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Playback Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Roblox

Principal Software Engineer - Video

San Mateo, CA

$153.80K - $206.20K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer on the Video team, you'll be responsible for building, operating, and evolving our video transcoding and playback platform and innovate on new uses for video in a 3D ...

Apple

Core Audio Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

... playback. As a Core Audio System Software engineer, you'll be responsible for developing and ... debugging audio system software for all of Apple's platforms. In particular, you will focus on the ...

STAND 8

Sr Video Streaming Engineer (Android)

Almont, CO · Remote

$70 - $80/hr

Build high-performance mobile experiences focused on video playback, streaming reliability, and ... Collaborate with cross-functional engineering, product, and QA teams to deliver scalable platform ...

New

Apple

Core Audio Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

... playback. Description As a Core Audio System Software engineer, you'll be responsible for ... developing and debugging audio system software for all of Apple's platforms. In particular, you ...

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How much do playback engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for playback engineer in the United States is $47.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35.82 and $60.82 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Playback Engineer do?

A Playback Engineer is responsible for managing and operating the backing tracks, click tracks, and digital elements used in live performances. They ensure seamless audio playback using software like Ableton Live, often syncing tracks with lighting and video cues. Their role includes programming setlists, troubleshooting technical issues, and collaborating with musicians and crew to maintain consistent sound quality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Playback Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Playback Engineer, you need expertise in audio engineering, signal flow, and live sound reinforcement, often demonstrated by a degree or equivalent experience in audio production. Familiarity with playback systems such as Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and digital audio interfaces—as well as certifications from manufacturers or relevant training—are highly valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills help you excel in high-pressure environments. These competencies ensure smooth integration of playback tracks, seamless show execution, and effective collaboration with artists and technical teams.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Playback Engineer during a live event tour?

As a Playback Engineer on tour, you'll be responsible for programming, operating, and maintaining playback systems that supply pre-recorded tracks, click tracks, and timecode to the band and production team. Your typical day may include setting up and testing equipment, troubleshooting technical issues, coordinating with musical directors and other crew members, and ensuring all playback cues run accurately during performances. You may also collaborate with lighting and video teams to synchronize production elements and may need to adapt to last-minute show changes. The role requires flexibility and strong communication skills, as you'll often work in fast-paced, dynamic environments to deliver flawless live productions.
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Playback Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Playback Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,940 per year, or $47.1 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer - Video

Principal Software Engineer - Video

Roblox

San Mateo, CA

$153.80K - $206.20K/yr

Other

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

As a Principal Software Engineer on the Video team, you'll be responsible for building, operating, and evolving our video transcoding and playback platform and innovate on new uses for video in a 3D world. If you enjoy working with C++ and C# or other backend language while building products for the passionate community of Roblox developers and users, you'll be right at home within our experienced team.

This is a hands-on role developing and operating a complex video processing pipeline with bursty traffic and for someone who takes great pride in being able to sleep in on Saturday mornings. 

You Will:
  • Own our unique challenges of playing video in a 3D world while the video display size and CPU/GPU/RAM/network availability are changing.
  • Leverage AI coding tools to make yourself even more efficient and productive.
  • Evolve our video ingest, transcoding, processing, and streaming platform to serve the growing community of creators, working on our backend microservices platform, data pipelines, and the game engine.
  • Employ best programming practices to write code that is efficient, robust, resilient, understandable, observable, and scalable.
  • Play a crucial role improving the quality of video encoding and playback on a wide range of devices, from mobile to high-end platforms.
  • Invent new creative uses for video in a 3D world.
  • Work with teams all over Roblox, both engineering and non-technical, to bring product visions and proof of concepts to life.
  • Be responsible for paying close attention to even the smallest details, driving both easy and hard problems to complete conclusions.
You Have:
  • At least 8+ years of experience developing and deploying video systems
  • Deep experience with adaptive video playback systems and how to craft an encoding ladder for optimal user experience.
  • Knowledge of video quality metrics and how to use them to improve video quality in different scenarios.
  • Successfully deployed a multi-service distributed system at scale with low costs and high availability, and worked with infra and product teams to get the job done.
  • Familiarity with the challenges of working at scale, especially on constrained platforms like consoles and mobile devices
  • Experience in performance optimization, creating data pipelines that process millions of records, creating data visualizations, and alerting on critical telemetry.
  • Proficiency in C++ and C# or another backend language, with an understanding of parallel/concurrent programming concepts.
  • Knowledge within the video domain and you love to pick up new technologies as the landscape evolves.

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