Specialist: Head Ends

South African Broadcasting Corporation; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 850,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

South African Broadcasting Corporation seeks an experienced Head End Engineer to lead installation, configuration and ongoing maintenance of Head End equipment for broadcasting needs. You will ensure asset inventory accuracy and supervise engineering staff across multiple platforms.

Responsibilities include maintaining encoding and multiplexing systems, training personnel, and monitoring transmitter/satellite networks with detailed monthly reports.

Qualifications

• Requires BTech or Bachelor's in Engineering or equivalent.
• Master’s degree is advantageous.
• Professional registration as engineer or technologist preferred.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure and maintain Head End equipment per broadcasting requirements.
• Maintain inventory of DTT Head End assets.
• Maintain encoding, multiplexing and middleware per manufacturers specifications.
• Train technical and operational staff.
• Monitor transmitter and satellite networks; generate monthly downtime reports.
• Liaise with Telkom and Sentech to ensure delivery of technical needs.
• Coordinate with TV and Radio tech units to meet transmission requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Team player

Client service oriented

Ability to work under pressure

Leadership / Management experience

Education

BTech or Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Master’s degree (advantage)

Professional registration as engineer or technologist

Job description

Job Description

Installation, configuration and maintenance of Head End equipment to broadcasting requirements.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

BUSINESS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

• Keep inventory of DTT Head End assets up to date.
• Maintenance and repairs of encoding, multiplexing and associated middleware to ensure it complies with manufacturers specifications.
• Installation, configuration and maintenance of Head End equipment to broadcasters requirements.
• Training of technical and operational staff.
• Monitor the availability of the transmitter and satellite networks and consolidate an accurate monthly network breakdown report, detailing: total lost broadcast time; total lost broadcast time per programme; graphical representation of hours lost per month, to indicate trends.
• Identification of any transmitter site showing abnormal down time.
• Provide relevant quality management information and consultation to Radio and TV, in order to influence the development and planning decision making processes.
• Ensure optimal alignment between technology and the radio stations and TV channels needs and requirements.

Keep SABC in line with latest technological features.

• Ensure continual technology renewal and footprint optimisation in order to enhance efficiencies.
• Provide long-term technology planning, aligned with SABC Radio and TV strategy.
• Take responsibility for the technical contact with Telkom and Sentech, in order to ensure optimal delivery on SABC technical needs and requirements.
• Liaise with TV and Radio and relevant technology business units, in order to ensure optimal delivery on transmission technology needs and requirements.
• Liaise with SABC Technical working groups (SAG and EBAF requirements).
• Monitor and report on the operational risk and compliance.
• Monitor compliance in line with Occupational Health Safety Act.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT

• Liaison with Sentech in connection with Event Information Table related queries and all matters of association.
• Provide colleagues with in-house training on the EPG production system to ensure information sharing.

INHERENT/MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

QUALIFICATIONS

• BTech or Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or equivalent qualification.
• Relevant Master's degree will be an added advantage.
• Professional registration as engineer or technologist.

EXPERIENCE

• 6+ Years technical experience in broadcasting with exposure to radio and TV of which 3 years Management experience, proven track record in the optimal application of technology in radio and TV.
• A good understanding of digital multichannel broadcasting.
• Client service oriented.
• Good communications skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Team Player.

TECHNICAL SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

• Good overview of frequency planning environment.
• Ability to simultaneously think on both broad-picture and detailed-oriented scales.
• Excellent understanding of intellectual property concepts.
• To keep abreast of International Broadcast and technology trends in multimedia/digital broadcasting.
• Thorough understanding of RF/Transmitter environment.
• Understanding of policy, SOP and procedures relating to human resources.
• Development of strategy.
• Understanding of human resource and labour policies.
• Project management.
• Labour Statute Training.
• Sound knowledge of the relevant legislation applicable to broad HR legislation.