Audio Visual System Designer
Companies and organizations of all kinds and sizes are relying more and more on multimedia to assist with communication, marketing, and information content creation. As such, they need those who are able to help them establish the audio visual systems that allow them to do that. That’s what the role of the audio visual systems designer is.
Job Description & Responsibilities
To put it simply, the main responsibility of the audio visual systems designer is to develop, install, and implement audio visual systems. Effectively, this means being aware of the AV hardware and software market and choosing the components that fit together to meet the broadcasting, streaming, and recording needs of the employer or client.
In audio visual systems design, the precise day-to-day of the job can change depending on the size of the employer or client, their tech needs, and how much budget they’re willing to put together to meet them. In general, however, here are a few duties to expect:
- Preparing the necessary AV equipment to meet the requirements of events, broadcasts, conferences and so on.
- Managing audio visual projects in collaboration with other AV and IT engineers.
- Choosing, installing, and configuring AV technologies.
- Maintaining and troubleshooting all AV technologies to ensure they remain operational before and after projects.
- Offering advice and recommendations on AV solutions, as well as highlighting risks and issues.
- Arranging the layout of AV recording and broadcasting gear
Qualifications & Skills of Audio Visual Systems Designer
Although not always necessary, a bachelor’s or associate's degree in fields related to AV design and engineering is widely preferred. This can be anything from multimedia operations to live event production to video production.
Otherwise, experience in audio visual industry roles or other production design roles is considered a necessity. AV designers are, by nature, creative, so the drive to stay current with technological trends and a degree of flexibility is greatly valued. The following skills are also considered crucial to the role:
- Technical understanding of AV and IT systems
- Up-to-date awareness of AV technologies and their features
- Expertise in video conferencing and broadcast systems
- Extensive knowledge of the architectural, cabling, and control system requirements of AV technologies.
- Proficiency in Microsoft office.
- Interpersonal and communication skills.
- Analytical and risk assessment abilities.
- Project management and deadline fulfillment skills.
- Strong technical and troubleshooting skills.
Certifications
When looking for positions using Field Engineer, you’re likely to be recommended the roles that best fit your qualifications. One of the requirements that many employers look at when searching for engineers and AV designers is the certifications under their belt. These certifications are demonstrations that you have all the skills you need to stay at the top of your field.
For example, there are several different certifications that help give engineers the edge they need:
- CTS
- CTS-D
- Crestron
- Extron
- CEDIA
Job outlook
If they can be considered a sub-type of audio visual technicians, then audio visual systems designers are likely to benefit from the 8% increase in jobs expected by 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The career of the audio visual technician often entails working with a project team in a position of authority beneath directors and design coaches. From that position, however, AV designers can move on to other roles, such as project managers, installers, live events professionals, and technology managers.
In a self-employed capacity, freelance audio visual systems designer work with a variety of clients who need their assistance in meeting their AV needs. It often means sitting down with a client, listening to their recording, broadcasting or streaming plans, and working with them through the technologies most relevant to their needs. Besides choosing the equipment, setting it up, cabling, and ensuring its operational is another key part of the role.
Pay Scale
According to PayScale.com, the average salary for an Audio Visual Design Engineer is $58,468, which is slightly above other AV engineers. Furthermore, the higher reported earnings of this role reach as high as roughly $86K.
Freelancers looking to make around the same kind of salary should look to charge an average hourly rate of $22. However, there are AV designers charging anywhere from $15 to $38 based on the experience and expertise they can demonstrate.
The best way to see what you could stand to earn based on your own experience is to see which opportunities are readily available to you. Create your profile on Field Engineer and not only can you search for audio visual systems design positions, but you can see what other positions are relevant to your skills and what you stand to earn from them by comparison.
Get started with Field Engineer today and see where you can take your career as an audio visual system designer.
