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Samuel East

I build the video players, DRM systems, and streaming infrastructure behind platforms people use every day.

Cardiff, UK·15+ years in streaming·Available for contract
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About

I've spent the past four years embedded in two of the most demanding streaming environments in the industry: two years at NBC PeacockTV across PeacockTV, SkyShowTime, and NowTV, and two years at 3SS building Vodafone's next-generation set-top box from the ground up.

With over 15 years in media streaming, I specialise in video player architecture, DRM integration (Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay), adaptive streaming (HLS, DASH, CMAF), and cross-platform delivery across web, Samsung Tizen, LG WebOS, Xfinity, and custom STB hardware.

I ship reliable, performant video experiences at scale. Whether it's reducing video start times, solving playback issues on constrained devices, or architecting a player that handles live, VOD, catchup, and recordings, I deliver.

Skills

Languages & Frameworks

JavaScript · TypeScript · Node.js · React · Angular · ElectronJS · LightningJS

Video Players

Shaka Player · DashJS · HLS.js · Custom MSE · CastLabs · Bitmovin · VideoJS

DRM & Protocols

Widevine · PlayReady · FairPlay · SPEKE API · CENC · CMAF · SCTE-35

TV & STB Platforms

Samsung Tizen · LG WebOS · Hisense Vidaa · Custom STBs · DVB / OIPF

AWS Media

MediaLive · MediaPackage · MediaConvert · MediaTailor · MediaConnect · CloudFormation

Tooling

Git / GitLab · Jira · Sentry · Conviva · Jest · Agile / Scrum

Certification

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Experience

3SS

2 years · Contract

Video Software Engineer

Owned the entire playback experience for Vodafone’s new set-top box, delivering live, catchup, start over, channel switching, on demand, and recordings. Helped the team hit a critical launch deadline, working remotely from the UK with a team in Budapest.

  • Architected DVB/OTT playback switching using Shaka Player with seamless protocol handoff
  • Built high-performance UI with LightningJS optimised for low-end STB hardware
  • Implemented Live, StartOver, TimeShift, Catchup, VOD, and recording playback with 7-day rolling buffer
  • Created remote development suite using ZeroTier & Raspberry Pi for real-time STB access
  • Reduced zapping times and improved playback resilience through KPI-driven optimisation
  • Developed stall detection, manifest manipulation, and custom debug UI for memory diagnostics
  • Ported STB app to Samsung Tizen with minimal code changes

NBC PeacockTV

2 years · Contract

Video Software Engineer

Worked across PeacockTV, SkyShowTime, and NowTV. Focused on video start times, rebuffering reduction, and cross-platform delivery at scale.

  • DASH, HLS, MSE & EME implementation across Web, Xfinity, and Samsung
  • KPI monitoring and performance optimisation using Conviva (VST, VSF)
  • BrightLine ad integration and mid-stream adaptive bitrate capping
  • Memory and CPU profiling on low-end Samsung and Xfinity Xi3/Xi6 devices
  • AAMP player development for Xfinity X1 platform
  • CVSDK development in TypeScript with Jest and CI integration

Independent Projects

Personal

Video Engineering

Built end-to-end media tools spanning encoding, live streaming, and DRM-protected content delivery.

  • ElectronJS encoding app with multi-bitrate HLS/DASH, encryption, subtitles, and bulk upload
  • CloudFormation & Lambda automated encoding pipeline via MediaConvert
  • Production live streaming workflow with MediaLive, MediaPackage, and OBS
  • Studio-approved DRM player via SPEKE API with Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay

Education

Swansea Metropolitan University

2007 – 2009

BA Hons Interactive Digital Media, 2:1

Swansea College, Tycoch

2003 – 2005

BTEC National Diploma Music Technology, Distinction, Merit, Merit

John Colet School, Wendover

1994 – 1998

9 GCSEs (A–C) including English, Maths, Sciences

Contact

Let's build something
people watch.

[email protected]LinkedIn

Cardiff, South Wales. Open to remote & travel.