Radio as we know it began with experimentation and tinkering by engineers and scientists. When somebody (maybe an engineer?) got the great idea to play music and charge for commercials, radio as we know it today was born. I always hear the argument, "you wouldn't be on the air if it wasn't for the engineering department, and yes and there's the other side, "we couldn't afford to stay on the air without the sales and programming." The bottom line is that it takes the efforts of many individuals from many different departments to make a radio station successful.. For about the last 20 years, the radio station technical facility has changed very little. Yes, tubes have completely disappeared from the studio, records gave way to compact disks, and the on-air console's rotary "pots" were replaced by Penny and Giles faders. Automation came along in the 70's and sattelite program delivery in the 80's. But the'90s have brought digital recording and complete station computerization that have completely changed the way we broadcast.
Radio like most industries, is going through a computer metamorphosis. Literally every department in your station will be using a computer in the near future. Every facet of your studio complex will be computerized or interfaced with a computer. Cart machines, reel to reel tape decks, and cassette decks will be a thing of the past. We will live and die by our computers. When all is said and done what's going to be left? A computer network connected to the transmitter? Fortunately computer systems are totally reliant on their human counterparts. We still need engineers, program directors, promotion directors , sales people, and managers. There are fewer pieces of equipment to maintain, but they are much more complex . As systems get more and more complicated, malfunctions will be more likely to take you completely off the air. Remember the old days when one or two cart machines could die and you could limp along for hours or even days without missing a spot!... So with these new equipment and systems in use it's more important to have a full compliment of engineers than ever before.
Your engineer is one of the most important members on your staff. When its time to hire a new engineer or add an engineer to your staff, how do you know what you're getting? As we all know, the FCC dropped the requirements for the first class license, so one of the most important things I look for before hiring an engineer is a solid track record. He/she needs experience in studio and transmitter site construction/maintenance, familiarity with FCC rules and regulations, and must have a solid knowledge base in computers and computer networks. An SBE certification and ham radio operators license are also a plus. Check all references out and have your engineer or consultant interview the applicant on the phone. Keep records of all applicants and interviews in your EEO file.
Compensation is bound to be an issue with a qualified applicant. Entry level engineers are usually just happy to get their foot in the door, but you may have to pay a highly qualified person more than you are used to, but it's money well spent. If you have good engineers on your staff, it's a good idea to make sure they are fairly compensated. Many related industries are luring broadcast engineers away with better pay, and less demanding hours. Don't let your engineers "jump ship" over a couple of dollars!
With the advent of the computer age, we are asking our engineers
to be much more knowledgeable than ever before. We still expect them
to be on call 24 hours a day, and we still expect them to handle
all problems that come along from clogged toilets to twisted towers. In
addition, duopoly puts an added strain on your engineering
department. Keep the lines of communication open. Talk to your engineer,
make sure that his workload allows him to come up for air occasionally!
Give merit pay raises that will motivate your engineer and encourage
him to stay with your station. Remember, good engineers are extremely
hard to find.