Senior Technical Designer, Lighting
Tait
Orlando, FL
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JOB DETAILS
JOB TYPE
Full-time
LOCATION
Orlando, FL
POSTED
13 days ago
TAIT partners with artists, brands, IP holders and place makers to bring culture-defining, never-before-seen experiences to life. With a legacy of innovation spanning over 45 years, TAIT has grown from pioneering in rock ‘n’ roll concert staging to setting the global standard for extraordinary live events and experiences through cutting-edge technology, precision engineering, and creative design. TAIT’s 20 global offices have developed iconic productions and experiences in over 30 countries, all seven continents, and even outer space for renowned performers, theme parks, exhibits, and venues across the globe, including partnerships with Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, Royal Opera House, Nike, NASA, Bloomberg, Google, Beyoncé, and The Olympics
Position Purpose
The Lighting Design team is responsible for show and architectural lighting system design across multiple project types, including large-scale theme park attractions, lands, venues, and other immersive environments. Work commonly includes concept and schematic design, acoustic design and modeling, detailed design intent documentation, interdisciplinary coordination, and technical support through fabrication and installation performed by outside delivery partners. Targeted on-site support may include site surveys, installation verification, field changes, and troubleshooting to support successful system performance and customer handover.
The Senior Technical Designer, Lighting is responsible for developing and engineering lighting system designs for themed entertainment and location-based experiences, ensuring that TAIT’s solutions are engineered to the highest levels of quality. This role translates creative intent into buildable system approaches through feasibility analysis, photometric performance studies, and high-quality design intent documentation. As a senior team member, this role is additionally expected to lead workstreams, mentor other designers, and contribute to discipline initiatives.
The Lighting Design team is responsible for show and architectural lighting system design across multiple project types, including large-scale theme park attractions, lands, venues, and other immersive environments. Work commonly includes concept and schematic design, acoustic design and modeling, detailed design intent documentation, interdisciplinary coordination, and technical support through fabrication and installation performed by outside delivery partners. Targeted on-site support may include site surveys, installation verification, field changes, and troubleshooting to support successful system performance and customer handover.
Essential Responsibilities / Accountabilities
- Develops lighting subsystem designs and key documentation packages to meet project needs and creative intent.
- Performs photometric performance studies to inform design decisions and communicate constraints, assumptions, and trade-offs.
- Produces and maintains design intent documentation to fulfill project requirements and enable effective handoff to delivery partners.
- Coordinates with other disciplines to define interfaces and ensure integrated, buildable solutions.
- Supports project bidding and estimating activities, including developing scope definitions and preliminary equipment strategies.
- Reviews vendor submittals, shop drawings, and alternates to protect design intent and maintain performance expectations within budget and schedule constraints.
- Leads design reviews and technical coordination meetings, offering constructive feedback and ensuring discipline deliverables meet internal quality standards.
- Promotes and contributes to internal standards, templates, and processes for lighting design and documentation.
- Performs on-site support as needed (site surveys, installation verification, field changes, troubleshooting) and documents outcomes.
- Mentors and develops other designers through coaching, peer reviews, and knowledge sharing. Supports capability development across the AVL team.
- Keeps up-to-date with industry developments and standard solutions. When necessary, builds and tests prototypes to validate performance and suitability for projects within the TAIT portfolio.
To successfully perform this role, each essential responsibility must be fulfilled satisfactorily.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the responsibilities outlined above.Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.
Behavioral Competencies
- Communication: Strong communication skills to explain technical concepts clearly to team members, customers, and non-technical stakeholders.
- Leadership: Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to provide guidance, mentor others, and lead workstreams with limited oversight.
- Teamwork: The ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including internal technical and creative partners, as well as external delivery partners.
- Customer-facing: Represents the company to customers and vendors; able to balance creative intent, technical feasibility, and project constraints.
- Adaptability: Being open to new technologies, methodologies, and industry standards and able to pivot as project requirements evolve.
- Attention to Detail: A focus on quality in designs and documentation – even when working under pressure.
- Safety Awareness: A strong commitment to safety while working in variable environments, including workshops, customer facilities, and construction sites.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Lighting Design, Electrical Engineering, Entertainment Technology, Technical Theater, or equivalent experience. (Themed entertainment experience preferred)
- 7+ years of experience with a degree (9+ years without a degree) designing and delivering professional lighting systems, preferably for themed entertainment, attractions, or other permanent immersive installations.
- Proficiency with photometric coverage and/or visual performance studies and using analysis results to inform design decisions.
- Experience with modern entertainment lighting control and distribution ecosystems (e.g., DMX/RDM, sACN, Art-Net, networked nodes/gateways) and best practices for scalable, maintainable systems.
- Strong documentation skills using CAD/BIM and related toolchains (Vectorworks, AutoCAD and/or Revit, Bluebeam).
- Experience developing design intent documentation packages (lighting plots, fixture schedules, patch/address schedules, risers, etc.)
- Understanding of lighting fundamentals (illuminance, beam distribution, CRI/TM-30, throw constraints) and common installation constraints (access, concealment, heat, power, maintenance).
- Experience coordinating with external integrators and vendors. Comfort reviewing submittals and alternates to protect performance and maintainability.
- Intimate knowledge of commercial aspects of projects (scope definition, assumptions, estimating)
- Expected Travel: 10-20%. Must be able to acquire passport for international travel.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While the role does not require regular lifting or physical exertion, it frequently requires working in a shop or construction environment, and will frequently require the employee to walk, bend, climb, push, pull, twist, squat, stoop, and kneel.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While the role does not require regular lifting or physical exertion, it frequently requires working in a shop or construction environment, and will frequently require the employee to walk, bend, climb, push, pull, twist, squat, stoop, and kneel.
Work conditions of the role are:
- Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
- Work conditions may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements such as dirt, dust, fumes, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.
- Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks which require following basic safety precautions.
- Must be able to wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to work within or visit areas where required. This includes safety glasses, reflective vest, ear plugs, safety toed shoes, and other PPE as required by the location.
TAIT Benefits:
- Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions (HDHP plans)
- Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical & Dependent Care)
- Employer-paid life insurance with optional supplemental coverage
- Employer-paid Short-term with optional long-term disability insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Paid parental leave
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Wellness stipends
- Voluntary benefits (e.g., accident, critical illness)
- Paid vacation and 12 holidays
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