Remote COMMS Technician

The ideal candidate must possess strong communication skills and work well with others.  They should be able to multi-task, work under deadlines, and properly handle stressful situations.  The candidate should have a deep understanding of technical equipment and signal flows.  Planning and documentation are also a requirement.  As ESPN is a 24/7 operation, candidates schedule must be flexible and are expected to work: nights, weekends, and holidays.  Travel is also a requirement that is determined by the duration of the event.

Position Summary:

The candidate is responsible for planning and executing communications for Live Remote events.  The planning stage encompasses all work before arriving onsite.  This is typically known as “Remote Office Work”.  The planning starts with acquiring Production and Operation management’s requirements for the event.  Then meeting with the various Technical and Operation teams to establish a plan.  Meticulous documentation will need to be created and shared with the appropriate teams to lay out the established plan.  This should include but not limited to drawings, camera swings, IFBs, PLs, external keypanels/beltpacks, communication 4wires, and/or trunking assignments to other trucks/facilities, and any additional required hardware to name a few.  Once onsite, the candidate is responsible for working with the various technical teams (Audio, Engineering, Video, Operations, etc.) to properly execute the established plan.  Throughout the event they are required to field any requests and troubleshoot any issues where and when needed.  With any event, challenges can occur that will require the candidate to be agile with changes, work through stressful situations, while staying calm and maintaining their composure.  Documentation should be updated when changes to the original plan are made.  At the conclusion of the event, the candidate must return all equipment inventory and systems back to their original state.  Lastly, as part of “Remote Office Work” the candidate is required to meet with the various groups from the planning stage for a postmortem to discuss what worked, what didn’t, and what can be done in the future to enhance the production.  Final documentation should then be created, that notates all aspects of the event to be used for future event planning.

Additional “Remote Office Work” should include but are not limited to training, documentation, and RCS (Remote Comms Support).  All company mandated training should be completed in a timely manner.  The candidate will also be required to provide structured classroom style (in person, Zoom, or recording) training to their colleagues.  In preparation for the training, the candidate is required to create a training syllabus to be shared before the training.  Items to be covered but are not limited to: wired intercom, wireless intercom, computer networking, audio and video routing systems. The candidate will also be required to work RCS. In this role, they will work from their home office and remotely support the team onsite at an event. This is accomplished using company assets to allow them to remotely control equipment at site.  When applicable, the candidate will also need to provide training to onsite operators while performing RCS.     

   

Responsibilities:

  Intercom Systems:

• Proficient in AES67, 2110, Dante, MADI, AVB, and trunking protocols.
• Hands-on experience with Riedel Intercom systems (Artist G2 & 1024).
• Expertise in RTS Intercom systems (ADAM, ADAM-M, Odin, OMS, Cronus, TBX).

  RF Communications:

• Knowledgeable in DECT, 2.4 & 5.8 GHz frequencies, and broadcast RF systems.
• Experience with PL systems such as Bolero, Freespeak, CrewCom, and Roameo.
• Familiar with 2-way radios, specifically Kenwood NexEdge, Linux OS, antenna, and combining systems.

  Networking:

• Strong understanding of AoIP, QoS, VLAN configuration, unicast & multicast audio, PTPv1 & PTPv2, and other common networking protocols.

  Audio Systems:

• Proficiency in working with Calrec, Lawo, and Digico audio systems.

  Router Systems:

• Expertise with router systems such as EVS Cerebrum, Evertz Magnum, Lawo Powercore, and Calrec Impulse Core.

  Training:

• Ability to effectively communicate and teach technical concepts in a classroom setting.

  System Design:

• Capable of designing, setting up, and supporting both small and large-scale systems.

Qualifications:

• Candidate must possess strong communications and interpersonal skills and organizational abilities.
• Candidate must possess strong attention to detail and work independently in a demanding deadline driven environment.
• Proven experience working with complex communication systems.
• Strong technical expertise and the ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Relevant certifications or qualifications in communications or networking are a plus.   

Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years professional experience related to broadcast or technical operations including onsite experience with remote transport and transmission systems.
• Professional experience in operating processes of remote productions and remote transport systems.
• Strong knowledge of Production workflow and operating systems.
• Strong knowledge of telecom services.
• Experience managing and implementing multiple budgets.

Required Education:

High School diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.

Additional Information: (i.e. physical requirements, holiday, nights, weekend shifts, etc.)

Must be able to lift more than 50lbs, work nights, holidays and weekends.

The hiring range for this remote position is $75 to $95 per hour, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.