Creative and design
Post production engineer
Enable creative individuals in the film and television sector to be able to produce high quality content.
Summary
This occupation is found in companies and organisations that edit and produce film and television content prior to release across multiple platforms. This includes feature films, television series for terrestrial and digital services, and advertising. This is a growing sector, due to the increasing volume of content being produced. Post Production businesses can be either large or small and may either specialise in purely post production services or, be part of larger organisations that provide a wide range of technical support services to the TV and film industries.
Key duties of a Post Production Engineer include ensuring that clients are able to utilise facilities and technology at their best to achieve the best production standards, engaging with colleagues and clients to identify their needs, and devising solutions to production outcomes that are desired.
Post Production Engineers will work as part of a team of both creative and technical individuals in a studio environment.. The broad purpose of the occupation is to enable creative individuals in the film and television sector to be able to produce high quality content. The role of a Post Production Engineer is to:
- provide technical support to creative staff throughout the end to end post production process
- specify/ define the equipment to be used in developing content (keeping abreast of and using new technologies where available)
- act as a technical expert on equipment issues, configuring post production equipment to ensure that it is operating effectively
- interpret the creative requirements and enable the application of technical tools and software to achieve the intended look of the finished material.
- balancing sound, colour, visual effects and transition between sections.
- use technology and processes to enhance the visual impact that a film or television sequence may have.
- engage with colleagues and clients to resolve technical problems that may occur with hardware and software
- assist colleagues and clients to utilise software to obtain the effects required. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with creative representatives from client organisations and other members of the technical staff engaged with the production of content. Post Production Engineers will also engage with client organisations and representatives from suppliers, and work as part of a post production teams. Post Productions Engineers will hold senior posts within technical teams and will be required to provide direction and guidance to junior members of staff and to sub-contractors who may be engaged with.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for ensuring that technology is used effectively to achieve the creative style that the programme producers and directors are seeking. This includes resolving problems, monitoring the use of software and engaging with the client to ensure that their requirements are being met.
Post Production engineers have a significant impact on the final view that audiences will experience. They are required to balance both technical and creative skills to produce the impact that the director and other creative staff members and clients are seeking to achieve. Post Production Engineers trouble shoot processes and technical issues and provide solutions to resolve them or work with colleagues with relevant experience. Post Production Engineers will hold a senior position within a production organisation and will be required to give direction and guidance to junior members of staff and sub-contractors.
The role in technical in nature and Post Production Engineers need to understand the health and safety implications of their work and operate in way that reduces risk.The Post Production Engineer may also have responsibility for the management of preventative maintenance schedules.
Typical job titles include
- Creative Technologist | Edit support technician | Post production engineer | Post production technical engineer | Post production technical support | Studio technologies team | Systems engineer | Technical engineer
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
How SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture Television Engineers) standards impact on the work of post-production organisations
K2:
The common industry standards for computer networks that impact on post production systems
K3:
How to identify the operational state of systems and equipment
K4:
How to identify when issues are technology related and when they may require user training
K5:
The key software and operating systems used by the organisation e.g. SALT, ANSIBLE, PUPPET
K6:
Understanding of the overall facility infrastructure including cabling, servers, studios
K7:
How key post-production software applications are used within the organisation to balance sound, colour, visual effects and transition between sections.
K8:
The common faults that can arise with Post Production systems and software
K9:
The solutions that can be applied to common system and software faults
K10:
The creative workflow used within the organisation
K11:
How to recognise the organisational priorities and how they impact on the planning of work activities in the immediate, short and long term
K12:
Hardware set up including location of gear, cabling, video routers and relevant labelling
K13:
Basic TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) used to allow computers to communicate on a network such as the internet
K14:
Where and when internal and external general and specialist expertise can be sought
K15:
How problem-solving techniques (such as root cause analysis) can be applied to resolve routine and bespoke problems and how triage methods can be used to prioritise activities
K16:
How to manage the expectations of internal and external customers
K17:
How configuration of new equipment is managed
K18:
The processes in place for data and physical security and its critical importance to the organisation
K19:
Environmental and Health and Safety policies and procedures
Technical Educational Products
- ST0933: Post production engineer (Level 5) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0933
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £36,242 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3416 Arts officers, producers and directors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3416/03 Broadcasting and entertainment editors
- 2125/03 Industrial and production engineers
S1:
Engage with clients to determine system requirements and establish hardware and software needs
S2:
Determine the scope of the task and agrees the specification
S3:
Set up new hardware and software systems to specification and to meet security requirements
S4:
Apply and follow defined procedures for maintenance and set up activities
S5:
Monitor and adjust calibration of equipment using SMPTE standards as a benchmark
S6:
Identify correct operational state of equipment and the operational status of applications
S7:
Select and use appropriate test equipment and software
S8:
Monitor and identify when applications and equipment are not working correctly
S9:
Operate and use IT hardware and auxiliary equipment effectively
S10:
Implement regular analysis to establish the on-going performance of systems
S11:
Gather and interpret information to identify the root cause of technical problems and apply a triage process in identifying faults
S12:
Apply diagnostic processes to identify and assess the scale of bespoke hardware and software problems
S13:
Evaluate possible solutions taking into account cost, time and priority
S14:
Reproduce and document fault conditions
S15:
Utilise helpdesk systems to track backlog and maintain customer service
S16:
Implement checks to review and evaluate the effectiveness of solutions
S17:
Log the progress of work and key actions on organisational systems
S18:
Schedule and implement work to take account of workflow to minimise negative impact
S19:
Implement creative workarounds until a permanent solution can be put in place
S20:
Brief other specialists to assist with the resolution of problems
S21:
Respond effectively in pressurised periods of work
S22:
Take ownership of the work environment and identified problems
S23:
Able to assess user state, user goals and user difficulties
S24:
Manage creative issues and establish trust with colleagues in order to minimise conflict
S25:
Describe complex problems in a simple and clear way to users and colleagues
S26:
Support junior staff by providing guidance on how to resolve system problems, checking the quality of their work and providing constructive feedback
S27:
Complies with Environmental and Health and Safety polices and procedures.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0933: Post production engineer (Level 5) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0933
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £36,242 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3416 Arts officers, producers and directors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3416/03 Broadcasting and entertainment editors
- 2125/03 Industrial and production engineers
B1:
Champions the importance of adherence to the organisation’s Environmental, Health and Safety management systems:- actively displays and promotes a safety first culture within the organisation
B2:
Operates in a systematic, proactive and transparent way
B3:
Actively promotes the case for the adoption of emerging and advanced technologies to optimise performance
B4:
Takes full responsibility for own professional development, seeking opportunities to enhance knowledge, skills and experience. Keeps abreast of developments in emerging technologies
B5:
Accepts responsibility for their workload with a responsible approach to risk
B6:
Demonstrates a high level of motivation and resilience when facing challenging situations
B7:
Creates and maintains positive, professional, trusting and ethical working relationships with their team and the wider range of internal, external and connected stakeholders
B8:
Acts professionally when engaging with colleagues and clients
Technical Educational Products
- ST0933: Post production engineer (Level 5) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0933
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £36,242 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3416 Arts officers, producers and directors
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3416/03 Broadcasting and entertainment editors
- 2125/03 Industrial and production engineers