Senior Operations Engineer - EXTEND

BBC Studios Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A major broadcasting company in London seeks a Senior Operations Engineer to provide high-quality technical support for multimedia production. You will coordinate resources, support various broadcast activities, and manage safety in production environments. Ideal candidates will have proficient knowledge of broadcast systems, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to work under pressure. This position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity for flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave plus options

Defined pension scheme

Discounted healthcare and gym membership

Qualifications

• Proven experience in supporting broadcast systems and technologies.
• Ability to communicate to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in out-of-hours engineering support.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality support for BBC content creation.
• Coordinate resources and develop solutions for incidents.
• Manage safety during production activities.

Skills

Proficient knowledge of supporting broadcast systems

Ability to explain technical information

Accountable for out-of-hours support

Proficient in using knowledge-management databases

Lead response to service disruption

Tools

Wireshark

VPN

VMware

Job description

JOB BAND: D. CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full‑time. DEPARTMENT: Technology Operations – Studio & Broadcast Infrastructure. LOCATION: London, Broadcasting House. PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £48,700-£58,700. Interviews to take place from 5th January 2026.

BBC EXTEND

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010) or in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if applying in Northern Ireland. You are considered disabled under both acts if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long‑term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities, including conditions such as Cancer, HIV or Multiple Sclerosis.

We are committed to making the application process as accessible as possible. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements, or have any questions about our Extend programme, please contact [e-mail]. The BBC also provides workplace adjustments through our dedicated Access and Disability Service, and we will work with you to put adjustments in place if you are successful.

For more information on BBC Extend, please visit the BBC Extend webpage.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Technology Operations supports TV and radio studios, broadcast infrastructure, digital production systems, PC and Mac desktops across domestic and international offices. As a Senior Operations Engineer (SOE) you will be familiar with W1 support arrangements, support production teams and workflows, maintain documentation, and coordinate new services from specialist teams and project engineers. You will also coach and engage junior engineers to help them understand complex technology systems.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

Studio Broadcast & Infrastructure Engineers deliver a high‑quality support service for BBC content creation, capture, manipulation and distribution. Engineers support and enable multi‑media production and broadcast activities, ensuring equipment meets availability, performance and safety targets. As an SOE you act as a point of contact for production teams, coordinate resources, develop solutions to incidents and problems, and manage safety, using new or legacy technologies through innovation and change.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Proficient knowledge of supporting broadcast systems and technologies used in BBC studios and technical areas.
• Ability to explain information to technical and non‑technical audiences, including communication to large, diverse audiences following incidents.
• Accountable for out‑of‑hours support, management of internal and audience services, and duty of care to engineering colleagues when the Team Lead is absent.
• Proficient in using the knowledge‑management database and updating it with relevant changes or known errors.
• Lead the response to service disruption and support proactive measures to prevent recurrence, keeping production colleagues informed.

DESIRED

• Ensure Health and Safety at Work Act, Working Time Directive and other workplace legislation are observed, and manage risk assessments or method statements to BBC standards.
• Considerable experience diagnosing and fixing technically complex problems across a wide range of broadcast systems, particularly large‑scale IP‑based Video & Audio production systems.
• Diagnostic competency with file‑based video editing, media management systems, graphics, studio channel automation and robotic camera automation.
• Good knowledge of networking, AoIP, Dante, MADI and diagnostic tools (e.g. Wireshark), and familiarity with remote access support using VPN, MSTSC, iLO and VMware.
• Excellent ability to identify broadcast requirements and recognise whether these can be met effectively from available resources, timescales and funds.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, its principal accountabilities, and the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. It does not represent a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties.

If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct employment screening checks, including reference checks, eligibility to work checks, and, where applicable, safeguarding and adverse media/social media checks. Any offer is conditional on satisfactory completion of these checks.

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the organization, giving priority consideration ahead of other applicants not at risk.

THIS IS YOUR BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BBC

Find out more about Life at the BBC, our values, and career opportunities in the candidate pack.

LIFE AT BBC

Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits, including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35‑hour working week, 25 days annual leave (with the option to buy an extra 5 days), a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Flexible working, which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values‑based organisation where the way we do things matters as much as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you join on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.

YOU BELONG

We value and respect every individual’s unique contribution. All our employees feel they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio‑economic backgrounds, religions and beliefs.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

DISABILITY CONFIDENT

We are a disability‑confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process or to carry out this role, please contact [e-mail].

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.