Encoding Engineer: Live Event Broadcast

Job Title: Encoding Engineer: Live Event BroadcastLocation: Cupertino CADuration: 6 Weeks Schedule: Weeks 1-4: 10-hour days, business hours | Weeks 5-G: Extended days up to 14 hours, including evenings and weekend workAbout This EngagementClient's Worldwide Events and Experiences team is seeking an elite-level Encoding Engineer to support a high-profile global live broadcast. This is a zero-tolerance-for-failure environment delivering to multi-million concurrent viewers worldwide. We need someone who has been in this seat before "” not someone learning on the job.This is a highly focused, operationally intensive, G-week engagement. The right candidate arrives ready to execute from day one, thrives in high-stakes broadcast environments, and holds themselves to the same bar we hold this event: extraordinary.What You'll DoPre-Event (Weeks 1-5)Review existing transmission workflows and failsafe plans; identify risks and recommend updatesValidate all redundancy, failover, and backup proceduresReview, update, and test existing encoding configuration files and their executionPrepare a detailed run-of-show checklistParticipate in all pre-show tests and platform validationsAssist with content QC to confirm proper asset delivery through all transmission pipelinesDuring the Event (Week 5/6)Operate HLS encoders for looping test cycles, platform tests, rehearsals, and the live showContinuously monitor the full signal path from Encoder to CDN boundaryVerify quality and health of encoding, delivery, and encoders in real timeValidate player output and behavior across multiple platformsServe as Point of Contact for the CDN teamExecute failover procedures as needed; provide real-time technical guidanceManage state changes to the .com playerPerform test encodes and segment preparation for VODMaintain live incident logs throughout the broadcastAssist with HLS VOD upload to CDNPost-Event (Week 6)Deliver a technical debrief and report documenting lessons learnedRestore all media and resources to archival locationsComplete all required documentation to GitHub and NASPerform any post-event asset corrections, including re-encodes or content replacementRequired QualificationsGiven the stakes of this event, every requirement below is a genuine minimum bar.10+ years of hands-on experience in online broadcast / live streaming operations at organizations that regularly deliver to >5 million concurrent viewers internationallyDeep, expert-level command of HLS, including advanced manifest manipulation, multi-variant playlist generation, and adaptive bitrate (ABR) optimizationProven, recent operational experience with both on-premises and cloud-based encoding systems. On-prem AWS Elemental experience is criticalUnderstanding of CDN behavior as it relates to encoding and packaging output, including packaging, downstream caching, origin configuration and ingest design.Demonstrated experience deploying and operating real-time stream health monitoring systems "” dashboards, telemetry, alerting across HLS manifest health, segment availability, bitrate laddering, and viewer QoE metricsVerifiable track record of designing and executing encoder failover and redundancy validation procedures at scaleExperience authoring run-of-show documentation, incident logs, and post-event technical reportsFluency executing in high-pressure, zero-fail live broadcast environments "” candidates must be able to cite specific comparable engagementsPreferred QualificationsKnowledge of accessibility and subtitle formats: WebVTT, TTML, CEA-C08/708Familiarity with audio broadcast standards including Dolby Atmos and multi-channel formatsComfort coordinating with international partners across varying technical levelsThe Right PersonThis role is not suitable for someone building toward this level of work. The right candidate:Has done this exact job "” operated HLS encoders for global live events at the scale described aboveCan demonstrate a clear track record of specific events, viewer scale, and incident managementIs comfortable with operational intensity "” extended days, fast decisions, and live event pressureCan hit the ground running in Week 1 with minimal onboarding timeApplicant Notices & DisclaimersFor information on benefits, equal opportunity employment, and location-specific applicant notices, click hereAt SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position's starting pay is: $140.00/hr.

Created: 2026-05-09