Introductory Statement
The incumbent serves as a senior IT Specialist (Applications Software) within the Digital Management Division (DMD), Technology Support Services Directorate. The position functions as a lead System Administrator and Broadcast IT Architect, responsible for the design, integration, management, and sustainment of mission-critical digital media broadcast systems supporting Voice of America (VOA) and USAGM global operations.
The incumbent provides expert-level technical leadership in managing enterprise broadcast platforms, including ingest, editing, playout, scheduling, and archive systems. The role requires mastery in systems integration, software lifecycle management, and infrastructure design across complex broadcast environments.
The position operates within a 24/7 global broadcast ecosystem and is accountable for ensuring system reliability, security, performance, and continuous modernization of IT-based broadcast technologies.
Duties for this Position
Broadcast Systems Engineering and Integration:
- Leads planning, design, and integration of computer hardware and software systems supporting digital broadcast operations.
- Oversees implementation and sustainment of broadcast platforms including Dalet Galaxy, ScheduAll, Dataminer, and other related systems.
- Leads evaluation, testing, and deployment of new broadcast software releases, upgrades, and system enhancements.
- Ensures interoperability between modern and legacy broadcast systems during phased migrations and modernization efforts.
- Designs and implements high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) solutions for mission-critical broadcast systems.
- Defines recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) aligned with broadcast continuity requirements.
- Develops and implements strategies for hybrid/cloud integration of broadcast systems, including storage, compute, and media processing workflows.
- Evaluates cloud-based media services for ingest, transcoding, archive, and distribution use cases.
- Establishes governance for media assets, metadata, and content lifecycle across MAM/DAM systems.
- Demonstrates advanced knowledge of database systems supporting broadcast operations, including configuration, performance tuning, backup and recovery strategies, and data integrity management across media asset management (MAM), scheduling, and archive platforms.
- Applies expert knowledge of network architecture and protocols to support high-throughput, low-latency broadcast environments, including design, troubleshooting, and optimization of IP-based media transport, storage networks, and enterprise connectivity required for continuous global broadcasting operations.
System Administration and Infrastructure Management:
- Administers, configures, installs, and maintains enterprise broadcast systems, servers, storage, and associated infrastructure.
- Manages networking and storage architectures supporting high-availability broadcast environments.
- Maintains system security, access controls, and compliance with IT security policies including authentication and user permissions.
- Supports automated systems including master control, ingest pipelines, editing suites, and backup systems.
Technical Leadership and Problem Resolution:
- Serves as technical lead for diagnosing and resolving complex system, workflow, and integration issues across broadcast platforms.
- Provides expert-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis for system failures impacting broadcast operations.
- Coordinates with engineering teams, vendors, and stakeholders to implement corrective actions and system improvements.
- Supports continuity of operations during service interruptions through rapid response and restoration planning.
Project Management and Program Oversight:
- Leads short- and long-term technology initiatives, modernization efforts, and system upgrades across broadcast IT environments.
- Leads on evaluate vendor products, performance, and system solutions.
- Manages project planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and coordination for IT systems and services.
- Prepares technical briefings, documentation, and presentations for leadership decision-making.
Training, Communication, and Stakeholder Engagement:
- Provides training and technical guidance to broadcast personnel on IT-based production systems and workflows.
- Communicates system status, outages, and maintenance activities to stakeholders across the agency.
- Maintains communication channels to ensure visibility into operational impacts and restoration timelines.
Security and Technology Management:
- Ensures compliance with IT security policies, including access controls, authentication mechanisms, and system protection standards.
- Maintains oversight of secure system configurations, VPN access, and authentication tools such as token-based systems.
- Continuously evaluates emerging technologies and recommends adoption to enhance broadcast efficiency and capability.
Collateral Duties
Performs other duties as assigned, including participation in after-hours operational support, incident response, and continuity of broadcast operations.