Camera Operator

  • -, Northwest Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20001
  • Cross Functional
  • Full time

About Ancestry:
When you join Ancestry, you join a human-centered company where every person’s story is important. Ancestry®, the global leader in family history, empowers journeys of personal discovery to enrich lives. With our unparalleled collection of more than 40 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and over 23 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we’ve built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.

We are committed to our location flexible work approach, allowing you to choose to work in the nearest office, from your home, or a hybrid of both (subject to location restrictions and roles that are required to be in the office- see the full list of eligible US locations HERE). We will continue to hire and promote beyond the boundaries of our office locations, to enable broadened possibilities for employee diversity.

Together, we work every day to foster a work environment that's inclusive as well as diverse, and where our people can be themselves. Every idea and perspective is valued so that our products and services reflect the global and diverse clients we serve. 

Ancestry encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants. Passionate about dedicating your work to enriching people’s lives? Join the curious.

Job Title: Camera Operator – Historical Document Digitization
Job Description:
We are seeking a passionate and meticulous Camera Operator to join our team of Contractors, contributing to our mission to preserve and make accessible invaluable historical documents. This role is ideal for recent graduates or current students in the archival or library sciences field who bring a deep interest in family history, historical preservation, and digitization. This individual will be responsible for capturing high-quality digital images of delicate records, requiring careful handling, precision, and a respect for the fragility of historic materials.The Camera Operator will work on our current War of 1812 project, collaborating closely with National Archives staff, including Quality Assurance and Conservation teams, to ensure each document is captured and preserved with the utmost care. The position requires remote collaboration with our Production team based in Utah and on-site interaction with the National Archives. The contract term is one year, with working hours from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. The wage is $19/ hour.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Operate cameras and software to accurately capture images according to project requirements and NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) guidelines.
  • Ensure the careful handling of fragile historic documents, maintaining respect and sensitivity toward each item’s preservation.
  • Collaborate closely with National Archives’ Quality Assurance and Conservation teams to achieve high-quality imaging.
  • Coordinate remotely with the Ancestry Production team to define filming objectives, goals, and quality standards.
  • Schedule and attend regular meetings to maintain alignment on filming schedules and production targets.
  • Troubleshoot technical issues and work with IT to resolve them efficiently.
  • Oversee the daily setup and delivery of captured images, ensuring adherence to quality and timeline expectations.
  • Provide regular project status updates to management.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
  • A recent graduate or current student in archival studies, history, or a related field with a demonstrated passion for historical preservation and family history.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
  • Effective communication and collaboration skills for working with on-site and remote teams.
  • Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
  • Experience or training in careful handling of historical documents is strongly preferred.
Why Archivist Traits Matter for This Role:
This position requires someone with the qualities and mindset of an archivist, as it involves:
  • Preservation Mindset: A strong sense of responsibility toward safeguarding irreplaceable historical records for future generations.
  • Meticulousness: Exceptional attention to detail to ensure every image captured is of the highest quality and adheres to archival standards.
  • Respect for Historical Materials: A deep appreciation for the fragility and significance of the documents being digitized, as well as adherence to proper handling protocols.
  • Organizational Skills: The ability to manage workflows, maintain accurate records of digitized items, and coordinate between on-site and remote teams.
  • Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with imaging technology and archival standards, ensuring that digitization efforts meet or exceed expectations for accuracy and quality.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
An ideal candidate for this role would have experience or academic training in archival studies, history, or library sciences, paired with a passion for historical preservation and a hands-on approach to digitization. Whether you're a recent graduate or a student looking to bridge academic knowledge with practical application, this role offers a meaningful way to make a lasting impact on historical preservation.


Additional Information:

Ancestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer that makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizenship, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. In addition, Ancestry will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

All job offers are contingent on a background check screen that complies with applicable law.  For San Francisco office candidates, pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Ancestry will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

Ancestry is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Ancestry via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Ancestry. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Ancestry as a result of the referral or through other means.