Broadcast Engineer – East Operations Lead

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

Business Title:

Employee Type:

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

The Broadcast Engineer – East Operations Lead is a technical position responsible for the operation, reliability, maintenance, and continuous improvement of radio broadcast transmission, studio, and supporting technical systems for Northwest Public Broadcasting (NWPB). Based at NWPB’s headquarters, this position provides engineering leadership for East Operations while maintaining the organization’s core broadcast infrastructure, including centralized program origination, audio distribution, automation, and signal transport systems that support broadcast operations throughout the network.

Working with a high degree of independence, this position manages complex broadcast, RF, IP networking, and IT-based systems; leads technical projects from planning through implementation; and ensures compliance with applicable FCC regulations, industry standards, and organizational policies. The Broadcast Engineer collaborates closely with engineering staff, program operations, information technology, and other stakeholders to maintain reliable, mission-critical broadcast services, centralized content distribution, and public safety communications across NWPB’s multi-state broadcast network.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain broadcast infrastructure, including studio-to-transmitter links (STLs), satellite reception systems, Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment, telemetry and remote-control systems, and associated support equipment to meet operational, quality-of-service, and regulatory requirements.

• Operate, maintain, and support broadcast technologies, including Audio-over-IP (AoIP) networks, radio automation systems, FM (including HD Radio), AM transmission systems, satellite reception, emergency standby power systems, and centralized routing, processing, monitoring, and control platforms.

• Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade radio studio equipment and supporting technologies, including AoIP servers, network switches, operating systems, audio consoles, microphones, signal processors, and related hardware and software.

• Maintain and support NWPB’s centralized broadcast origination, program distribution, automation, and signal transport systems that provide programming and operational services across the statewide network.

• Manage assigned broadcast facilities to ensure operational continuity, including oversight of transmitter sites, emergency power systems, HVAC equipment, building infrastructure, and preventative maintenance activities.

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineering staff, contractors, vendors, and project teams by coordinating installations, system upgrades, troubleshooting efforts, and technical training.

• Support and administer network infrastructure supporting broadcast operations, including servers, switches, storage, virtual or physical computing platforms, and related IP-based systems.

• Travel as required to support engineering projects, emergency response, equipment installation, preventative maintenance, and technical operations throughout Washington, and areas of Oregon, and Idaho.

• Ensure compliance with applicable FCC, FAA, OSHA, and organizational policies, engineering standards, and operational procedures.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime eligible.

Monthly Salary:

$4,508.70 - $5,072.29 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the hiring salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits:

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years professional experience OR a combination of education and experience totaling seven (7) years from which comparable knowledge and abilities are acquired. Education and experience may be tailored to specific need requirements of position.

• Demonstrated experience installing, operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing radio broadcast transmission, studio, and associated technical systems.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations applicable to broadcast operations, including technical compliance, logging, licensing, and operational standards.

• Proven experience troubleshooting and maintaining complex broadcast infrastructure, including RF transmission systems, AoIP networks, automation systems, audio processing, IP networking, and related broadcast technologies.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose, prioritize, and resolve complex technical issues in a timely and effective manner.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound technical judgment, prioritize competing responsibilities, and manage multiple projects in a dynamic operational environment.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate successfully with engineering staff, information technology professionals, vendors, contractors, and non-technical stakeholders.

• Demonstrated technical leadership experience, including coordinating projects, mentoring or training technical staff, and providing guidance during system installations, upgrades, and troubleshooting activities.

• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Washington and areas of Oregon, and Idaho to support engineering projects, emergency response, preventative maintenance, and technical operations.

• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.

• Ability to safely travel to and work at remote transmitter facilities under varying terrain and weather conditions.

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Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting AoIP systems, radio automation systems, centralized audio routing, and HD Radio (IBOC) transmission technologies.

• Demonstrated knowledge of RF theory, transmission lines, antenna systems, propagation principles, and broadcast signal measurement techniques.

• Experience installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting FM and AM broadcast transmitters, including high-power RF systems, associated support equipment, and electronic test instruments.

• Experience with satellite reception and distribution systems, Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment, remote-control and telemetry systems, and studio-to-transmitter links (STLs).

• Experience administering or supporting IP-based broadcast networks, including managed switches, VLANs, routing, network diagnostics, and cybersecurity best practices.

• Experience supporting Windows and/or Linux server environments used for broadcast automation, audio routing, monitoring, or other mission-critical broadcast applications.

• Experience planning or leading technical projects involving broadcast system integration, equipment replacement, facility upgrades, or infrastructure modernization.

• Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) certification (e.g., Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer (CBRE), Certified Broadcast Technologist, or Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist (CBNT), or the ability to obtain certification.

• Experience working in a public broadcasting, educational broadcasting, or multi-station broadcast network environment.

• Experience supporting centralized broadcast origination, content distribution, or network operations serving multiple transmitter sites.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility:

Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

About Department/College/Area/ Campus -

https://www.NWPB.org/

Area/College:

Edward R. Murrow College of Communications
 

Department Name:

North-West Public Broadcasting
 

Location:

Pullman, WA

Application Instructions:

Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume
2) Cover Letter

• External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.

• Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

• Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

• Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

Position Term:

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/