IT MANAGER/ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER - WFSB

Gray Media; Rocky Hill (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) with Matching

Paid Parental Leave

Relocation PTO

Employee Assistance Program

Life and Disability Benefits

On-call & 24/7 support

Job summary

Gray Media seeks an IT Manager / Assistant Chief Engineer for WFSB in Connecticut. This role bridges broadcast operations and IT, ensuring uninterrupted on-air operations and leading enterprise IT, networking, storage, and cybersecurity initiatives.

You will back up the Chief Engineer, manage Windows Server/AD, virtualization (VMware/Hyper-V), and ENPS/iNEWS systems, while coordinating with departments on technology rollouts and upgrades.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in IT systems administration and broadcast environments.
• Proficient in Windows Server, AD, and virtualization.
• Experience with SDI/IP broadcast workflows and newsroom systems.
• Strong networking, security, and disaster recovery skills.
• Ability to manage on-call and live broadcast incidents.

Responsibilities

• Lead IT operations and system administration for the station.
• Backup Chief Engineer and support broadcast facilities.
• Maintain network, storage, and virtualization infrastructure.
• Monitor cybersecurity and compliance with corporate standards.
• Coordinate with departments on technology rollouts.

Skills

Windows Server administration

Active Directory / Azure AD

VMware vSphere/ESXi

Hyper-V

Networking (TCP/IP, switches, VLANs)

Cybersecurity & MFA

ENPS / iNEWS newsroom systems

Education

Associate or Bachelor's degree in CS/IT or Broadcast Engineering

Tools

VMware vSphere/ESXi

Hyper-V

ENPS / iNEWS

LiveU

Dejero

Job description

About Gray Media:

Today, we are a growing multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households. The portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first- and/or second-highest-rated television station in average all-day ratings across 116 of such markets that were measured by Nielsen in 2025. We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 46 markets and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About Gray Media:

Today, we are a growing multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households. The portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first- and/or second-highest-rated television station in average all-day ratings across 116 of such markets that were measured by Nielsen in 2025. We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 46 markets and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

We understand that life needs balance. That is why we offer our employees and eligible family members a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Comprehensive Medical(Rx), Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Health Savings Account with Company contributions
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life and disability benefits
• Paid parental leave benefits
• Adoption and Surrogacy Benefits
• 401(k) Plan, including matching and profit-sharing contributions
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary benefits, including Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, and supplemental life insurance coverage
• Paid Time Off, including Relocation PTO
• Focus on Caring

Salary/Wage:

$75,000 - $95,000/annually.

Shift and Schedule:

Mon. - Fri. (or at the Manager's Discretion)

Job Type:

Full-Time

About WFSB:

WFSB Channel 3, a Gray Media station, is the undisputed market leader in Connecticut and Southern New England. We dominate on-air, online, and on the stream. WFSB is the market’s #1 news brand across traditional broadcast ratings, digital reach, and social metrics. We are not just keeping pace with modern journalism; we are leading the way. WFSB produces more live streaming content than any other television station in New England. Located in a scenic region, along the coast between New York City and Boston, WFSB offers the ideal balance of top-tier, fast-paced journalism and the best of New England living.

Job Summary/Description:

WFSB / Gray Media is seeking a forward-thinking, hands‑on IT Manager / Assistant Chief Engineer to bridge broadcast operations and modern IT infrastructure. This dual-focus role leads day‑to‑day station IT operations and systems administration while serving as the primary backup to the Chief Engineer on core television technologies and broadcast facilities. The ideal candidate possesses deep, fluent expertise in enterprise IT (networking, virtualization, cybersecurity, directory services, and storage) combined with a solid working knowledge of broadcast television systems (SDI/SMPTE ST 2110 signal flow, production switchers, master control automation, newsroom computer systems, and RF transmission basics). You will ensure uninterrupted on‑air operations, maintain IT compliance with corporate standards, and serve as technical operations lead when the Chief Engineer is off‑site.

Duties/Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Information Technology & Systems Administration:

• Manage, configure, and maintain all local station IT infrastructure: Windows Server environments, Active Directory/Azure AD, group policies, and enterprise endpoint workstations (Windows/Mac).
• Oversee on‑premises and hybrid virtualization clusters (VMware vSphere/ESXi, Hyper‑V), SAN/NAS high‑speed shared storage, and robust disaster recovery/backup platforms.
• Manage local network topology, including Cisco/Arista/Dell L2/L3 enterprise switches, VLAN segmentation (separating broadcast production, corporate IT, Dante/AES67, and guest traffic), routing, firewalls, and VPN access.
• Champion station cybersecurity posture in alignment with Gray Media corporate IT: endpoint protection, patch management, access control, multi‑factor authentication, and rapid security incident remediation.
• Provide direct IT escalation support for newsroom computer systems (ENPS/iNEWS), non‑linear editing workflows (Adobe Creative Cloud, Avid, Edius), and field contribution units (LiveU, Dejero).
• Partner with Regional IT leadership and corporate engineering to plan, deploy, and document technology rollouts and software lifecycle upgrades.

Broadcast Engineering & Operational Backup:

• Act as the designated technical backup to the Chief Engineer, maintaining operational continuity across studio, control room, master control, and transmission facilities during absences or on‑call emergencies.
• Support and troubleshoot broadcast production equipment, including production switchers (Grass Valley, Ross), Crispin master control automation, Chyron graphics engines, audio consoles (Wheatstone, Calrec), and multi‑viewer/routing infrastructure.
• Understand SDI, HDMI, and IP‑based media transport (SMPTE ST 2110, NDI, SRT, Dante/AES67) signal flow, conversion gear, and video monitoring systems.
• Assist in monitoring and basic first‑line troubleshooting of transmission systems, microwave studio‑to‑transmitter links (STL), satellite downlinks, EAS decoders, and transmitter facility infrastructure (HVAC, liquid cooling systems, generators, and UPS units).
• Coordinate with production, news, and operations crews to resolve live on‑air technical discrepancies quickly and calmly.
• Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date station wiring diagrams, network schematics, rack elevations, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Leadership & Project Management:

• Lead and execute technology implementation projects from scoping and rack installation to commissioning and user training.
• Manage technical vendor relationships, RMA processes, warranties, and software support agreements.
• Promote a culture of proactive maintenance, cleanliness, security, and continuous improvement across all equipment racks and technical spaces.
• Participate in an engineering on‑call rotation to support 24/7/365 news and broadcast operations.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of combined hands‑on experience in enterprise Information Technology systems administration and broadcast/media production environments.
• Proven expertise in Windows Server administration, Active Directory, DNS/DHCP, VMware/virtualized environments, and enterprise backup solutions.
• Solid understanding of TCP/IP networking, managed switches, VLAN configurations, subnets, QoS, and network troubleshooting tools (Wireshark, traceroute, etc.).
• Working knowledge of basic television broadcast workflows and equipment (SDI signal paths, video routing switchers, audio distribution, sync/timing, and studio cameras).
• Familiarity with newsroom production systems (e.g., ENPS, iNEWS) and digital media encoding/transcoding formats.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical problems rapidly under live broadcast deadlines.
• Strong organizational, documentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Availability to work flexible hours, including on‑call response for breaking news, severe weather, off‑hours maintenance windows, and emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Broadcast Engineering, or equivalent military/technical training.
• Relevant industry IT certifications (CompTIA Network+/Security+, CCNA, Microsoft Certified, or VMware VCP).
• Broadcast engineering certifications such as SBE Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT) or Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist (CBNT).
• Familiarity with modern broadcast IP technologies (SMPTE ST 2110, ST 2022‑6, Dante, Ravenna, NDI).
• Exposure to transmitter site fundamentals, RF systems, ATSC 1.0/3.0 exciters, or backup power generators.

Additional Info:

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Gray’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.