ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER, WBUR Engineering (24500086860119)

Who We Are & What We Can Offer You: 

WBUR is Boston’s NPR and a public media leader, producing exceptional journalism on-air, online, on-demand, and in real life. Our mission is to produce high-quality journalism and enriching experiences that foster understanding, connection, and community for an expanding circle of people. WBUR is member-supported and licensed to Boston University.

WBUR is brimming with talent and ambition. Our colleagues work hard, strive for excellence, value truth, creativity, diverse perspectives, and open debate. Our culture is warm and welcoming — no matter what your role is — we work hard to ensure that everyone feels like they belong. On top of that people are both respectful and passionate about the work we do. 

We’ve got exciting plans to keep innovating and building WBUR for the future. It’s a place to do meaningful work with interesting people and to learn and grow along the way.

We offer our employees both hybrid and in-office work arrangements.

We also offer:

The Opportunity and Who You’ll Work With: 

Position Type: Permanent, Full Time, Benefits Eligible

Work Format: 100% Onsite with travel to transmitter locations as needed.

Schedule: Hours are typically 09:00AM-05:00PM ET with flexibility as required.

At WBUR, our Engineering, Operations & IT department is pivotal to maintaining and advancing the technical infrastructure that supports our news production and distribution. This department is responsible for ensuring the reliability and efficiency of broadcast equipment, digital platforms, and communication networks.

As Assistant Chief Engineer, you will join a team of 3 and report to our Chief Engineer. You will be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the WBUR broadcast systems, including a major studio complex and multiple FM transmitter sites. As part of the above duties, you will participate in the annual budget process for WBUR Transmission Systems and assist in the procurement of new studio and broadcast equipment.  You will also coordinate and supervise the work of any external vendors that maintain and repair WBUR transmission sites that are off campus. 

In addition, you will help train the Broadcast Engineer, under the guidance of the Chief Engineer. 

To ensure a rapid response to technical emergencies that could impair studio operations or broadcast transmissions, this position includes responsibility for on-call availability on shared basis with the rest of the Broadcast Systems team. This position must ensure a rapid restoration of services in the event of system failures, in coordination with the Chief Engineer.

Essential Functions:

• (35%) Plan, execute and direct the installation, maintenance and repair of studio and broadcast transmission equipment.
• (20%) Programming, maintenance, and repair of broadcast automation systems and content importation systems.
• (15%) Equipment procurement, direction of vendors, and purchasing of replacement parts and equipment.
• (10%) Under direction of Chief Engineer, ensure that all broadcast operations are in keeping with FCC guidelines.
• (10%) Emergency, on-call support, live event support.
• (10%) Define operational procedures for transmission systems and train Broadcast Recording Technicians, combo announcers, and other operators.

What You’ll Need to Succeed: 

Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent/relevant experience
• 3-5 years of relevant experience

Capabilities and Proficiencies: 

• An excitement about WBUR’s mission to provide an essential public good: high-quality journalism and enriching experiences that foster understanding, connection and community.
• Proficient in the design and installation of FM broadcast transmission systems. 
• Skilled in the repair of electronic audio equipment down to the component or module level, including soldering techniques for printed circuit cards. 
• Familiar with requirements of Neilsen PPM monitoring systems. 
• Proficient in the operation of HD Radio transmission systems 
• Proficient in support of AoIP systems, including long-distance audio transmission via IP codecs and LAN-based audio systems. 
• Familiar with high frequency communication systems such as satellite earth stations, fiber optic transmission and terrestrial microwave. 
• Proficient in computer-based audio production and automation systems. 
• Proficient in the use and configuration of both Windows and Apple operating systems computers. 
• Expert in low voltage wiring techniques and regulatory codes (e.g. TIA-568 Ethernet wiring, audio, and control system wiring). 
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

In an ongoing effort to enrich our organizational culture, WBUR is committed to building a staff and leadership team that reflects the diversity of our city, region and nation.  

Designing an organization where everyone thrives, creating connection and community that permeates our workplace requires real change across all facets of what we do and who we are.    

We must hire, support, develop, advance and retain diverse talent at all levels of the organization with a standard of inclusive excellence. 

If you are excited by this opportunity and have a passion for our mission - whether you meet all or some of our criteria - we want to talk to you. After submitting your application – join our Talent Community !

If you require an ADA reasonable accommodation to complete your application and/or participate in the interview process, please let us know here . 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. 

Boston, Massachusetts, United States