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Playback Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kake Group

Senior iOS Video Player Engineer

Austin, TX · Remote

$143K/yr

Tune playback performance at scale to ensure reliable, high-quality viewing experiences. Use video analytics and QoE metrics to diagnose issues and improve real-world playback performance. Core ...

Eliassen Group

Senior Android Software Engineer

Almont, CO · On-site

$75 - $95/hr

This engineer will improve streaming performance, playback reliability, scalability, and long-term maintainability across consumer-facing digital products. Due to client requirements, applicants must ...

STAND 8

Sr. Roku Engineer, Brightscript

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$75/hr

Help ensure we provide a good playback experience across the different devices we support and help improve performance. * Mentor junior team members and provide constructive feedback such as in code ...

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Playback information

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$5

$19

$25

How much do playback jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 24, 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, and why are they important?

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 professions make 200,000 a year without a degree?

In the playback or related media industries, high-paying roles such as audio engineers, sound designers, or video editors can reach or exceed $200,000 annually with extensive experience and specialized skills. Many of these roles prioritize technical expertise, certifications, and a strong portfolio over formal degrees, especially in freelance or senior positions within production environments.

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.

How do you become a Playback Operator?

To become a Playback Operator, individuals typically need experience with video playback equipment, such as video servers and playback software, and often require a high school diploma or equivalent. Training is usually provided on the job, and strong attention to detail, technical skills, and the ability to work in fast-paced environments are important for success in this role.

What is a video playback job?

A video playback job involves operating and managing video playback equipment during live events, concerts, or broadcasts to ensure smooth video presentation. Workers in this role typically use specialized hardware and software, such as video switchers and monitors, and may need technical skills and experience with audiovisual systems. The job often requires attention to detail and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues quickly.

What is the average salary for Playback jobs?

The average salary for playback operators or technicians typically ranges from $40,000 to $70,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and the industry sector. These roles often require technical skills with audio-visual equipment and may involve working in live event environments or broadcast settings.
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:
What job categories do people searching Playback jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Playback jobs are:
Playback jobs near you
Infographic showing various Playback job openings in the United States as of July 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.
Live Ops Support Engineer, Prime Video, Live Playback Operations

Live Ops Support Engineer, Prime Video, Live Playback Operations

Amazon

Seattle, WA • On-site

$190K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,008 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers

Job description

The Live Playback Operations team are seeking a Support Engineer to own the operation and end-to-end monitoring of live events on Prime Video. The role involves working with internal and external partners to ensure the video signal for each event is received, routed through our encoding/packaging infrastructure, and successfully delivered to customer devices; on-site from our fully-equipped, industry leading operations centers.
Prime Video is the first-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programing in one app available across thousands of devices.

Prime members can customize their viewing experience and find their favorite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports - including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies; licensed fan favorites; and programming from Prime Video add-on subscriptions such as Apple TV+, Max, Crunchyroll and MGM+. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles via the Prime Video Store, and can enjoy even more content for free with ads.
Are you interested in shaping the future of entertainment. Prime Video's technology teams are creating best-in-class digital video experience.
As a Prime Video Live Operations Support Engineer, you'll have end-to-end ownership of the product, user experience, design, and technology required to deliver state-of-the-art experiences for our customers

You'll get to work on projects that are fast-paced, challenging, and varied. You'll also be able to experiment with new possibilities, take risks, and collaborate with remarkable people.
We'll look for you to bring your diverse perspectives, ideas, and skill-sets to make Prime Video even better for our customers. With global opportunities for talented engineers, you can decide where a career Prime Video takes you!
Key job responsibilities
- Work with peers and other teams on high-severity, active support issues, prioritizing mitigation while investigating root-cause fixes
- Deliver reports to senior leadership
- Aid in the development and testing of operational tools and AI-powered workflows that improve efficiency through automation
- Customer notification and workflow co-ordination with follow-up to maintain service level agreements
- Creating and maintaining team specific knowledge-base articles and operational and training documentation
- Assist in the training of new support staff as the team grows
- This role requires working evenings, weekends, and holidays.
A day in the life
A typical day could involve;
- Interacting with Prime Video's partners to root cause customer impacting incidents


- Managing ticket queues to ensure issues are addressed quickly, well documented, and tracked for long-term, iterative improvement
- Working with developers on development roadmaps and helping set priorities for backlog requests
- Identifying and driving down recurring incidents through OE best practices
- Representing the team when collaborating with adjacent teams across infrastructure/signal engineering, solution architects and developers.
- Scripting and the use of AI to develop automation to improve the team's efficient use of tools and reduction of manual tasks.
About the team
Live Playback Operations work on a 'follow the sun' model, with team members located in Seattle, London, and Hyderabad, providing 24/7/365 coverage. We cover a wide range of live events; NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, UCL, EPL, Copa do Brasil, Serie A, Wimbledon, concerts, and much more, available world-wide on Prime Video

We are growing, and hope you may be part of our exciting future!

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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US

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