Director, Production Design Engineering

Company Description

We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('SpinCo') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

As a company uniquely positioned to educate, entertain and empower through our platforms, Comcast NBCUniversal stands for including everyone. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, coupled with our Corporate Social Responsibility work, is informed by our employees, audiences, park guests and the communities in which we live. We strive to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where our employees feel supported, embraced and heard. Together, we'll continue to create and deliver content that reflects the current and ever-changing face of the world.

Job Description

NBCUniversal is looking for a talented individual for our open Director, Production Design Engineering position for NBCU Operations and Technology (O&T). Based in 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, O&T supports Enterprise Technology, Broadcast, and Production systems across NBCU globally.

The Director of Production Design Engineering balances day-to-day operations, such as management of a dynamic team providing best-in-class live television production support for NBCU, with forward-looking planning and execution around live television production technology strategy, process methodology, architecture, and collaboration with cross-functional business leaders and partners. This position will have direct management of New York team supporting live television production control rooms, studios and related equipment on the 30 Rockefeller Complex. The teams consist of installation technicians, and studio and control room design engineers. 

Responsibilities:

Team Leadership

• Cultivate and sustain a robust engineering team with a balanced mix of managerial support, architects, strategy experts, and innovative engineers.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to employees.
• Foster collaborative partnerships across NBCU engineering teams, promoting cross-facility support and engagement.
• Oversee and manage the operational and capital budgets for your team and clients.
• Manage projects against the capital budget, maintaining metrics and deliverables, and providing regular reports on progress.

Capital Projects and Strategy

• Collaborate with leadership and operational clients to formulate both short-term and long-term strategic technology plans and budgets.
• Balance local project initiatives with enterprise-wide goals, striving to align strategies and create synergies across all NBCU locations.
• Develop conceptual designs and technology architecture visions, assigning project tasks to team members with clear and concise direction.
• Oversee ongoing projects, managing budgets, timelines, design and integration, application commissioning, and training. Ensure thorough documentation of applications.
• Engage in projects at other NBCU sites as needed.

Client Management

• Lead all projects and serve as the primary client interface, collaborating with operations teams, clients, and executive management both formally and informally.
• Monitor timelines, manage priorities and schedules, and set clear client expectations.
• Gather technical requirements, provide effective solutions, and ensure resources are allocated to meet required timelines.
• Report on project deliverables and timelines, and establish proper reporting standards

Monitoring and Security

• Collaborate closely with the NBCU cyber security team to build repeatable systems with security best practices
• Focus heavily on standard security logging and reporting of all systems
• Build out enterprise-wide monitoring systems with automated alerting and dashboarding interfaces for easy troubleshooting

Television Production Technology Support and Maintenance

• Deliver 24/7 technical escalation support to uphold a sophisticated broadcast production ecosystem spanning numerous studios, production control rooms, and remote sites.
• Execute system-wide upgrades during overnight and weekend maintenance windows.
• Vigilantly monitor and ensure operational readiness of existing facilities, maintaining comprehensive knowledge of all pertinent technical infrastructure.
• Enhance system designs through insights gained from support incidents.
• Foster close collaboration with Production Operations management and key personnel to evaluate the facility's capacity to meet service demands amidst a dynamic event schedule.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Film Production, Broadcasting, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience in the field 
• Up to date SMPTE 2110 standards in broadcast design infrastructure 
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in infrastructure management and IP facility implementations
• 5+ years of managerial experience, including proficiency in performance evaluation, hiring, and disciplinary procedures
• Flexibility to work evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays with short notice, depending on production schedules
• Willingness to travel as required for business needs

Desired Characteristics:

Collaboration and Technical Communication

• Demonstrate strong customer service skills and maintain professionalism in all interactions.
• Collaborate closely with clients at local facilities and peers across the business to ensure cohesive project execution.
• Exhibit strong written and verbal communication skills, along with the ability to effectively present to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Possess excellent organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and projects efficiently.

Proven Leadership Skills

• Provide clear and decisive direction while being adaptable and prepared to pivot when necessary.
• Inspire and motivate your team, maintaining enthusiasm and leadership both during planned activities and when responding to unexpected changes.
• Exhibit a high tolerance for stress, work effectively with others, and maintain a supportive and encouraging attitude towards all colleagues.

Technology Expertise and Ownership

• Exhibit extensive expertise with a wide range of technologies, including television production and transmission technologies, storage/asset management systems, and automation/development and monitoring tools.
• Stay abreast of industry advancements, continuously adapting to emerging technologies.
• Commit to building and sustaining a stable, high-performance technical environment.
• Embrace your role as the ultimate responsible party and senior subject matter expert for technology, ensuring excellence and reliability.

Additional Requirements:

• Required On-Site: This position is required to be performed full-time from an NBCUniversal-designated worksite.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range: $145,000 - $175,000 (with bonus & long-term incentive eligibility)

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.