Sr Archival Engineer

Job Summary

Iron Mountain’s Media & Archival Services (MAS) division is seeking a Sr. Archival Engineer to support a large-scale media preservation and digitization initiative. This role is critical to ensuring the successful capture, preservation, and management of a significant volume of legacy audio, video, and data media formats.

The Sr. Archival Engineer will serve in a dual capacity: operating as a hands-on archival engineer for complex and at-risk formats, while also providing technical leadership in designing, implementing, and maintaining advanced multi-stream digitization workflows. The position requires expertise in legacy media playback systems, strong troubleshooting skills, and the ability to manage preservation workflows across multiple studio facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Engineering & Workflow Design

• Research, design, and implement multi-stream digitization workflows using NOA and synchronization hardware to maximize throughput.
• Configure, repair, and maintain fragile legacy playback equipment across multiple formats (e.g., analog 2”, 1”, ½”, ¼” reels, digital formats such as DAT, cassette, ADAT, and early digital media).
• Ensure calibrated, standards-compliant digitization of archival media with preservation-grade output.
• Act as a lead troubleshooter for complex technical issues in preservation workflows.

Archival Preservation & Digitization

• Perform digitization of legacy and at-risk media assets, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and fidelity of transfers.
• Conduct physical media remediation as needed, including baking, cleaning, and rehousing of deteriorated or damaged assets.
• Apply quality control practices to ensure reliable capture and preservation outcomes.

Project Support & Leadership

• Collaborate with Implementation and Operations Managers to align digitization workflows with project timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Provide technical guidance on throughput planning, asset allocation, and studio readiness.
• Serve as technical point-of-contact for internal stakeholders on preservation engineering questions and scope changes.
• Support equipment procurement, research, and vendor coordination for specialized preservation needs.

Cross-Studio Collaboration & Training

• Work with MAS studios in North America and Europe to standardize technical practices and maximize equipment utilization.
• Mentor and train engineers on best practices for multi-stream workflows and complex preservation formats.
• Provide oversight and recommendations for process improvements that enhance throughput and reduce risk to legacy media assets.

Qualifications

Required:

• Extensive experience in archival audio and video engineering, with deep knowledge of legacy analog and digital formats.
• Demonstrated expertise in configuring, repairing, and operating complex playback and synchronization systems.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale digitization projects with significant volumes of diverse formats.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to collaborate across technical, operational, and project management teams.

Preferred:

• Experience with multi-stream digitization technologies (e.g., NOA, Cubix, or equivalent).
• Hands-on experience with physical remediation techniques (baking, cleaning, rehousing).
• Prior leadership experience in preservation engineering or studio operations.
• Familiarity with QC practices, metadata capture, and archival workflows.

Why Join Iron Mountain MAS?

At Iron Mountain Media & Archival Services, we are at the forefront of global media preservation and digitization, working with some of the world’s most important archives. This role offers a unique opportunity to apply specialized engineering expertise to safeguard cultural heritage at scale, while also shaping innovative workflows that will set industry standards for years to come.

Category: Operations Group