Senior R&D Engineer

BBC (Headquarters: London, UK (Hybrid))

R&D Video Encoding Video Codecs Broadcast IP Distribution C C++ Java Picture Quality Analysis Standards Development Back End Engineer Data Engineer Staff Engineer

**About BBC Research & Development:** The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a national public service broadcaster in the UK, dedicated to informing, educating, and entertaining audiences. The BBC Research & Development (R&D) team is at the forefront of developing innovative technologies for the future of broadcasting. They work on cutting-edge research in video codecs, picture quality analysis, and the technical design of IP and broadcast platforms, shaping the future of media distribution and creating groundbreaking research that benefits the BBC and potentially global standards.

**About The Role:** We are seeking a Senior R&D Engineer to join our Media Applied Research Area. This role involves leading and conducting research activities, identifying and solving complex technical problems, and carrying out groundbreaking research in relevant areas. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in video coding and standards development, with experience in creating and maintaining intellectual property rights (IPR) in video codec development. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with third parties, including manufacturers and universities, to achieve innovative solutions for the BBC and potentially contribute to global standards.

**Key Responsibilities:**
• Apply creative thinking, analysis, and good judgment to propose innovative solutions to complex technical problems.
• Produce and test prototype implementations of systems to help answer research questions.
• Transfer results of work to the wider BBC and encourage others to adopt them in the form of systems for operational use or advice, or to wider industry via inputs to standards bodies, open source software, or licensing to manufacturers.
• Evaluate technology through activities such as programme trials, lab tests, and user tests to determine its suitability and effectiveness.
• Document results for an audience within the department or wider BBC, including external-facing output such as conference papers and blog posts.
• Provide advice and consultancy to help the BBC and its external partners make the best decisions within your field of expertise.
• Use persuasion and facilitation skills to gain cooperation of groups across the BBC and externally, and negotiate agreements to advance collaborative projects.
• Represent the BBC at events such as exhibitions and demonstrations to explain their work and help with recruitment.
• Represent the BBC in international standards bodies and similar forums to create a smooth operating environment for the BBC.
• Identify and follow up opportunities for learning and development to ensure skill set meets evolving requirements and stay at the forefront of relevant scientific and technology areas.
• Define technical standards for the future.

**Required Skills and Ideal Candidate:**
• A track record of creative thinking, analysis, and good judgment to propose innovative solutions to technical problems and to invent and manage new intellectual property rights (IPR).
• Substantial experience in video compression and related standards development.
• Demonstrable evidence of collaborative working across multi-disciplinary teams and transferring results of research in the form of technical reports, inputs to standards bodies, software prototypes, or licensing to manufacturers.
• Strong skills in using software development as a tool for evaluation/experimentation/learning purposes, algorithm validation, and benchmarking (e.g., C, C++, Java).
• Ability to carry out formal picture quality evaluation using objective methodologies and awareness of subjective methods.

**Desirable Skills:**
• Working knowledge of video codecs and systems such as AVC, HEVC, VVC, and awareness of future developments in MPEG, including the use of neural networks.
• Understanding of TV industry standards (broadcast and IP) for content distribution from MPEG, DVB, W3C, etc., and associated systems engineering.
• Strong understanding of issues around video engineering or willingness to learn its use in all aspects of media workflows.
• Experience of leading project work in a research environment, motivating self and others to learn new knowledge and skills and produce original work.

**Compensation:** The estimated pay range for this role is up to £67,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge, and experience. This role is eligible for a flexible 35-hour working week and comes with comprehensive benefits including a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, and gym memberships.