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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Video Post-Production Technician

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MediaPost-ProductionVideoTechnical

🎯 Role Definition

A Video Post-Production Technician is a hands-on media specialist responsible for the technical assembly, quality-control, and delivery of finished video and audio assets to broadcast and streaming platforms. This role ensures media integrity through ingest, transcoding, conforming, color correction, audio sweetening, captioning/subtitling, and final mastering, while maintaining organized file-based workflows, metadata, safe backups, and delivery documentation. The technician collaborates closely with editors, colorists, sound designers, producers, and vendors to meet technical specifications, delivery deadlines, and platform requirements for theatrical, broadcast and OTT distribution.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Production Assistant or Media Intern
  • Junior Video Editor or Assistant Editor
  • On-set Camera/DIT Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Post-Production Technician / Lead Post Technician
  • Post-Production Supervisor or Post Manager
  • Colorist, Senior Editor or Workflow Engineer

Lateral Moves:

  • Broadcast Operations Engineer
  • Media Asset Manager / Archivist
  • File-Based Workflow Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Ingest, verify, and catalog raw camera media and sound recordings from multiple sources (MXF, ProRes, ARRIRAW, RED, XDCAM, WAV, etc.), ensuring correct timecode, metadata integrity, camera metadata ingestion, and secure storage during the entire post process.
  • Transcode and create mezzanine and proxy files to standardized editorial codecs and resolutions (ProRes, DNxHR, H.264/H.265), optimizing for edit performance while preserving camera originals and color pipeline fidelity.
  • Conform editorial sequences from EDL/AAF/XMLs and relink media accurately between offline and online workflows to produce frame-accurate full-resolution timelines for finishing.
  • Perform conform checks and shot-by-shot verification to resolve offline/online discrepancies, broken links, camera source mismatches, and frame-rate conversions prior to finishing.
  • Prepare and assist with primary color grading sessions: apply primary corrections, manage LUTs, prepare nodes/timelines for senior colorist, and execute final renders per broadcast/streaming LUT and gamut specifications.
  • Perform dialog/production audio cleanup and pre-mix (noise reduction, basic EQ/leveling, hum removal) in Pro Tools or similar DAWs and hand off sessions or stems to the sound team for final mix.
  • Create and manage closed captioning, subtitle files (SRT, STL, TTML, WebVTT) and ensure accuracy of timing, line length, and localization requirements for global distribution.
  • Build and validate final deliverables packages including master files, mezzanine masters, proxy packages, captions, audio stems, DCPs, IMF packages, and broadcast masters per detailed delivery specs.
  • Execute QC (Quality Control) processes on all deliverables using waveform/video scopes and visual/audio checklists, logging any issues (dropouts, codec artifacts, color shifts, caption errors) and coordinating corrective action.
  • Encode, transcode, and upload media safely to cloud platforms (AWS S3/Glacier, Google Cloud, Aspera, Signiant) and verify checksum integrity for transfer and archival.
  • Manage media asset lifecycle: implement naming conventions, folder structures, searchable metadata, and ingest logging to ensure assets are readily discoverable and auditable.
  • Create and maintain LTO or cloud archival backups of camera originals and finished masters, perform periodic restore tests, and document retention policies in coordination with Archives/IT.
  • Generate DCPs (Digital Cinema Packages) and test theater playback for theatrical deliverables including color space conversion, audio channel mapping, and encryption where required.
  • Troubleshoot technical hardware and software issues across NLEs (Avid, Premiere Pro, Resolve), codecs, storage systems, SAN/NAS, and I/O devices, escalating to vendors or IT when necessary.
  • Prepare and export editorial prep materials and deliverables for VFX, including clean plates, OCFs, mattes, and handles, and track VFX versions and approvals through delivery.
  • Maintain version control for client revisions, label deliverables clearly, create change logs, and communicate status to producers and post supervisors to avoid version confusion.
  • Create tape/restoral-based deliverables (where applicable), monitor ingest decks and transcode decks, and QC legacy formats when integrating archival content into modern file workflows.
  • Document and maintain up-to-date post-production workflow guides, delivery spec checklists, and technical documentation to support reproducible, high-quality deliverables across teams.
  • Coordinate with producers, editors, QC leads, and vendors to schedule resources, prepare timelines for finishing, delivery, and shipping deadlines, ensuring client and platform compliance.
  • Implement and run automated scripts or batch workflows for repetitive tasks like bulk transcoding, file renaming, metadata injection, and QC reports to drive efficiency.
  • Validate color space, gamma, and audio channel mappings for multi-platform delivery (broadcast, OTT, theatrical), confirming compliance with SMPTE, EBU, CALM Act and platform-specific guidelines (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu).
  • Support remote and hybrid editorial workflows by configuring remote access, proxy upload/download processes, and secure transfer procedures to enable distributed teams.
  • Conduct final master playback and technical sign-off sessions with producers and technical directors prior to delivery, and archive the signed delivery documentation.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in maintaining and calibrating color-critical monitors, scopes, audio monitors, and I/O hardware to industry standards.
  • Support vendor coordination and delivery logistics for physical shipments, festival deliveries, and global distribution partners.
  • Train junior technicians and assistant editors on ingest protocols, naming standards, basic QC checks and media management best practices.
  • Participate in post-mortem reviews to identify workflow bottlenecks and contribute to continuous process improvement.
  • Stay current on codec and platform updates, new camera formats, and emerging delivery specifications; research and recommend workflow or tooling upgrades.
  • Manage inventory and basic maintenance of post-production equipment, liaising with IT for storage expansion, SAN health checks, and software license management.
  • Maintain security and chain-of-custody for sensitive media, ensuring access control, encryption, and compliance with company policies and client NDAs.
  • Provide ad-hoc editing or assembly support for promo, social, and deliverable clipping tasks when editorial resources are constrained.
  • Prepare and supply technical metadata and manifest files required by distribution partners, OTT platforms, and broadcasters.
  • Assist in budgeting and resource estimates for post schedules by providing time-to-deliver estimates for finishing, QC and archival processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficiency with non-linear editing systems: Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro workflows.
  • Color grading and finishing experience with DaVinci Resolve (Studio) including node management, primary/secondary correction, and LUT workflows.
  • Audio post tools: strong working knowledge of Avid Pro Tools and audio restoration plugins (iZotope RX, Waves, Cedar).
  • Deep familiarity with professional codecs, wrappers and mezzanine formats: ProRes, DNxHD/HR, XDCAM, MXF, IMF, DCP, H.264/H.265 and related encoding/decoding tools.
  • Experience creating and validating deliverable packages for broadcast and streaming platforms (Netflix Delivery Specifications, Amazon, Apple, iTunes, broadcast PSB specs).
  • Mastery of media ingest, transcoding, file-based workflows and media asset management (FCPXML/AAF/EDL/CSV workflows).
  • Quality Control (QC) skills: video and audio QC checklists, scope analysis (RGB Parade, Waveform, Vectorscope), and defect logging in tracking systems.
  • Closed captioning and subtitling systems knowledge: SRT, TTML, STL, SCC and integration with NLEs or specialized tools.
  • Proficiency with transfer and synchronization tools: Aspera, Signiant, FTP/SFTP, checksum verification, and cloud storage solutions (AWS/GCP/Azure).
  • Familiarity with tape decks, ingest hardware, I/O boxes (AJA, Blackmagic, Avid I/O), SAN/NAS storage administration basics and LTO workflows.
  • Basic scripting and automation experience (Python, Bash, AppleScript) to create batch workflows and streamline repetitive tasks.
  • Knowledge of color science, color spaces (Rec.709, Rec.2020, P3), and audio loudness standards (LKFS, LUFS, ITU-R BS.1770, CALM Act).

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and methodical troubleshooting mindset for catching technical and creative defects before delivery.
  • Excellent communication and client-facing skills to clearly explain technical constraints, delivery timelines, and status updates.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to handle multiple projects, tight deadlines, and evolving client notes with composure.
  • Collaborative team player comfortable working with editors, colorists, mixers, producers, and external vendors.
  • Adaptability and eagerness to learn new formats, tools, and platform requirements in a rapidly changing media landscape.
  • Problem-solving mentality and the ability to provide practical, reproducible fixes for recurring workflow issues.
  • Documentation-oriented: maintains clean logs, version control, and reproducible processes for the production team.
  • Proactive attitude toward continuous improvement and workflow optimization.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with demonstrated technical media experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree or associate degree in Film Production, Media Arts, Broadcast Engineering, Audio Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Film and Media Production
  • Broadcast Engineering
  • Audio Engineering / Sound Design
  • Computer Science / IT (with media specialization)
  • Digital Media or Post-Production Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–5 years of hands-on experience in post-production, digital media operations, or editorial support in a production/post facility.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years of progressive experience working in a fast-paced post-production environment with demonstrated oversight of ingest, finishing, QC, and delivery processes; prior exposure to broadcast and major OTT delivery specifications is highly desirable.
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