Technical Director, CNN

Warner Bros. Discovery is hiring a Technical Director for CNN in Washington, DC. This is a control room role sitting at the center of live news broadcasting, where the TD operates the production switcher and owns the visual output of fast-moving newscasts and special event coverage. It’s a fit for someone who has spent years in live news environments and can call a show with confidence while managing the technical crew around them.

About the Role

The Technical Director joins CNN’s control room team, working across live news broadcasts, pre-taped segments, and original programming including live special events. Day to day, this person is on the Grass Valley Kayenne switcher, taking direction from the director, routing sources to studio monitors, and building effects sequences that need to be ready for immediate recall. The role carries real leadership weight, sitting between editorial, engineering, and design and keeping all three aligned during air.

Key Responsibilities

• Switch live news broadcasts and pre-produced programs on a Grass Valley Kayenne production switcher, accurately executing director calls for cameras, remotes, graphics, and video sources.
• Build and catalog visual effects within the production switcher for consistent, fast recall across the TD team during live television broadcasts.
• Occasionally direct short interviews or taped segments when production workflow requires it.
• Document on-air and off-air discrepancies and contribute to SOP and show report documentation to maintain control room standards.
• Serve as the technical lead during live broadcasts, monitoring crew performance and stepping in to correct issues before they reach air.
• Provide peer training to team members and new hires, and communicate skill development needs and goals to management.

What You Bring

• Minimum four years of experience technical directing in a live news environment.
• Hands-on operational knowledge of all control room positions, including familiarity with computerized automation news systems.
• Working knowledge of modern control room computer systems and live television pre-production and post-production workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a 24/7 news environment under real deadline pressure.
• A track record of contributing to workflow improvements and staying current with broadcast technology as it evolves.

Why This Role

CNN operates at the center of live news production globally, and this position puts a Technical Director inside one of the most recognizable control rooms in the business. Warner Bros. Discovery’s portfolio spans broadcast, cable, and streaming, which means the technical workflows here connect to a wider production infrastructure than most live news roles offer. For a TD looking to work at volume on significant coverage, this is a substantive next step.

Apply now for the Technical Director position at Warner Bros. Discovery and bring your live news control room experience to CNN in Washington, DC.