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Samuel East

Video Software Engineer

Cardiff, South Wales, UKmail@samueleast.co.uklinkedin.com/in/samueleastdevsamueleast.co.uk

Available immediately

About

Video Software Engineer with over 15 years in media streaming, running my own company and building services across the industry. For the past five years I have been contracted to two of the most demanding streaming environments around: 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. Specialising 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.

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, Claude AI, Codex

Experience

3SS

2 years · Contract

Video Software Engineer

Worked across multiple operator platforms including Vodafone, Yettel, Entel, and OneTV, delivering live, catchup, start over, channel switching, on demand, and recordings. Worked closely with Nagra on DRM and content protection integration. Helped the team hit critical launch deadlines, working remotely from the UK.

  • 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

S3Bubble

2014 – 2021 · 7 years

Founder & CEO

Founded and scaled a cloud media streaming platform, distributing millions of video players monthly via API. Built the full product stack from encoding tools to DRM-protected playback, integrated with AWS Media Services.

  • Built and scaled a media streaming API serving millions of video players monthly across thousands of sites
  • ElectronJS encoding app with multi-bitrate HLS/DASH, encryption, subtitles, thumbnails, and bulk upload
  • CloudFormation & Lambda automated encoding pipeline via MediaConvert
  • Studio-approved DRM player via SPEKE API with Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay using BuyDRM and EZDRM
  • Production live streaming workflow with MediaLive, MediaPackage, and OBS integration
  • AngularJS media streaming application integrated with AWS cloud workflows

Education

Swansea Metropolitan University

BA Hons Interactive Digital Media, 2:1

2007 – 2009

Swansea College, Tycoch

BTEC National Diploma Music Technology, Distinction, Merit, Merit

2003 – 2005

John Colet School, Wendover

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

1994 – 1998

Side Projects

Vybe Coding

Mobile and desktop terminal app with AI-powered voice commands, safety analysis, and remote server management.

Audibase

Audio management and streaming platform for creators and businesses.

S3Bubble

Cloud-based video and audio hosting platform with secure streaming and WordPress integration.

YT Streamer iOS

Mobile live streaming application enabling creators to broadcast directly to YouTube.

TVProber

Smart TV remote debugging and development tool. Deploy, inspect, and debug LG WebOS and Samsung Tizen apps from your desktop.

Certification

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner