Vice President, Production Engineering

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. 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.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') 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.

Job Description

Versant Media is seeking a highly experienced and visionary VP, Production Engineering to lead the teams responsible for the technical backbone of our media operations. This is a critical leadership role that will oversee the development and technical support for all media systems, ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and scalability of content delivery across our live broadcast, digital streaming, and on-demand platforms. The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader with a deep understanding of media technology and a proven track record of managing high-performing engineering teams in a fast-paced media environment.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Broadcast & On-Air Applications

• Lead the team that provides Tier 2 and Tier 3 technical support for all media operations, ensuring rapid and effective resolution of complex issues to maintain business continuity.
• Oversee the entire lifecycle from design and development to testing and maintenance of technology systems that support live broadcast, streaming, and on-air content delivery.
• Direct the technical support for media and production functions, including post-production workflows, content ingest, and digital asset management systems.

Video Engineering & Streaming Platforms

• Lead the strategy, development, and support for all live and VOD streaming experiences, including web, mobile applications, and connected TV devices.
• Oversee the entire video pipeline, from encoding and transcoding to packaging and distribution, ensuring high-quality and low-latency delivery.
• Manage the technical relationship with content delivery networks (CDNs) and streaming vendors, optimizing performance and cost to deliver a world-class viewer experience.
• Direct the technical implementation of DRM, ad insertion, and analytics solutions for all digital video platforms.

Production & Post-Production Support

• Oversee the technical support and development of media production, post-production, and content ingest systems.
• Lead the technical strategy and implementation of new workflows and technologies to enhance the efficiency and scalability of these core media functions.

Implementation & Delivery

• Direct delivery systems to ensure content is distributed securely, reliably, and with minimal latency across broadcast and digital platforms.
• Implement standard processes to ensure consistency, compliance and efficiency across production environments.
• Develop and support technical processes and systems that facilitate the seamless delivery of broadcast content from our production facilities to end viewers.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic direction for the Production Engineering department, aligning technical initiatives with broader company goals for innovation and agility.            

Team Management

• Mentor, manage, and grow a team of skilled engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and accountability.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a seasoned media technology professional with a passion for innovation and a deep understanding of the complexities of broadcast and digital content delivery. You are a strategic thinker who can not only manage daily operations but also plan for the future of our technical infrastructure. You thrive in a dynamic environment and have a reputation for building and leading teams that consistently deliver high-quality, reliable, and scalable solutions.

• A seasoned leader in media technology, with comprehensive experience in broadcast and digital video engineering and a demonstrated ability to oversee large-scale, mission-critical media operations.
• Extensive experience in production, broadcast, and digital video engineering, with a strong focus on live and on-air environments as well as web, mobile, and OTT streaming platforms.
• Deep expertise in both broadcast technology and digital video technology, including on-air applications, video encoding, content delivery networks (CDNs), and streaming protocols.
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to lead a team in high-pressure situations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Requirements:

•  Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.

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: $225,000 - $275,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible) 

We are accepting applications for this position on an ongoing basis. 

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.

Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.