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Playback Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal Playback QoE Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$99.60 - $234.60/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Senior Principal Playback QoE Engineer to define and build the real-time quality intelligence layer for OVE. This role will connect viewer-side playback telemetry with OVE ...

Software Development Engineer, Playback Team

Newark, NJ · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

ABOUT THE TEAM The Playback team at Audible owns the core playback logic and services, including players, content delivery, security, listening data, metrics and insights, and a unified SDK. This ...

Software Development Engineer, Playback Team

Newark, NJ · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

ABOUT THE TEAM The Playback team at Audible owns the core playback logic and services, including players, content delivery, security, listening data, metrics and insights, and a unified SDK. This ...

Responsibilities : • Design, build, and maintain live video playback functionality for iOS and tvOS applications (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV). • Optimize HLS playback using AVPlayer, with a strong ...

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Playback information

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$19

$25

How much do playback jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for playback in the United States is $19.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $21.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a playback engineer?

To thrive as a Playback Engineer, you need a solid understanding of audio engineering, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and live sound principles, often supported by relevant audio production education or experience. Familiarity with playback systems like Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and hardware such as audio interfaces and MIDI controllers is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills help ensure smooth coordination with artists and crew during live performances. These skills are crucial for delivering reliable and high-quality audio playback, minimizing technical issues, and supporting seamless shows.

What does a playback operator do?

A Playback operator is responsible for managing and controlling the video, audio, and graphics content that is played back during live events, broadcasts, or film productions. They ensure that pre-recorded media is cued and displayed at the right moments, working closely with directors and production teams to maintain smooth transitions. This role requires technical knowledge of playback systems and quick problem-solving skills to handle any issues that may arise during live performances.

What is the difference between Playback vs Sound Engineer?

AspectPlaybackSound Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires technical training or certification in audio/visual technologyRequires audio engineering certifications or degrees in sound design or related fields
Work EnvironmentLive events, theaters, concerts, and broadcast settingsRecording studios, live events, film sets, and broadcast stations
Industry UsageUsed in live performances to manage audio playbackInvolved in recording, mixing, and sound design for various media

While both Playback and Sound Engineer roles involve audio technology, Playback primarily focuses on managing pre-recorded audio during live events, whereas Sound Engineers handle recording, mixing, and sound design across different media. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the audio industry.

What are some common challenges faced by playback operators during live productions, and how can these be managed?

Playback Operators in live production environments often face challenges such as last-minute content changes, technical glitches with media servers, and the pressure of synchronizing playback cues with other departments. Successful operators stay organized by preparing backup files, conducting thorough technical checks before events, and maintaining clear communication with directors and technical teams. Being adaptable and having a strong understanding of the playback system are essential for managing these challenges smoothly.
More about Playback jobs
What cities are hiring for Playback jobs? Cities with the most Playback job openings:
What states have the most Playback jobs? States with the most job openings for Playback jobs include:
Infographic showing various Playback job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,158 per year, or $19.3 per hour.

Principal Playback QoE Engineer

Ll Oefentherapie

Tallahassee, FL • On-site

$120 - $150/hr

Other

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

We are seeking a Senior Principal Playback QoE Engineer to define and build the real-time quality intelligence layer for OVE. This role will connect viewer-side playback telemetry with OVE infrastructure behavior, enabling real-time live-event operations, customer-facing quality reporting, and data-driven optimization of the delivery platform.

Why OCI
  • Build core technology for next-generation live streaming infrastructure
  • Work on high-scale data systems tied directly to viewer experience
  • Shape the QoE foundation for a greenfield media delivery platform
  • Solve problems across playback, telemetry, networking, edge delivery, and analytics
  • Influence how OVE proves quality, reliability, and customer value during major live events
Responsibilities
  • Define OVE’s canonical playback QoE metric model
  • Design and build real-time QoE telemetry pipelines using Kafka, Flink, or equivalent streaming systems
  • Process large-scale playback events across sessions, devices, geographies, ISPs, app versions, protocols, and delivery paths
  • Build real-time aggregations, anomaly detection, alerting, and live-event dashboards
  • Correlate playback telemetry with OVE relay, control plane, routing, and fallback behavior
  • Partner with player, infrastructure, observability, and product teams to improve end-to-end video quality
  • Support customer-facing QoE reporting, post-event analysis, and operational reviews
  • Identify playback regressions by device, region, ISP, app version, or delivery path
  • Help define QoE-driven feedback loops for routing, failover, capacity planning, and event readiness
  • Drive engineering standards for telemetry schemas, event quality, data correctness, and operational reliability
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