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To become a transmission engineer, specialized training in electrical, audio, and computer engineering is necessary. While a college degree is not required, vocational or broadcasting school is recommended. Starting as an intern or volunteer at a local radio or TV station can lead to career advancement. The job can be physically demanding and dangerous, with long hours and on-call availability. Job prospects are better in smaller media markets, with continuing education recommended for staying competitive.
To become a transmission engineer you will need a wide range of specialist training; electrical, audio and computer engineering are useful for this demanding occupation. While you don’t need a college degree to become a transmission engineer, you do need essential training and skills. These can be acquired through vocational school, community college or broadcasting school. At a minimum, having an associate’s degree in broadcast or electronics technology will qualify you for most entry-level jobs, but a bachelor’s degree or higher offers better job prospects and career advancement.
One of the best ways to become a broadcast engineer is to start out as an intern or volunteer at a local radio or TV station. Many interns who started out emptying trash cans or helping set up remote transmissions soon moved up the ladder to a full-time job as an assistant to the chief engineer. To earn while learning, you can apply for engineering jobs at your local TV stations, recording studios and advertising agencies. Whether working in a computer, music, car audio, or electronics store, you can learn all types of equipment, gain repair skills, and keep up with the latest emerging technology.
When shopping for your resume, you don’t have to limit yourself to applying for jobs in your own backyard. If you expand your horizons and are prepared to move to the right opportunity at any time, you may find more opportunities available. To become a transmission engineer, you might be ready to go wherever the jobs are. Due to the typically high turnover of ownership in the radio and TV industries, it is not uncommon for a broadcast engineer to work at 10 to 20 stations in different cities over the course of his career. If you are serious about a career as a transmission engineer, you may find it just as important to have your family’s understanding and support in the face of potentially frequent relocation demands.
Working at a radio or TV station behind the scenes might sound fascinating, but broadcast engineering can also be a highly demanding and even dangerous job. Transmission engineers may deal with high voltage electronics, sometimes outdoors during severe weather events or under other dangerous conditions. Some often climb antenna towers to perform maintenance, which can be very physically stressful. Expect to put in 50- to 60-hour workweeks, perhaps with no overtime pay, and be prepared to be on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If the transmitter fails in the middle of the night, the broadcast engineer is responsible for getting the station on the air as quickly as possible.
Job prospects are generally better for first-time candidates in smaller media markets; a small town radio station can be a great place to start. Over time, you can work in medium and large markets for significantly better pay. Even when comfortably settled into your career, continuing education classes are a good idea to help you stay current on information technology trends and the latest electronics to stay competitive.
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