Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Video Quality Assurance Technician

🎯 Role Definition

We are hiring a Video Quality Assurance Technician (Video QA) — a hands-on quality control specialist responsible for ensuring finished video and audio deliverables meet technical, editorial and platform compliance standards. The Video QA Technician performs frame‑level visual and audio inspections, file and package validation, metadata and caption verification, logs defects in tracking systems, collaborates with encoding and engineering teams to resolve issues, and helps maintain high throughput while meeting tight delivery SLAs across OTT, VOD and broadcast pipelines.

Key focus areas include: playback validation across devices and players, codec/container compliance (MXF, IMF, MOV, MP4), loudness and audio channel mapping (EBU R128 / ITU-R BS.1770), subtitle/closed caption integrity (SCC, WebVTT, TTML), HDR/SDR and color-space conformance (PQ/HLG, Dolby Vision/HDR10), and automated/manual QC workflows using industry tools.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Video Editor, Post Production Assistant, or Media Operations Technician transitioning into quality control.
Broadcast Operations Support, Ingest/Transcode Operator, or Media Asset Management (MAM) Operator with exposure to file-based workflows.
QA Analyst with experience in software or content QA who shows aptitude for media technical standards.

Advancement To:

Senior Video QA Technician / Lead QA Engineer
QC Team Lead / QC Supervisor
Encoding Engineer / Media Systems Engineer
Post Production Manager or Broadcast Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Encoding/Transcoding Specialist
Media Asset Management (MAM) Specialist
Localization / Captioning Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct thorough frame‑by‑frame visual inspections of finished assets to identify picture defects such as pixelation, macroblocking, compression artifacts, color banding, incorrect aspect ratio, black/white frames, freeze frames, and dropped frames; document defects with timestamps and representative screenshots for engineering and post teams.
Perform detailed audio inspections to verify channel mapping, presence/absence of audio on expected channels, audio clipping, hiss, hum, noise, incorrect mixes, out‑of‑sync audio, and ensure compliance with loudness standards (EBU R128, ITU‑R BS.1770) including LKFS/LUFS measurements and corrective recommendations.
Validate video file containers and codec compliance (MXF, IMF, MOV, MP4, ProRes, H.264, H.265/HEVC, DNxHD/HR) against platform and studio delivery specifications, confirming resolution, frame rate, bit depth, chroma subsampling, bitrate, GOP structure and codec profiles.
Execute automated QC checks using industry tools (Telestream Vidchecker, Interra Baton, Cerify, Fiberscope, ContentAgent) and reconcile automated reports with manual review findings to provide accurate pass/fail determinations.
Inspect subtitle and closed‑caption files (SCC, STL, WebVTT, TTML/DFXP, SRT) for timing accuracy, character encoding, truncation, placement, readability, duplicate cues, correct language labeling, and compliance with platform guidelines; verify burned‑in captions where required.
Validate metadata and packaging for VOD/OTT deliverables (IMF packages, AS-11, DCP manifests) ensuring completeness and correctness of reel IDs, asset IDs, codecs, captions metadata, audio track language codes, and ancillary data.
Monitor and QC live‑to‑VOD ingest pipelines and automated transcode workflows, identifying points of failure, spikes in error rates, and performing root cause analysis to coordinate fixes with engineering and operations.
Test playback across a matrix of devices, browsers, STB/OTT clients and native apps to verify adaptive bitrate (ABR) stream behavior, manifest correctness (HLS/DASH), audio track switching, subtitle toggles, and consistent quality across bitrates.
Measure and document HDR and SDR conformance including PQ/HLG metadata, color primaries, transfer characteristics, mastering display metadata (HDR10 / Dolby Vision), and advise for re‑grading or metadata corrections when out of tolerance.
Run file integrity and checksum validation during ingest and delivery to guarantee package fidelity, and manage re-ingest workflows where files fail integrity checks.
Report reproducible defects in bug tracking systems (JIRA, Asana, ServiceNow), including detailed reproduction steps, expected vs actual behavior, logs, and attach failed media with diagnostic notes to expedite triage and resolution.
Work closely with encoding and development teams to refine automated QC rules, reduce false positives, and expand rule coverage for new codecs, HDR profiles, and platform requirements.
Maintain and update QC checklists, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and acceptance criteria for each content type (feature film, TV, shortform, promos, ads) to enforce consistent editorial and technical standards.
Prioritize and manage high-volume delivery schedules to meet SLAs for linear broadcast, OTT platform ingests, and time-sensitive releases, escalating critical failures to stakeholders proactively.
Calibrate and maintain reference monitoring environment (calibrated video monitors, audio reference monitors/headphones, colorimeters, LUTs) to ensure accurate subjective visual and audio evaluations across the QA team.
Verify closed captions and accessibility elements (audio description tracks, multiple language tracks) are present and function correctly in both file packages and live streaming environments to meet accessibility compliance.
Coordinate with localization vendors and subtitle teams to validate translated captions and ensure correct cueing, line breaks, coding and cultural appropriateness when required.
Execute regression testing for system changes (new transcoder versions, player updates, metadata schema modifications) and validate that previously passing content still conforms to acceptance criteria.
Create and deliver weekly/monthly QC metrics and dashboards (failure rates, defect types, throughput, mean time to resolution) to inform leadership and continuous improvement initiatives.
Provide first‑line triage and on‑call support for urgent post‑delivery issues, including quick turnaround re‑encodes, metadata patches, and emergency replacements for critical distribution problems.
Participate in content certification processes for major platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Hulu) by performing platform‑specific checks and preparing deliverables to meet publisher technical specifications.
Collaborate with post production teams to identify and remediate editorial problems (missing frames, slate issues, incorrect titles or over‑lays) prior to final delivery to reduce rework.
Maintain a library of test assets and reference clips for regression, compliance testing, and training purposes covering codecs, resolutions, HDR/SDR, and problematic edge cases.

Secondary Functions

Support the development and refinement of automated QC pipelines by providing labeled failure data and edge cases to the engineering team for training and rule creation.
Participate in cross‑functional sprint planning and agile ceremonies to align QC priorities with product, engineering, and operations roadmaps.
Train and mentor junior QA technicians on visual/audio inspection techniques, platform specs, and reporting standards to improve team consistency and coverage.
Assist in vendor quality audits by supplying evidence of QC processes, failure logs, and remediation histories when integrating third‑party encoders, captioning vendors or localization partners.
Contribute to incident postmortems by explaining QC findings, timelines, and recommended process changes to prevent recurrence of delivery defects.
Help maintain and update asset management tags and metadata within MAM systems to streamline QC routing and handoffs.
Evaluate new QC tools and software (AI/ML based anomaly detection, automated loudness correction tools) and provide recommendations and pilots for tool adoption.
Create and maintain knowledge base articles and troubleshooting guides for common failure modes and remediations to reduce mean time to repair.
Collaborate with customer support and client services to provide root cause analysis and status updates for client escalations related to deliverable issues.
Assist in small scripting tasks (FFmpeg commands, bash/python utilities) to speed up repetitive validation tasks and generate attachments or diagnostic exports for engineering.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep familiarity with video codecs and containers (H.264, H.265/HEVC, ProRes, DNxHD/HR, MXF, IMF, MOV, MP4) and ability to verify codec parameters against spec sheets.
Proficiency with automated QC tools such as Telestream Vidchecker, Interra Baton, Cerify, Mediabright or other industry‑standard file QC systems.
Strong understanding of adaptive streaming technologies and manifest structures (HLS, DASH) and tools to validate ABR streams and manifests.
Hands‑on experience measuring and interpreting loudness (LKFS/LUFS), true peak levels and applying platform loudness specifications (EBU R128, ITU‑R BS.1770).
Knowledge of subtitle and caption formats (SCC, WebVTT, TTML/DFXP, SRT), transcription QC and caption burn‑in validation.
Practical skills with media utilities and command line tools (FFmpeg, MediaInfo, dcpTool, IMF toolkits) to inspect codec metadata and produce diagnostic exports.
Familiarity with HDR workflows (HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG), color spaces (Rec.709, Rec.2020), and metadata standards (SMPTE ST 2084, SMPTE ST 2086).
Experience using bug/issue tracking and collaboration platforms (JIRA, Confluence, GitHub, Slack) to log defects and follow remediation workflows.
Basic scripting or automation ability (Python, Bash, or shell scripting) to create small tools and speed up repetitive QC operations.
Competence with checksum/manifest validation, file integrity checks, and recommended storage/transfer practices for large media files.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and pattern recognition for spotting subtle visual and audio defects across long assets.
Strong verbal and written communication — able to write clear, actionable bug reports and communicate technical issues to non‑technical stakeholders.
Analytical problem‑solving mindset with methodical root cause analysis and prioritization of remediation efforts.
Ability to manage multiple high‑priority tasks and deadlines in a fast‑paced production environment while maintaining quality.
Collaborative team player who works cross‑functionally with engineering, post production, and operations to drive quality outcomes.
Flexibility and adaptability to shift between manual and automated QC, live monitoring and batch processing as business needs evolve.
Coaching and mentoring skills to onboard junior QA staff and share best practices across the team.
Customer service orientation with a focus on meeting SLAs and minimizing downstream impact for clients and distribution partners.
Curiosity and continuous learning attitude to keep up with emerging codecs, delivery platforms, and QC tooling.
Detail-oriented documentation skills for maintaining SOPs, test matrices, and knowledge base articles.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree or equivalent technical certificate in Media Technology, Film/Video Production, Broadcasting, Computer Science, or related field.
Or equivalent hands‑on experience in post production, ingest/encode operations or media QA.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Film/Media Production, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
Formal training or certifications in broadcast standards, color management or file‑based workflows is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Film / Television Production
Broadcast Engineering / Media Technology
Computer Science / Software Engineering
Audio Engineering / Sound Design

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of experience in video quality control, post production QC, broadcast operations, or media technology roles.

Preferred:

3+ years of focused video QC experience with demonstrable exposure to OTT/VOD delivery, automated QC tools (Telestream, Interra), and end‑to‑end media pipelines.
Experience with platform certification processes (Netflix, Amazon, Apple) and managing high‑volume content delivery under strict deadlines.

If you would like, I can tailor these responsibilities and skills for a specific seniority level (Junior / Mid / Senior), company style (studio, post house, streaming platform), or include a customizable job posting template for LinkedIn or your ATS.