The kit has been delivered and the client wants their new boardroom working by Monday morning. Now somebody has to make every box in the rack actually talk to each other.

That somebody is usually the AV engineer. And with AVIXA’s latest Pro-AV Business Index finding that 36.4% of the AV companies it surveyed had increased their headcount, while only 6% had cut back, there are plenty of businesses looking for good ones. So which technical skills make an AV engineer stand out?

What technical skills do employers look for in AV engineers?

Employers look for AV engineers who understand networking and can configure the systems that run on it, from audio processors to control panels. The skills below are the ones that come up again and again in AV engineer job descriptions.

1. Networking for AV

If there’s one skill that separates AV engineers today, it’s networking. With so much audio and video now travelling over IP, engineers need to be comfortable with IP addressing, VLANs, multicast and QoS, and know why a network switch that works perfectly for emails might struggle with live video.

It also means working closely with a client’s IT team. Being able to explain exactly what your system needs from their network, and why, saves a lot of time on site. Audinate’s Dante Certification goes up to Level 3, which covers networked audio in real depth.

2. DSP programming

Most meeting rooms and venues have a digital signal processor at the heart of the audio system. Employers want engineers who can build and tune a DSP design, setting up gain structure and echo cancellation so the room sounds natural at both ends of a call. Q-SYS and Biamp are two of the most widely used platforms, and both offer their own training.

3. Control system programming

A room is only as good as the touch panel people use to run it. Engineers are often expected to configure control systems from manufacturers like Crestron and Extron, and to build interfaces simple enough that anyone can start a meeting without calling for help. Some engineers go on to specialise as control system programmers.

4. Video and signal flow

Most AV engineers have lost an afternoon to a screen that won’t show a picture. Understanding HDMI, HDCP, EDID and HDBaseT, and how they behave across extenders and switchers, is what turns that afternoon into ten minutes. Employers also want engineers who can read and draw signal flow diagrams, because that’s how the rest of the team understands the system.

5. Unified communications platforms

Video calling is now the main job of most meeting rooms. Employers look for engineers who can deploy and configure Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms properly, including the accounts and settings behind them, not just plug in a video bar. Knowing which devices are certified for each platform helps too.

6. Design and documentation

Engineers often take a design from paper to reality, so they need to understand drawings and the equipment lists behind them. Experience with tools like AutoCAD or Visio is a big plus. Just as important are good as-built drawings at the end of a job, because the next engineer to visit that site will rely on them.

7. Commissioning and testing

Commissioning is where an engineer proves the system works. That means working through a test plan, checking every input and output, and making sure the system meets the client’s brief before it’s handed over. Employers value engineers who are thorough here, because problems found at handover are much cheaper to fix than problems found by the client.

8. Cybersecurity basics

Now that AV devices sit on corporate networks, they need to be secured like any other device. Changing default passwords and keeping firmware up to date are now part of the job, and you’ll be expected to work within the client’s own security policies. It’s also a skill that builds trust with IT teams.

Which certifications back up these skills?

Certifications help employers see your skills at a glance. Many engineers start with AVIXA’s CTS, then move on to CTS-D if they’re heading towards design. Manufacturer certifications from the likes of Crestron and Q-SYS also carry a lot of weight, especially when they match the brands an employer installs.

For a fuller breakdown, our guide to what qualifications you need to apply for AV jobs covers the certifications and site cards that come up most.

Do employers care more about skills or experience?

In practice, they want to see both together. A certification shows you understand something, but employers really want proof that you’ve used it on a real project. When you talk about your experience, be specific about your part in it. “Configured the Q-SYS design for a 40-room office fit-out” tells a hiring manager far more than “worked on DSP”.

If you’re a technician looking to make the step up, our guide to the difference between an AV engineer and an AV technician explains how the roles compare. And if you’re earlier in your career, have a look at the skills employers look for in AV technicians.

Find AV engineer jobs with Prospero Integrated

At Prospero Integrated, we’ve been placing AV professionals since 2000, and we were the first UK recruitment agency to focus solely on audio visual. We recruit AV engineers for everyone from systems integrators to live event companies, so we know exactly which skills each employer is looking for.

Have a look at our AV engineer jobs, or register your CV and one of our consultants will be in touch to talk through your next move.