Intern, Broadcast Engineering

American Public Media Group; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance eligibility under ACA

Eligible to accrue sick time off

Retirement plan eligibility

Job summary

American Public Media Group (APMG) offers an Intern, Broadcast Engineering position in St. Paul, MN. This paid internship provides exposure to RF, audio/video, and broadcast automation, with hands-on work on studio and transmitter systems.

You will learn broadcast workflows, equipment operation, and collaboration with engineers, producers, and on-air staff, preparing you for a professional career in public media.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a college or university, or graduated within the past 18 months.
• Basic understanding of audio, video, and RF signal flow.
• Familiarity with broadcast equipment such as mixers, routers, transmitters.
• Foundational knowledge of computer networking (IP addressing, switches, routers).
• Work collaboratively with engineers, producers, and on-air talent.

Responsibilities

• Assist broadcast engineers with daily operation, monitoring, and maintenance of studio and transmitter systems.
• Help troubleshoot and resolve basic technical issues under the supervision of senior staff.
• Participate in preventive maintenance tasks, including inspection, cleaning, and documentation of equipment.
• Collaborate with engineering staff, producers, and on-air personnel to ensure smooth technical operations.
• Collaborate with Media Production Systems to learn broadcast automation and news production system administration.
• Perform other related technical support tasks as assigned, with emphasis on hands-on learning and professional development.

Skills

Audio/Video basics

RF signal flow

Team collaboration

Hands-on learning

Broadcast operations

Education

College student or recent graduate

Tools

Mixers

Routers

Transmitters

Automation systems

IP networking fundamentals

Job description

• Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Location: St. Paul, MN
• Pay: $20/hour

Intern, Broadcast Engineering

Join our engineering team and dive into cutting-edge broadcast technology from RF systems and HD Radio to streaming platforms that reach millions. As the broadcast engineering field evolves, we're seeking a curious, tech-savvy intern to master multi-channel platforms, collaborate with teams and stations worldwide, and help innovate the systems that connect communities through public media. This is your chance to build a meaningful career while ensuring public media thrives for generations to come.

Key Learning Goals

The goal of this internship is to provide you with immersive learning and real-world experience through impactful work. By the end of your internship, you will be able to:

• Develop a working understanding of audio, video, and RF signal flow in a live and automated broadcast environment
• Gain hands-on experience with broadcast equipment, including mixers, routers, transmitters, and automation systems
• Observe and participate in master control operations, studio setups, and field transmission
• Learn the workflow of media acquisition, editing, storage, scheduling, and playout
• Strengthen problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills in a technical environment
• Expand your professional network by collaborating with producers, engineers, technical directors, and industry guests

Position Information

• Start Date: January 4 – June 4, 2027
• Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Location: St. Paul, MN
• Pay: $20/hour

Responsibilities

• Assist broadcast engineers with daily operation, monitoring, and maintenance of studio and transmitter systems
• Help troubleshoot and resolve basic technical issues under the supervision of senior staff
• Participate in preventive maintenance tasks, including inspection, cleaning, and documentation of equipment
• Collaborate with engineering staff, producers, and on‑air personnel to ensure smooth technical operations
• Collaborate with Media Production Systems to learn broadcast automation and news production system administration
• Perform other related technical support tasks as assigned, with emphasis on hands‑on learning and professional development.

Benefits

• Eligible to accrue sick time off
• Eligible for health insurance as required under the ACA
• Eligible to participate in the APMG retirement plan

Programming

• Participate in a robust onboarding experience
• Professional development: on-the-job training, workforce readiness training, formal performance review feedback sessions, etc.
• Participate in brown bag sessions to gain broader perspective of the organization

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a college or university, or graduated within the past 18 months
• Available full-time (40 hours/week, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) throughout the internship
• Basic understanding of audio, video, and RF signal flow
• Familiarity with broadcast equipment such as mixers, cameras, microphones, and transmitters
• Foundational knowledge of computer networking (IP addressing, switches, routers)
• Work collaboratively with engineers, producers, and on‑air talent

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with IT concepts applied in broadcasting (servers, storage, automation systems)
• Interest in emerging technologies such as streaming, cloud-based playout, and virtualization in broadcasting

Physical Demands And Working Conditions

• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Physical Demands:
• Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time.
• Required to move about in the community.
• Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping.
• Working Conditions:
• Moderate noise level.
• Occasional exposure to prevalent weather conditions.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply.

MacMillan Internship & Fellowship Program at MPR|APM

Minnesota Public Radio | American Public Media are grateful for the long-time, generous philanthropy of Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan for investing in the future of public media through transformational internships and fellowships. Their recent grant will significantly strengthen our internship program, produce enriching programming, and prepare the next generation for careers in public media. We are pleased to recognize this generous support in the name of the program – the MacMillan Internship & Fellowship Program at MPR|APM.