Desktop & Video I/O Engineer, LSO Playout

Position summary

LSO Media Group is seeking a Desktop & Video I/O Engineer to develop the local component of LSO Playout, a forthcoming product for scheduled television and streaming channels. This full-time position reports to the Director of Product & Engineering, LSO Playout. You will help broadcasters connect software playback to their signal flow through supported video output hardware, including the detection, configuration and channel mapping of multiple devices. This position includes hands-on work with physical hardware and test signals.

The planned local-and-cloud option will need an understandable desktop experience and a dependable playback process even when connectivity is interrupted. You will assess operating systems, frameworks and vendor SDKs with the director before implementation choices are finalized. Compatibility will be based on tested device, driver and format combinations; the product will not assume every SDI or HDMI adapter can provide controlled broadcast output. AI tools can accelerate development, but you will remain responsible for inspecting the code, diagnosing native failures and demonstrating correct behavior on actual equipment.

Responsibilities

• Develop the desktop application and local playback service, establishing clear boundaries between operator controls, background processes and the channel engine.
• Integrate selected vendor SDKs to enumerate supported output hardware, inspect capabilities and present actionable setup and compatibility information.
• Implement persistent channel-to-output mapping for multiple devices and outputs, preventing accidental conflicts and making changes visible to operators.
• Build video and audio output paths with explicit handling of supported frame rates, raster sizes, pixel formats, audio routing and synchronization.
• Coordinate local media caching, readiness checks and channel continuity with the scheduling and platform teams for periods of interrupted cloud connectivity.
• Define and test behavior for device disconnection, driver errors, unavailable output modes and application or playback-process restarts.
• Create practical controls and status displays for preview, output selection and diagnostics, with safeguards around changes that affect an active channel.
• Maintain a compatibility matrix and repeatable hardware test process, recording supported combinations and known limitations with evidence.
• Use AI development tools for appropriate implementation and debugging tasks while checking native bindings, memory ownership and generated code against actual behavior.
• Work with release and QA colleagues on installation, updates, logs and reproducible support reports for supported desktop environments.

Required qualifications

• At least four years of software engineering experience, including development and debugging of desktop applications or native services.
• Experience integrating hardware SDKs, native libraries or device interfaces, with the ability to investigate process crashes, threading and resource ownership.
• Working knowledge of digital video and audio fundamentals, including frame timing, signal formats and synchronization.
• Ability to design and execute hands-on hardware tests, document compatibility boundaries and reproduce reported failures.
• Practical use of AI coding tools with independent code review and validation, including the ability to work through problems when generated suggestions are incorrect.
• A degree in computer science, engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, plus clear communication with engineering and broadcast operations colleagues.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with professional video I/O SDKs, such as Blackmagic Design DeckLink or AJA, and with SDI or HDMI signal flow.
• Experience with macOS application or media development, or with building and maintaining native applications across more than one operating system.
• Experience with application signing, installers, controlled update delivery or hardware-based automated testing.

Measures of success

• A selected desktop and hardware combination demonstrates continuous playback against agreed output and synchronization criteria.
• Operators can identify supported hardware and map channels to available outputs without ambiguous device or channel ownership.
• Device and connectivity failures produce visible status and tested recovery behavior with useful diagnostic records.
• Published compatibility information accurately reflects configurations that have been exercised on physical equipment.

First 90 days

During your first 90 days, you will assess desktop implementation options, select an initial supported hardware configuration with the director and build a working output prototype. You will demonstrate device detection, channel mapping and synchronized video and audio output, then test a second output path where the selected hardware supports it. You will document constraints, disconnect and restart behavior, and the test equipment needed to expand compatibility. These findings will guide platform selection and subsequent development milestones.

Compensation

Proposed annual base salary of $135,000–$180,000 USD. The final offer will reflect relevant experience, qualifications and the agreed scope of the position, subject to approval. This range covers base pay only; any incentive compensation or benefits would be specified separately in an employment offer.

What to include in your application

If available, include a nonconfidential native application, media or hardware integration project. Describe the equipment or interfaces involved, your use of AI tools and the tests you used to verify behavior. A written technical walkthrough is welcome when source code cannot be shared.