The Data I/O Operator is responsible for the secure, accurate, and timely movement, organization, conversion, archival, restoration, and delivery of digital media and related production assets.
This includes receiving media from digital and tape-based sources; creating network and file-based deliveries; preparing media for internal departments; managing assets across shared-storage, Linux, archival, and LTO environments; and ensuring that all materials entering or leaving the facility are properly organized, documented, and validated.
Reporting to the Data Manager, the Data I/O Operator works closely with Production, Online Editorial, Color, Deliverables, Quality Control, Workflow, Engineering, and other operational teams to ensure that media is available where and when it is needed.
The position requires strong technical aptitude, careful attention to detail, clear communication, and the ability to manage multiple time-sensitive assignments in a fast-paced post-production environment.
- Receive, ingest, transfer, organize, archive, restore, convert, and deliver digital media and related production assets.
- Create secure network and file-based deliveries from digital, tape, shared-storage, cloud, and other approved sources.
- Upload and download media through accelerated file-transfer applications, client portals, cloud platforms, and other authorized delivery methods.
- Convert and transcode media for internal departments using approved applications and workflows.
- Support Production, Online Editorial, Color, Deliverables, Quality Control, Dailies, Scanning and Recording, and other operational departments.
- Organize and track digital assets entering, moving through, and leaving the facility. Verify that incoming and outgoing materials match work orders, transfer instructions, manifests, source documentation, and client requirements.
- Confirm file counts, file sizes, directory structures, naming conventions, checksums, and transfer completion as required.
- Ensure that received, restored, or transferred media is complete, accessible, and stored in the correct project location.
- Use macOS and Linux terminal environments and command-line tools to navigate file systems, inspect files, manage directories, validate data, and troubleshoot operational issues.
- Use tools such as find and grep to locate files, search logs and manifests, review command output, identify errors, and investigate transfer, archive, restore, and file-system issues.
- Review file and directory permissions, ownership, paths, mount points, file counts, storage utilization, and related system information.
- Apply authorized permission changes using tools such as chmod when required and permitted by departmental procedures.
- Perform LTO archive writes and restores using LTFS- and TAR-based workflows.
- Prepare media and directory structures for LTO archival in accordance with established naming, packaging, manifest, cataloging, and storage requirements.
- Operate approved archival-management platforms, including ADA or current equivalent systems, in conjunction with Linux and LTO workflows.
- Confirm successful LTO writes and restores through logs, manifests, file counts, checksums, or other required validation methods.
- Maintain accurate records of LTO media, tape identifiers, archive contents, source and destination paths, write dates, restore activity, and job status.
- Work with professional videotape decks and ingest systems as required, including HDCAM-SR and other supported tape formats.
- Assist with media ingests through Avid, Resolve, Colorfront, or other approved editorial, dailies, and finishing platforms.
- Monitor active transfers, ingests, archive operations, restores, and deliveries for failures, interruptions, missing files, storage limitations, permission issues, or connectivity problems.
- Troubleshoot routine file-system, transfer, ingest, storage, archive, access, and media-management issues using established procedures.
- Escalate missing materials, unclear instructions, technical problems, security concerns, and delivery risks to the appropriate producer, workflow representative, Data Manager, or Engineering team.
- Communicate clearly with producers and the Data Manager regarding job status, priorities, anticipated completion, and potential delays.
- Manage multiple concurrent jobs and changing priorities while maintaining accuracy and meeting production deadlines.
- Support revisions, replacements, redeliveries, re-ingests, archive writes, and restores as requested.
- Handle physical media, videotapes, LTO tapes, hard drives, and other storage devices in accordance with departmental and content-security procedures.
- Provide clear and complete handoffs for work continuing across shifts.
- Follow all company and client requirements related to content security, confidentiality, access control, and media handling.
- Maintain an organized, accurate, and professional working environment.
- Perform additional duties based on departmental and production needs.
- Previous experience in post-production, Data I/O, media operations, digital asset management, content servicing, dailies, archival services, or a related technical environment preferred.
- Working knowledge of macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems.
- Working knowledge of macOS and Linux terminal environments and Unix-style command-line tools.
- Familiarity with commands and utilities such as ls, cd, cp, mv, find, grep, du, df, chmod, checksum utilities, and related file-management and diagnostic tools.
- Working knowledge of file permissions, ownership, directory structures, paths, mount points, shared storage, and basic networking concepts.
- Knowledge of LTFS- and TAR-based LTO archive and restore workflows.
- Understanding of checksums, manifests, file validation, data integrity, and secure media-handling practices.
- Familiarity with Transkoder, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, Colorfront products, or comparable professional media applications.
- Familiarity with accelerated file-transfer applications, client delivery portals, cloud storage, and shared-storage environments.
- Familiarity with professional videotape formats, decks, and ingest workflows, including HDCAM-SR or comparable legacy tape formats.
- Understanding of digital dailies, editorial, color, finishing, mastering, and file-based post-production workflows.
- Knowledge of professional video formats, codecs, containers, frame rates, resolutions, aspect ratios, timecode, audio configurations, image sequences, and native camera codecs.
- Ability to read and accurately follow work orders, workflow documentation, transfer instructions, technical specifications, and client requirements.
- Ability to quickly learn new software, systems, and workflows.
- Ability to identify, troubleshoot, and clearly communicate technical issues.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity and quality assurance.
- Ability to manage multiple time-sensitive assignments without sacrificing accuracy.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with producers, managers, and technical teams.
- Willingness to ask questions and escalate concerns rather than make unsupported assumptions.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Reliable attendance and punctuality.
- Positive, collaborative, and team-oriented approach.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Equivalent professional experience in post-production, media operations, information technology, data management, or a related field may be considered in place of a degree.
This position is based at Picture Shop Burbank and is primarily performed on-site due to the secure, collaborative, and technically specialized nature of the work.
Hybrid or remote work may be available for certain assignments based on departmental needs, job responsibilities, system access, content-security requirements, employee performance, and approval from the Data Manager.
Employees must be able to report on-site when required and should not assume that all duties can be performed remotely. Work involving physical media, videotape decks, LTO systems, secured storage, or facility-based infrastructure will generally require an on-site presence.
Picture Shop supports production activity across extended hours. Candidates must be able to work a flexible shift based on departmental coverage and production needs.
Schedules may include early mornings, evenings, overnight or graveyard shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required. Shift assignments may change based on transfer volume, archive and restore activity, client deadlines, staffing requirements, and other production demands.
Operators may be responsible for monitoring long-running or time-sensitive processes and providing clear, documented handoffs between shifts.
A successful Data I/O Operator moves and preserves content securely, accurately, and on schedule. They carefully verify instructions, understand the underlying file systems and storage environments, maintain complete records, communicate problems early, and see each transfer, ingest, archive, or restore through to confirmed completion.
The ideal candidate is comfortable working in graphical and command-line environments, learns new tools quickly, remains calm under deadline pressure, and understands that an incorrect version, filename, path, permission, tape, or destination can disrupt an entire production workflow.
Picture Shop is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.
Compensation: $25 to $28
