Overview: As a Principal MPEG Video QA Automation Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in developing and enhancing QA automation systems for testing and validating MPEG streams, headend operations, and video distribution workflows. Your responsibilities will include the design and implementation of automated testing frameworks, ensuring the reliability and performance of broadcast and cable services. The ideal candidate will possess deep knowledge of cable headend systems, conditional access systems (CAS), and the ability to analyze and craft MPEG streams at both the Transport Stream (TS) and Elementary Stream (ES) levels.

This position offers the opportunity to work remotely and the chance to be part of a dynamic media company in the heart of the broadcasting industry. If you are passionate about MPEG standards and cable operations, we invite you to apply!

Key Responsibilities:

• Test Automation for MPEG and DVB/ATSC Systems:
• Develop, use existing and expand automation tools that perform real-time PID extraction, TS packet verification, and SI table validation to ensure stream compliance with ATSC and DVB standards.
• Automate the detection of MPEG-related issues, such as timing errors, packet loss, and A/V desynchronization.
• Implement automated testing of DVB carousels, verifying the correct transmission and reception of file objects and interactive TV services.
• Automated Testing Frameworks:
• Lead the design and development of robust test automation frameworks tailored to the specific needs of MPEG video and DVB/ATSC systems.
• Develop and maintain automation that tests MPEG stream integrity, PAT/PMT compliance, A/V sync, MPEG table parsing, and TS/ES data accuracy.
• Automate service verification processes (e.g., channel lineup checks, program guide validation, ECM/EMM testing).
• Scripting with Python and C++:
• Leverage Python libraries such as pytest and unittest for creating unit and integration tests for MPEG stream analysis.
• Use C++ for low-level automation tasks.
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) with Tesseract:
• Use the Tesseract OCR framework to automate text extraction from video content, such as closed captions, on-screen graphics, and channel branding.
• Develop automation scripts that verify the accuracy of EAS (Emergency Alert System), subtitle rendering and such text or on-screen display elements by capturing frames and extracting text using Tesseract.
• OpenCV Integration:
• Develop automated solutions for detecting artifacts in video streams, analyzing frame rates, and ensuring A/V synchronization.
• Implement video quality assessment tools, including frame comparison for detecting glitches, dropouts, and visual inconsistencies.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Fluency in English.
• BSc. or MSc. degree in Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience working with complex test automation.
• Extensive experience in scripting with Python and C++.
• Strong troubleshooting skills in identifying and resolving MPEG data table issues, including PSI/SI tables.
• In-depth understanding of EPG (Electronic Program Guide) systems and their integration into cable services.
• Experience in networking video transmission protocols (RTP, RTSP).
• Experience working with Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems such as Widevine and PlayReady.
• Proficiency with OpenCV to automate visual quality checks for video content.
• Knowledge of FFmpeg, and other multimedia frameworks.
• Strong documentation skills, the ability to create detailed testing documentation.
• MPEG Video Standards Expertise:
• In-depth knowledge of MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (H.264), and H.265 (HEVC) codecs.
• Extensive understanding of ATSC and DVB-C standards, including video and audio compression formats, multiplexing.
• Expertise in CDL (Code Download) processes ATSC Service Information (SI).
• MPEG Stream Analysis:
• Ability to craft, modify, analyze MPEG streams TS and elementary ES streams.
• Skilled in PAT/PMT analysis, A/V sync and timing issues troubleshooting.
• MPEG data filtering and extracting data from various PIDs (Packet Identifiers).
• DVB Carousels:
• Extensive experience with DVB data and object carousels and their use in file transmission, service information, and interactive television services.
• Cable Headend Systems:
• Experience in cable headend environments, with knowledge of CAS, including ECM/EMM processing.
• Understanding of DOCSIS STB Gateway (DSG) role in headend operations.
• Cable Legacy Systems:
• Familiarity with legacy systems such as Scientific Atlanta/Cisco SARA/PowerTV and Motorola/Arris GITV platforms.
• Extensive experience with OTA (over the air) upgrades for cable devices, ensuring seamless software updates.
• Modulation and Demodulation:
• Knowledge of QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) and QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) modulation schemes.
• In-depth knowledge of modulators and demodulators (e.g. SEM and Dektec).
• Streaming Technologies & Bandwidth Management:
• Knowledge of modern streaming technologies (HLS, DASH) and their integration into cable environments.
• Expertise in bandwidth management on the cable plant, ensuring optimal allocation and efficient use of resources.