Manager, Compression Engineering

Description

Storytelling is, and will always be, the heart of what we do at Skydance.

Our vision is to build a thriving entertainment ecosystem where stories and worlds are imagined, brought to life and experienced. We create for every age and audience, anchored by the strength of our content and experiences and the depth of our connection with fans. We are creator-first, audience-focused, tech-forward, globally scaled.

Here, you’ll work with talented teams that move fast, think boldly and collaborate with purpose to deliver results. We aim high, champion the best ideas and win together, earning the trust of our employees, creators, partners and audiences every day.

If you’re energized by the opportunity to help build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology, we’d be thrilled to welcome you aboard. LET’S GO!

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Your New Role...

The Manager, Compression Engineering is a senior people and technical leader responsible for the stability, evolution, and strategic direction of WBD’s global compression and monitoring platforms. This role leads a multi‑team engineering organization and owns service reliability, operational readiness, and long‑term technology execution across a complex broadcast and IP distribution ecosystem.

Operating with WBD’s “One Team” mindset, this leader partners closely with Architecture, Distribution Operations, Global Broadcast Engineering, and Live Events Engineering to define and deliver next‑generation compression and transport strategies. The role serves as the highest escalation point for compression operations and live event readiness and plays a key role in shaping WBD’s future distribution capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Organizational Leadership & People Management
• Provide oversight of all staff scheduling and direction on project execution.
• Interfacing with operational management to determine user requirements.
• Maintain and create Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for Compression systems maintenance, and emergency action procedures.
• Drive a culture of accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and technical innovation.
• Technology Strategy & Platform Evolution
• Conduct testing of new technologies relating to compression systems as directed by Senior Management.
• Partner with Architecture, Cloud Engineering, Distribution Operations, and Live Events to ensure scalable, resilient, and future‑ready solutions.
• Review of system design documents including single line drawings, cable schedules and equipment layouts.
• Establish and enforce standardized testing, acceptance, and deployment practices across regions.
• Operational Excellence & Service Reliability
• Manage, maintain and operate all compression technology in use at Discovery communications.
• Identify and document trends in service affecting outages.
• Ensure robust monitoring, telemetry, alerting, and reporting frameworks are in place and continuously improved.
• Develop and administer training seminars and courses to successfully indoctrinate new TOC and Distribution Engineering staff members on the daily operations and functions of DCL’s compression systems
• Portfolio, Vendor, & Financial Management
• Take part in vendor and equipment selection
• Lead strategic vendor relationships, including contract negotiations, performance governance, and SLA accountability.
• Own budget planning and financial oversight for hardware, software, cloud services, and lifecycle investments.
• Provide clear reporting on operational performance, reliability metrics, and program execution.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership & Enterprise Alignment
• Ensure operational and technical readiness for major global broadcasts, live sports, and high‑visibility premieres.
• Coordinate across global sites to maintain consistent standards, performance, and service quality.
• Supports Regional Affiliate Sales teams on an as needed basis.

Requirements

• Required
• 5+ years of experience in video compression, broadcast distribution, or related engineering disciplines.
• 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams, including managers or senior‑level engineers.
• Deep expertise in MPEG technologies, baseband video/audio/metadata, and IP video transport.
• Hands‑on experience with DigiCipher, PowerVu, Harmonic, or comparable compression systems.
• Strong strategic leadership, operational judgment, and executive‑level communication skills.
• Experience supporting 24/7/365 mission‑critical environments with global scope.
• On‑site availability in Sterling, VA, including support during emergencies or major events.
• Willingness to participate in on‑call leadership rotations as required.
• Preferred
• Experience with cloud‑based video and hybrid broadcast/streaming workflows.
• Familiarity with RF uplink/downlink, satellite distribution, and IP contribution networks.
• Experience with SNMP‑based monitoring platforms and telemetry pipelines.
• Proficiency with design and documentation tools (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart, AutoCAD).
• Experience supporting global live sports or other high‑profile broadcast events.
• Additional Information
• This position is designated essential . On‑site presence may be required during inclement weather, emergencies, or major broadcast events to ensure business continuity.
• About Skydance
• Skydance is a next-generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. Skydance's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount, Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max, Paramount+, Pluto TV, CBS, CNN, CBS Sports, TNT Sports, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, MTV, Food Network, BET, HGTV, and Comedy Central.
• Some Important Details
• If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.
• Hiring Salary Range: $92,750.00 - $172,250.00 per year
• In compliance with local law, we are disclosing compensation, or a range thereof, for roles where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, external market data, internal equity, skill set, experience, training, education, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of our total compensation package. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.