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Playback Operator Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Roku

Software Engineer, Embedded Systems

San Jose, CA

$197K - $270K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • PTO

Continuously improve playback on Roku devices, and deliver our users a world-class player experience under all operating conditions * Work independently and in small groups to deliver new features ...

Hearst UK

Operations Director

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$45K - $56K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... playback server operation; automated audio set-up and operation; robotic camera control system ... Experience operating broadcast equipment like switchers, audio boards, and cameras * Can deal with ...

New

Hearst

Operations Director

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$45K - $56K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... playback server operation; automated audio set-up and operation; robotic camera control system ... Experience operating broadcast equipment like switchers, audio boards, and cameras * Can deal with ...

Hearst Newspapers

Operations Director

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$45K - $56K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... playback server operation; automated audio set-up and operation; robotic camera control system ... Experience operating broadcast equipment like switchers, audio boards, and cameras * Can deal with ...

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Playback Operator information

See California salary details

$10

$22

$36

How much do playback operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for playback operator in California is $22.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $21.59 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a playback operator?

Playback Operators are professionals responsible for managing and operating video, audio, and multimedia playback during live events, broadcasts, or studio productions. They ensure that all pre-recorded content is played at the correct times and coordinates closely with directors and technical teams to maintain smooth transitions and accurate timing. Their role is essential in television, film, live concerts, and virtual events, where precise playback control is crucial for the production's success.

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

To thrive as a Playback Operator, you need a solid understanding of video and audio formats, broadcast workflows, and general AV technology, often supported by relevant education or experience in media production. Familiarity with industry-standard playback systems such as EVS, Avid, or Grass Valley, as well as basic troubleshooting skills, is typically required. Attention to detail, quick decision-making, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing live or pre-recorded content under tight deadlines. These skills ensure seamless broadcast operations, minimize technical errors, and support smooth collaboration within production teams.

What are some common challenges a playback operator may face during live broadcasts, and how can they be managed?

Playback Operators often encounter challenges such as last-minute content changes, strict timing requirements, and technical glitches during live broadcasts. Managing these requires strong attention to detail, quick troubleshooting skills, and effective communication with directors and production staff. Staying organized and maintaining up-to-date playback systems help minimize errors, while rehearsing cue points and having backup plans for critical content ensures smooth delivery under pressure.

What is the difference between Playback Operator vs Video Technician?

AspectPlayback OperatorVideo Technician
Required CredentialsTechnical training, certifications in media or AV technologyTechnical certifications, often in AV or broadcast technology
Work EnvironmentLive events, theaters, broadcast studiosBroadcast stations, production facilities, live events
Employer & Industry UsageEvent production companies, theaters, TV stationsBroadcast networks, AV service providers, production companies

While both roles involve handling video equipment, a Playback Operator primarily manages playback of media during live events or broadcasts, ensuring seamless video presentation. A Video Technician often has broader responsibilities, including setup, troubleshooting, and maintaining video systems. The roles overlap in technical skills and work environments, but Playback Operators focus more on media playback during live productions.

What are popular job titles related to Playback Operator jobs in California?

For Playback Operator jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Playback Operator jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Playback Operator jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Playback Operator jobs?

Cities in California with the most Playback Operator job openings:

Playback Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Playback Operator job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 51% Full Time, 47% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,303 per year, or $22.7 per hour.

Sr Software Engineer

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$148K - $199K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company’s media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world. 


Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here:

Building the future of Disney’s media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.

Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney’s technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company’s brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News…and many more. These products and brands – and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry – matter to millions of people globally. 

Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Media Engineering is an innovative organization that is focused on providing the best possible video playback experience, art, and metadata to customers around the world, powered by exceptional technology. This strategic work requires streamlining and repurposing technology across different business and distribution channels – including streaming, linear, and theatrical – so that technology can ebb and flow across the needs of the business.

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Technology is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join the Playback Services team within the Media Engineering organization! Our mission is to build highly available, high throughput services that are crucial to delivering high quality content to our subscribers. We are responsible for the backend of media playback, facilitating media selection, device customization, and antipiracy technologies. If you enjoy streaming media, are interested in live sports and entertainment, or just want to join a fast-growing team that plays a significant role in the core functionality of our streaming products, then this role is for you!

Responsibilities

  • Work with a team of engineers to build high-performance, stable, scalable systems to be deployed in an enterprise setting

  • Lead high-level architecture discussions and planning sessions, author and share feedback on technical proposals and root cause analyses, and establish standards within the team to drive quality and excellence

  • Participate in the on-call rotation, supporting systems and services during production incidents

  • Provide mentoring and advice for other engineers

  • Participate in the DSS technical community through presentations, tech talks, and other knowledge-sharing efforts

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience

  • 5+ years related experience crafting backend architectures and delivering backend applications in a production environment. Validated knowledge of operating large-scale high-availability backend services and JVM services

  • Expertise in functional programming patterns and experience building RESTful services (Scala APIs)

  • Understanding of async programming models (events, callbacks, promises, async/await) and threading/concurrency

  • Strong grasp of computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, databases, etc.) and strong understanding of design patterns and principles

  • Experience operating within a Public Cloud Provider (e.g., AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)

  • Understanding of source control concepts and systems, CI/CD pipelines and exposure to Git

  • Experience with build and deployment technologies such as Jenkins and Docker. Experience with messaging technologies (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis, SQS, etc.)

  • Experience with observability tools for metrics, logging, and monitoring (e.g., Datadog, Splunk, Grafana)

  • Knowledge of caching technologies

  • Knowledge of AGILE/Scrum practices.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • Self-learner, independent, excellent problem-solving skills


#DISNEYTECH


The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $148,700 to $199,400 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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