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Video Playback Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Video Playback Engineer information

What is a video playback engineer?

A Video Playback Engineer is a technology professional who specializes in the development, optimization, and maintenance of video streaming and playback systems. They work on ensuring seamless delivery of video content across various platforms and devices, addressing issues like buffering, latency, and compatibility. Their responsibilities often include working with video codecs, streaming protocols, content delivery networks (CDNs), and player technologies to provide high-quality viewing experiences. Video Playback Engineers may also collaborate with software developers, QA teams, and content providers to troubleshoot and enhance video performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a video playback engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Video Playback Engineer, you need expertise in video codecs, streaming protocols, and a solid background in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as FFmpeg, HLS/DASH streaming, and media playback libraries, as well as experience with video delivery platforms, is common. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication are critical soft skills for collaborating across engineering and product teams. These skills ensure the reliable, high-quality video experiences users expect and enable efficient troubleshooting and innovation in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

What are some common challenges faced by video playback engineers, and how can applicants prepare to address them?

Video Playback Engineers often encounter challenges related to ensuring smooth streaming across a wide range of devices and network conditions. Applicants should be prepared to troubleshoot compatibility issues, optimize video quality and latency, and implement adaptive bitrate streaming techniques. Staying current with evolving video codecs and industry standards is also crucial. Collaboration with front-end developers, QA teams, and content delivery network providers is common, so strong communication and problem-solving skills are important for success in this role.

What is the difference between Video Playback Engineer vs Video Software Engineer?

AspectVideo Playback EngineerVideo Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related; experience with multimedia frameworksBachelor's or higher in Computer Science or Software Engineering; programming skills in C++, Python
Work EnvironmentMedia companies, streaming platforms, multimedia device manufacturersSoftware development firms, tech companies, multimedia application developers
Employer & Industry UsageFocus on optimizing video playback, decoding, and renderingDeveloping multimedia software, codecs, and applications

While both roles involve multimedia and video technologies, Video Playback Engineers specialize in ensuring smooth video playback and decoding, often working closely with hardware and media frameworks. Video Software Engineers develop broader multimedia applications and codecs, focusing on software development across various platforms. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the multimedia industry.

What job categories do people searching Video Playback Engineer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Video Playback Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Video Playback Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Video Playback Engineer job openings:

Software Engineering Manager (Embedded Systems)

Watchfire Signs LLC

Danville, IL

$126K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago


Job description

Summary

This Software Engineering Manager position will be part of the software engineering team that builds the next generation of our flagship software products for the digital signage industry. The person will manage a team of high caliber engineers and will be deeply involved in activities relating to research, design, development, test, and maintenance of software products and solutions across multiple technical projects. It requires a broad background of technical and process knowledge, with experience in code reviews, unit testing, revision control, build management, etc. This position provides expert guidance, drives decision making, and supports the software engineering team in various technical and functional aspects of research, development of new products, and maintenance of existing products.

A successful candidate will be a strong team player who is able to work across multiple functions and disciplines. The candidate should be self-directed and have experience and knowledge of software design, coding, and testing methodologies. Though the focus for this position will be a hands-on manager for designing and developing embedded systems running on micro-controllers, there will be opportunities to work on user facing web and mobile applications. Our product software is a critical differentiator in our market, and we take great pride in our in-house products developed entirely by this team, from embedded systems to exceptional user facing GUI applications.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead a team of software engineers specialized in embedded system development.
  • Project management, facilitation and participation in architecture, design, developments and maintenance of embedded applications for our content playback sub-system.
  • Research hardware trends and work with Electrical Engineering to arrive at the next generation of micro-controllers that are cost effective and performant.
  • Help create and review system and software requirements.
  • Work with stakeholders in R&D, Operations, Sales, and Marketing to collect requirements.
  • Organize and participate in design reviews.
  • Help foster good software engineering practices and mentor junior engineers.
  • Encourage thorough code reviews and unit testing.
  • Improve branch management, revision control, and build management.
  • Agile development, Software documentation and configuration management.
  • Review test cases used to perform verification and validation of software. Work closely with the QA team.
  • Own the data gathering and assist in troubleshooting of products under design or returned/reported from the field.
  • Involvement in all aspects of the software engineering process.
  • Follow relevant company procedures and help create and maintain relevant documentation.

Required Education/Qualification:

  • BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
  • Minimum 10 years of software engineering experience building embedded systems software.
  • Experience working on embedded systems with C++ as the primary programming platform.
  • Experience with embedded operating systems – Windows on x86, Linux in ARM and x86
  • Additionally, QT, Video, and Security protocols would be ideal.
  • Proficiency in communication protocols (Ethernet and Serial specifically). Understanding the OSI model is a plus.
  • Experience with version control software (preferably Git), Continuous Integration Build systems (preferably Jenkins), project management tools (like Jira) and automated testing tools.
  • Broad experience in Object Oriented Design/Analysis (OOD/OOA). Solid understanding of design languages such as UML will be a plus.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Other ideal skills include:

  • A year or two for functional management experience is a plus.
  • Knowledge of hardware architecture – micro controllers, SOCs etc.
  • FPGA programming.
  • Experience programming in Python (used as a hardware testing tool or hardware simulator/emulator).
  • Experience with image processing and rendering algorithms.
  • Familiarity with Agile product development methodology (Scrum in particular) is a plus.
  • Exposure to cloud services like AWS or Amazon will be an added plus.

Benefits

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Company Paid Life/ADD
  • Voluntary Life/ADD
  • Dependent Life/ADD
  • 401k with Employer Match
  • Vacation
  • Personal Time

*Watchfire is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs.

*Legal authorization to work in the US required. We will not consider candidates who need sponsorship, now or in the future, to be legally employed in the US. No H1B, OPT, CPT or other “temporary work authorization” candidates will be considered.