated; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, KY invites a seasoned Director of Broadcast Engineering to lead all broadcast, audio, video and IT systems for live racing, TV productions and events. This hands‑on leadership role oversees installation, operation, maintenance and continuous improvement of critical infrastructure.

Reporting to production leadership, you’ll guide engineering projects, set technical direction, and ensure reliability in a fast‑paced live environment while mentoring engineers

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 12+ years in broadcast engineering may substitute a degree.
• 10+ years of engineering management in live production.
• Experience supporting live television broadcasts, studio productions, and major live events.
• Sports venue experience preferred; horse racing knowledge beneficial.
• Certifications: QSC, Dante, SBE, or Fiber Optic preferred.
• Experience with AutoCAD and Bluebeam Revu preferred.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain, and support broadcast equipment, videoboard operations, venue audio systems, and broadcast IT infrastructure.
• Configure and support Evertz routers, RTS intercom systems, KVM systems, QSC audio systems, Dante audio networks, QAM headend systems, and fiber optic infrastructure.
• Support day-to-day broadcast operations, live events, and television productions while ensuring operational readiness.
• Coordinate frequency management and signal distribution for major live events.
• Lead and manage the broadcast engineering team while overseeing multiple technical projects and live event operations.
• Participate in venue construction and infrastructure projects related to broadcast systems.
• Provide design feedback for construction and infrastructure projects to align with lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership and make real-time operational decisions in a high-pressure live production environment.
• Partner with IT and security to meet standards; maintain documentation and participate in security remediation.
• Develop and maintain a multi-year lifecycle and technology roadmap for broadcast and supporting software.
• Identify aging or end-of-life technologies and participate in capital planning and budgeting.
• Serve as primary engineering liaison with broadcast partners regarding setup and venue requirements.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to support operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Broadcast engineering

Leadership

Control room ops

QSC/Dante

Broadcast IT & RF

Troubleshooting

Multitasking

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Engineering management

Live TV experience

Sports venue experience

QSC & Dante certifications

AutoCAD & Bluebeam

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam Revu

Job description

Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, KY invites a seasoned Director of Broadcast Engineering to lead all broadcast, audio, video and IT systems for live racing, TV productions and events. This hands‑on leadership role oversees installation, operation, maintenance and continuous improvement of critical infrastructure.

Reporting to production leadership, you’ll guide engineering projects, set technical direction, and ensure reliability in a fast‑paced live environment while mentoring engineers