Description
Design, operate, and maintain RF and IP transmission systems that deliver radio and television content from studio to transmitter and distribution platforms. Monitor, control, and optimize transmitters, links, and satellite paths for power, modulation, and quality while ensuring regulatory compliance. Plan and execute installation, testing, and preventive maintenance to achieve high availability and reliable coverage.
- • Monitor and log transmitter power, VSWR, modulation, and mask to meet FCC requirements.
- • Configure, operate, and maintain RF transmitters, exciters, combiners, filters, and antennas.
- • Design, install, and align studio-to-transmitter links (STL), microwave paths, and IP distribution.
- • Operate and maintain satellite uplink/downlink systems; align dishes and manage LNBs/IRDs.
- • Optimize audio loudness and video/codec parameters to meet broadcast standards.
- • Manage GPS/PTP/NTP timing and SFN synchronization where applicable.
- • Perform RF coverage analysis and link budgets; recommend system improvements.
- • Implement and test redundancy and automatic failover across the transmission chain.
- • Troubleshoot transmission faults; perform emergency repairs and coordinate vendors.
- • Maintain remote-control and telemetry systems; respond to after-hours alarms.
- • Ensure regulatory compliance; maintain EAS equipment and engineering/public files.
- • Coordinate maintenance windows and planned outages with operations and programming.
- • Calibrate and verify spectral, modulation, and mask compliance using test equipment.
- • Maintain site power, UPS, generators, HVAC, grounding, and lightning protection.
- • Manage tower work and contractors; ensure FAA lighting and safety compliance.
- • Document system configurations, drawings, and change records.
- • Secure and maintain transmission IP networks, including SNMP, VPNs, and firewalls.
- • Integrate, monitor, and troubleshoot transport streams and IP multicast/unicast delivery.
- • Support encoding, multiplexing, and conditional access as required.
- • Train staff on transmitter remote-control procedures and escalation paths.
- • Procure parts and manage spares inventory for transmission sites.
- • Prepare regulatory filings, proofs of performance, and compliance reports.
- • Perform preventive maintenance and firmware updates; validate system performance.
- • Coordinate frequency planning and interference mitigation; pursue STAs when needed.
- • Lead site design and upgrade projects; develop scopes, budgets, and schedules.
- • Build monitoring dashboards and basic automation scripts to enhance observability.
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Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
