KAKE, the ABC affiliate in Wichita, Kansas, has an opening for a Chief Engineer.  This position is responsible for technical management of full power television stations KAKE, KUPK, KLBY and four low-power stations comprising the KAKEland Television Network.  Duties include planning and project management of capital equipment acquisitions, operating and capital equipment budgets, design of broadcast studio and transmission systems and maintenance of broadcast facility equipment.  Responsible for training and managing Engineering staff and for compliance with all FCC and FAA rules and regulations.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

• Overall responsibility for electronic equipment maintenance at all KAKEland studio and transmission facilities (KAKE, KUPK, KLBY, and four low-power transmitters, MW repeaters).
• Supervise and coordinate maintenance and installation of all broadcast and computer equipment with KAKE studio engineers.  Coordinate maintenance and installation projects with western Kansas Engineer related to transmission equipment located at the KUPK, KLBY, microwave repeaters and low-power broadcast facilities.
• Overall responsibility for FCC technical compliance of the KAKEland broadcast stations and includes FCC authorizations for all transmitters.
• Responsible for FAA compliance and maintenance of our broadcast towers.
• Responsible for engineering operating and capital budgets.  Approve and submit departmental purchase orders for repair parts, equipment acquisitions and contractor repairs.  Review monthly invoices for utilities, telco, fiber and broadband. 
• Responsible for design, planning and purchase of capital equipment acquisitions.  Plan and supervise installation and maintenance of electronic broadcast equipment including computer systems, microwave, satellite, video, audio and RF transmission equipment.
• Responsible for building and grounds maintenance at main studio and all transmission facilities.  Includes maintenance of heating, air-conditioning, plumbing, electrical and structural systems.  
• Maintain and update documentation drawings of all studio and transmission facilities.
• Maintain the company’s fleet of vehicles.
• Coordinate tower site leases with landlords and negotiate renewals.  Maintain positive relationship with landlords.   
• Maintain technical relationships with numerous cable and satellite delivery systems within the DMA.  Provide diagnostic services to identify technical signal delivery issues between KAKE transmission facilities and cable delivery systems.  Provide signal path profile analysis for cable system off-air pickups.
• Responsible for fixed asset inventory at studio and transmission sites.  Perform annual inventory reviews for asset disposals and transfers between facilities.  Review County Personal Property Tax lists.
• Support and assist all other departments’ technical needs to ensure departmental and station goals are achieved.
• Assist viewers with off-air or cable signal reception issues.  Diagnose problem and recommend solution.
• Recruit, train, and mentor Engineering staff and encourage innovation and continuing education.
• Available for on-call emergencies.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Extensive knowledge of all broadcast systems and FCC regulations.
• Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience maintaining broadcast RF transmission systems.
• Minimum one (1) year prior experience in broadcast operations (Master Control and VTR).
• Two-year trade or technical school or associate degree in the specialized study of electronics theory and maintenance of electronics-based systems.
• Competency in safely working with high AC, DC and RF voltages in transmission equipment.
• General knowledge and experience with mechanical equipment.
• General knowledge and experience with IT, computer networking and telephone systems.
• Good eyesight and hearing, able to lift equipment that may exceed 50 pounds.

Interested candidates can apply to:

Lori Johnson, Business Manager
KAKE
1500 N. West Street
Wichita, KS 67203
Or by e-mail to ljohnson@kake.com
No telephone calls please

Lockwood Broadcast Group and KAKE provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment.  Pre-employment drug test is required as well as a background screen as allowed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations.