Director, On-Air Graphic Software System

Company Description

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

Job Description

Versant Media is a technology-forward media company that empowers creative teams to deliver compelling, real-time content across platforms. Our Creative Operations department builds and supports the tools and systems that drive live graphics and newsroom workflows. We are seeking a Director of On-Air Graphics Software Systems to work closely with production teams and graphics engineers to develop and maintain systems that power real-time visual storytelling using Viz Engine and Unreal Engine

Role Overview

In this role, you will collaborate with newsroom and graphics teams to build and support the technical infrastructure behind live graphics creation and deployment. You’ll develop tools and integrations that connect editorial systems like Avid iNEWS and Fonn Saga with real-time graphics engines, enabling seamless playback and automation of visual content in live production environments.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Strategy

• Team Management: Lead and mentor a team of real-time artists. Conduct regular 1-on-1s, performance reviews, and career development planning.
• Resource Allocation & Capacity: Work closely with our real-time graphics producers to task assignments using project management tools (e.g., Airtable/Jira).
• Direction & Quality Control: Provide actionable feedback and direction to ensure all output meets high standards. Facilitate adherence to established "best practice" standards for the team.
• Recruitment & Onboarding: Collaborate with Versant's leadership and recruitment teams to assist with technical interviews with new talent.  Assist with onboarding and training of new team members.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely with Project Managers, Developers, and Live Production leadership to translate creative concepts into technical realities

Technical Art & Implementation

• Develop and maintain integrations between newsroom systems and real-time graphics platforms.
• Build automation scripts and backend services to support graphics deployment and playback.
• Collaborate with production teams to understand editorial workflows and translate them into technical solutions.
• Work with graphics teams using Viz Engine and Unreal Engine to support dynamic, data-driven visuals.
• Participate in the full software development lifecycle: requirements gathering, design, development, QA, deployment, and production support.
• Ensure reliability and performance of tools used in live show environments.

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week. This role may be based in our Englewood Cliffs, NJ office in addition to our primary location in New York, NY. 

We offer free shuttle transportation to and from multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken and Jersey City

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in development and broadcast production technology, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Hands-on experience with real-time graphics technologies: Viz Engine, Unreal Engine
• Familiarity with newsroom or live production systems: Avid iNEWS, Fonn Saga
• Scripting experience: Go, Bash, Python
• IDE experience: VSCode, JetBrains Rider
• Knowledge of API protocols: gRPC, REST, Websockets
• Proficiency with source control and peer coding practices: GitHub
• Understanding of software development lifecycle and agile methodologies
• Comfortable working in Mac/Linux and Windows environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI libraries and models: Google Gemini / Vertex
• Agile project development experience: Jira
• Backend de