Audio Visual Operation Engineer
Audio visual operation engineers play a fundamental role in setting up, supporting, and maintaining AV systems in organizations and companies of all types and sizes. With the average business growing ever more reliant on their AV media and transmission abilities, what does this role, that’s rising in demand entail?
Job Description & Responsibilities
The audio visual operations engineer effectively supports all multimedia operations in a business. They’re most often responsible for the selection, installation, and implementation of simple and complex AV systems, as well as for maintaining and troubleshooting them following the fact. Furthermore, the audio visual operation engineer tends to also support live AV operations and broadcasts as a producer or in a master control role, of sorts.
The responsibilities of the audio visual operation engineer can change from company to company, depending on the scale of their AV needs as well as the type of technologies they are working with. However, they regularly include the following:
- Preparing the necessary AV equipment to meet the requirements of events, broadcasts, conferences and so on.
- Planning and coordinating live audio and video events.
- Providing support on master control during audio and video events.
- Maintaining, troubleshooting, and updating the AV equipment.
- Oversee the correct storage, transportation, setup and breakdown of AV equipment.
- Create and maintain all necessary AV related documentation, such as user guides and maintenance guides.
- Provide live assistance during conference rooms supported by AV technology.
Qualifications & Skills
Again, the necessary qualifications of the audio visual engineer can change from place to place. If an organization has more complex, expensive equipment in their set up, they are likely to require those with more education. In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in communications, broadcast/AV technology, creative video production or similar areas of study is recommended.
Those who have experience in multimedia operations, broadcasting/streaming, live event production, and video production are also sought out for audio visual engineer roles. Other skills likely to help the audio visual engineer include the following:
- Technical understanding of AV and IT systems
- Up-to-date awareness of AV technologies and their features
- Expertise in video conferencing and broadcast systems
- Knowledge of processing control, audio video signal sign flow and routing with broadcast software.
- Aptitude with video editing, graphics, and encoding software.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Planning and organizational skills.
Certifications
Freelance audio visual engineers, in particular, need to ensure that they’re making use of their education, experience, and certifications when looking for positions, as well. At Field Engineer, these qualifications are automatically factored in when you upload your resume, helping you find roles better suited to your experience as a result.
For example, there are several different certifications that help give engineers the edge they need:
- AVIXA CTS
- Crestron
- Extron
- CEDIA
Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the available full-time positions for audio visual engineers is expected to grow by around 8% by 2026, translating to roughly 10,700 new jobs available since 2016.
Work as an AV engineer, in most cases, means being the on-call streaming, broadcast, and recording expert on hand for the different departments of an organization. As such, whether a video conference is being held, an event is being set up, or a video series or podcast is being shot, your expertise is called upon to oversee the technical aspect as needed.
Freelancers with AV engineering skills can look at some of the opportunities available on Field Engineer to see how the work can differentiate itself. Often, it includes working with various different clients managing events and multimedia broadcasts of different types. Helping them choose and rent the right equipment based on their needs, overseeing the operation of said equipment, and assisting with editing and post-production after.
Pay Scale
According to PayScale.com, the average salary for an Audio Visual Engineer is $56,496. At the higher end of the scale, experience engineers in more desirable positions may make as much as up to $117,947 per year.
For freelancers, that can translate to an average of $24.40 per hour. However, this rate ranges anywhere from around $16 to $78. When freelancing, it’s essential to make sure you’re charging your worth based on your qualifications.
Field Engineer allows freelance audio visual engineers to find the positions most suited to their resume so you can see just how well valued your qualifications and certifications are by looking at what jobs are available to you. Get started with Field Engineer today and see where you can take your career as an audio visual engineer.
