Video Architect

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Video Architect to join our Product and Technology team. This role will be responsible for documenting and understanding our existing Video Platforms, evaluating new technologies, and leading the integration of cutting-edge video solutions. The ideal candidate has a strong technical background in video acquisition, distribution, and delivery, as well as exceptional communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with Product teams, vendors, and cross-functional engineering teams.

Duties / Responsibilities:

• Document existing video platforms, end-to-end architectures, workflows, and technologies.
• Maintain comprehensive records of system configurations, standards, and best practices.
• Research and assess new technologies and solutions in video acquisition, streaming, and content delivery.
• Engage with potential vendors to evaluate solutions against technical and business requirements.
• Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to integrate new services or technologies into existing platforms.
• Develop and maintain integration strategies for optimal performance and reliability.
• Translate Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) into detailed Technical Requirement Documents for vendor proposals and solution design.
• Provide clear, actionable documentation to guide vendors and internal teams.
• Plan and execute PoC tests for new video technologies and services.
• Work closely with vendors and internal testing teams to validate performance, security, and scalability.
• Create and update Engineering and Design Guidelines, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and high/low-level design documentation.
• Ensure documentation remains current and reflective of evolving standards.
• Define and enforce standards for taxonomy and provisioning of video services.
• Ensure consistent naming conventions, metadata practices, and resource provisioning across all systems.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Engineering, QA, and other stakeholders to align technical solutions with business goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on video technology trends, architecture, and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering in Computer, Telecomm., or a Video-related field.
• Proficiency in Video Technologies including:
• OTT/IP-based VOD and Linear Live Streaming
• Cloud-based DVR/TimeShift TV and on-premises NVR solutions
• Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI)
• Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) and Constant Bitrate (CBR) streaming protocols
• MPEG-TS, MPEG-DASH, HLS, MSS, CMAF
• Video and Audio Codecs: AAC, AC3/Dolby Digital, H.264/H.265
• DRM and Content Protection: PlayReady, Common Encryption (CENC), Verimatrix, castLabs, Nagra, MediaRoom, Pro:Idiom, Widevine, FairPlay
• Real-Time Video Protocols: SRT, WebRTC, QUIC/HTTP3
• Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Edge Caching
• Hands-on Experience with video packaging, transcoding, encryption, and content delivery.
• Strong Communication Skills to translate technical information into business-oriented language and vice versa.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills with the ability to diagnose and troubleshoot complex video streaming issues.
• Project and Vendor Management Experience to coordinate with multiple vendors and ensure timely delivery of solutions.

Preferred:

• Understanding and practical experience with Microsoft and Linux Server Technologies
• Knowledge of Networking Protocols and Security (TCP/UDP, TLS/SSL, firewalls, access control).
• Experience with Agile Methodologies and tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence).
• Experience coding in higher-level languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript, C++, or Java)
• Experience creating automated scripts using python, bash, and PowerShell

BENEFITS:

We truly appreciate and value all our employees and show our appreciation by offering a wide range of benefits, including:

• Comprehensive Healthcare/Dental/Vision Plans
• 401K Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Additional Holidays (including your Birthday!)
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Paid Parental Leave
• Hotwire Service Discounts – for employees who live on a property serviced by Hotwire. Discounted service offerings are provided for high-speed internet, video service, phone, and security service
• Employee Referral Bonuses
• Exclusive Entertainment Discounts/Perks

Hotwire provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.