Tech Solutions Manager

Job Description

Is this the role for you?

In 2025, Channel 5 and My5 are joining forces under one powerful new brand: 5 – delivering an all-new, unified experience across TV, streaming, and digital platforms. We're looking for passionate individuals to help shape this next chapter. This unified brand will revolutionize TV, streaming, and digital platforms, offering expanded free streaming services, more UK drama originals, and specially curated FAST channels. With personalisation and cutting-edge, data-driven advertising solutions, 5 is set to lead the future of entertainment. After an impressive year of industry-leading growth, including a 40% surge in viewership in 2024, 5 is gearing up to transform the viewing experience- and we want you to be a part of it! Help us create a brand that delivers unlimited entertainment, always free. Join the team driving the 5 relaunch and shape the future of how the world watches.

This role is a fantastic opportunity to work in a fast paced, commercially driven technology team, alongside a number of other technology specialists and supplier partners. You must be passionate about the practical application of technology in the entertainment sector, with a professional or personal interest in online video delivery. You will have a background in software development or a closely related technical field with some experience in system design but are looking for a role with a broader remit where you can employ your skills across the entire technology estate. You will be involved in configuration management and creating Proof of Concepts (POCs) to assess and implement new technologies a Working within the technology team, responsibilities include the design and development of core systems responsible for delivering 5's content to its audiences across an increasing range of digital platforms and devices.

What will you be doing?

Your primary day-to-day responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Configuration Management: Implement configuration management processes to maintain uniformity across systems and environments.
• Requirement Analysis and Proofs of Concept (POCs): Capture and analyse business requirements in liaison with internal and external partners to design, deliver, and iterate best-fit online video solutions that are in line with Channel 5's product roadmap and longer-term technology strategy. Create POCs to evaluate new technologies and solutions.
• Scripting and Automation: Utilise scripting languages like Python for automation, data processing, and rapid prototyping to enhance development efficiency.
• Device Expertise: Apply knowledge of client devices and set-top boxes to ensure compatibility and optimal performance of delivered content across multiple platforms.
• Vendor and Supplier Evaluation: Through formal and informal selection processes, evaluate developers, service suppliers, and product vendors based on both the suitability of their technical solutions and the cost of implementation and support, comparing rent, buy, or build approaches.
• Vendor Management and Agile Coordination: Perform technical vendor management across a range of incumbent technology service providers, including developers, content processing providers, hosting, and network suppliers. Coordinate development tasks using Agile methodologies and tools like JIRA.
• Product Ownership: Take the role of product owner in the development by third-party developers of technology solutions for Channel 5, specifying stories and test cases, and be responsible for user acceptance.
• Integration Specification: Specify integration points between vendors' solutions, existing Channel 5 platforms, and other dependent third parties, e.g., syndication partners. Operational Support and Issue solving: Work with operational teams to ensure products are designed to be supported operationally, helping to define support processes and the handover from development/integration to operational readiness. Utilise network debugging tools for efficient fixing.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Be an SME and point of contact for the architecture of the VOD and Live delivery systems, providing technical consultancy to internal teams and external suppliers through documentation and workshops, and where necessary, assist with hands-on investigation of operational problems and incidents.
• Industry Awareness: Stay on top of industry trends, new products, and technical developments, including advancements in video technologies, and advise on their impact and benefit to Channel 5.

What are we looking for?
• Education: Qualification in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a similar technical subject area.
• Desirable: Additional certifications or courses in AWS Cloud services, network security, or related fields.
• Self-Motivation and Organisation: Self-motivated and highly organised, with the ability to work well within a team or independently, demonstrate flexibility, and utilise time efficiently under challenging pressures.
• Commercial Awareness: Commercially focused, with an understanding of how technology decisions impact business priorities.
• Communication Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills, able to influence and communicate at all levels within the company, as well as with external customers and third-party suppliers. Knowledge of Agile and JIRA and Scrum methodologies.
• Software Design and Development: Experience particularly with web/internet technologies using APIs and service-oriented architectures (SOA). Familiarity with configuration management tools and practices. Knowledge of open-source web players such as video.js, Shaka Player, hls. js and dash.js is highly desirable.
• Agile Development Processes: Experience with Agile application development processes, including defining stories and acceptance criteria.
• VOD and OTT Delivery Knowledge: Knowledge of Video On Demand (VOD) workflows and Over-The-Top (OTT) delivery, including video encoding/transcoding, streaming protocols, and DRM/content security schemes.
• Scripting Proficiency: Proficient in scripting languages such as Python and process improvement.
• Network Troubleshooting: Skilled in this area with experience using Wireshark and Charles Proxy.
• Distribution and Cloud Experience: Understanding of origin hosting principles, the use of content distribution networks, and other distribution/caching techniques. Hands-on experience with open-source stacks (LAMP or similar) and extensive knowledge of cloud-based systems, particularly AWS.
• Multi-Device/Platform Experience: Good knowledge of multi-device/multi-platform services and vendors (e.g., web, mobile, set-top box, television) is advantageous.
• Additional Technology Experience: Experience with any of the following technologies is an advantage:
• Ruby on Rails
• MySQL
• Python
• AWS Services: EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda, CloudWatch, Cognito
• CDN Management (Akamai, CloudFront)

Channel 5 is an award-winning public service broadcaster and the UK's third latest commercial TV station, reaching 3 in 4 of the UK viewing public each month. The channel has a diverse schedule of original programmes across genres including issue-led documentaries, popular factual, accessible history, stunning natural history, inclusive entertainment and reality, top level sport, high quality scripted programming, headline-grabbing current affairs and critically acclaimed children's and news programming. Channel 5 is a unit of Paramount Global.

Paramount is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) including disability/vet.

If you have any difficulties in applying or require access needs arising from a mobility or any other impairment please let us know by emailing uk.recruitment@vimn.com or calling 0207 555 1234. We can then ensure your experience and visit is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rn29y3-3-149-29-190-42 in your application.