Lead Broadcast Engineer, TV Operations

Hearst Magazines; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

WGAL, the Hearst Television owned NBC affiliate serving the Harrisburg-Lancaster-York market, has an opening for an Assistant Chief Engineer. You will lead technical teams across studio operations, IT and RF in a live broadcast environment, organizing, planning, and delivering deployments and upgrades.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, hands-on fault diagnosis of RF/IT systems, FCC compliance, and the management of multiple sites with safety and quality as core priorities.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership in engineering and operations
• Deep knowledge of RF transmission, studio production, routing, distribution
• Experience maintaining broadcast IT systems and networks
• Familiarity with FCC rules and licensing requirements
• Ability to read technical drawings and schematics

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and day-to-day directions to Engineering and Technical Operations teams.
• Oversee operation, reliability, and maintenance of studio, field, transmission, and production equipment across multiple sites.
• Assign daily priorities, communicate expectations, and guide staff in troubleshooting, maintenance and project implementation.
• Diagnose and resolve broadcast-system issues from RF transmission and signal distribution through equipment and component levels.
• Maintain transmitters, satellite antenna systems, microwave and RF systems, signal-routing and distribution systems, and related infrastructure.
• Oversee the integrity, security, reliability, and maintenance of broadcast IT systems, networks, and infrastructure.
• Train and coach team members on equipment operation, maintenance procedures, safety requirements, FCC regulations, and broadcast standards.
• Assist the Chief Engineer with employee development, performance management, departmental training, and long-term technical planning.
• Provide leadership and decision-making for the Technical Department in the Chief Engineers absence.
• Assist with planning and execution of capital projects, system upgrades, equipment installation, and facility improvements.
• Work with Operation Manager to develop schedules that support Master Control, Production, Technical, and other operational needs.
• Ensure technical staff have the tools, test equipment, supplies, documentation, and information needed to perform their responsibilities successfully.
• Maintain compliance with applicable FCC rules, licensing, safety standards, and company policies.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with local vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• Support facility and physical-plant management across multiple locations.
• Promote a collaborative, accountable, service-oriented, and safety-focused work environment.

Skills

Technical leadership

RF & IT systems

Broadcast operations

Team coordination

Regulatory compliance

Education

Higher education in technology

SBE certification

Military experience

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

WGAL, the Hearst Television owned NBC affiliate serving the Harrisburg-Lancaster-York market, has an opening for an Assistant Chief Engineer. You will lead technical teams across studio operations, IT and RF in a live broadcast environment, organizing, planning, and delivering deployments and upgrades.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, hands-on fault diagnosis of RF/IT systems, FCC compliance, and the management of multiple sites with safety and quality as core priorities.