Technical Designer

Overview

About PRG   Production Resource Group (PRG) unites exceptional people and deep production expertise to bring ambitious creative visions to life. As a global production partner across Music & Live TV, Corporate Events & Brand Experiences, TV & Film, Broadway and Sports, we deliver more than 5,000 events a year from 33 locations.   Our teams cover lighting, audio, video, LED, camera, rigging, scenic, automation, broadcast and crew, so wherever you start at PRG, you’ll work alongside specialists in every production discipline. Projects range from a single rental to fully integrated productions, and with a presence across five continents, there’s plenty of room to grow.   At PRG, our people make it possible. Whatever your role, your work shows up in what audiences experience on stage, on screen and beyond.

Responsibilities

The Technical Designer is responsible for the design, management, and development of designs from concept to completion. Designs and develops components for entertainment scenery and machinery design projects under direct supervision. Conceives elegant and profitable design solutions that enhances the artistic as well as functional goals of each project.

• Define the specific performance and artistic requirements for each effect.
• Provide concept designs and layouts.
• Investigate all safety and reliability concerns.
• Complete client’s unresolved aesthetic design issues.
• Provide a reasonable balance between the client’s creative needs and the company’s profitability.
• Generate accurate bills of materials and highlight long lead items that could delay fabrication.
• Interface with production departments to ensure all design and quality goals are met.
• Support and cross train Engineers and Draftspeople in theater design and technology disciplines.
• Provide weekly project updates to design lead/ team.
• Assist development of standardized solutions/re.usable designs

Pre-Production Phase

• Determine design assumptions and life safety issues
• Interface with client/ project manager to finalize aesthetic details and performance intent.
• Participate in Site Surveys to understand space limits/ abilities as needed.

Preliminary Design Phase

• Layout effect geometry using 2D hand sketches or CAD
• Complete preliminary engineering calculations and analysis
• Confirm effect actuation types and power requirements
• Select major mechanical/structural components and materials
• Complete any aesthetic and performance details left unresolved by the client
• Layout effect packaging
• Layout interface of mechanical/structural components with aesthetic elements
• Prepare preliminary facility impacts and/or concept design submittals as required
• Ensure design meets life safety standards
• Ensure design meets owner contractual requirements and client bid specifications
• Propose fabrication techniques and subcontractors as needed; identify & propose potential cost/time saving fabrication strategies
• Continue to identify changes to scope of work for additional client sales
• Continue to identify shortfalls in bid submission that lead to budget and/or schedule overruns

Detailed Design Phase

• Complete final facility impact submission
• Complete site coordination plan and finalize installation strategy with installation director
• Finalize effect geometry and packaging
• Research reusable inventory components
• Complete final engineering calculations and analysis
• Complete final bills of materials and initiate procurement
• Confirm design continues to meet safety, contractual, and code/regulatory requirements
• Create fabrication detail and assembly drawings
• Continue to identify changes to scope of work for additional client sales
• Create final design submittal documentation for approval

Fabrication Phase

• Interface with production departments to guarantee products are fabricated as designed
• Ensure that safety and quality goals are being met in fabrication
• Troubleshoot any difficulties resulting from client, design, or fabrication oversights
• Support installation and site coordination issues as needed

Shipping & Installation Phase

• Continue to support installation and site coordination issues as needed

Qualifications

• Entertainment scenery/machinery design and/or fabrication experience. Fabrication experience is not required but strongly encouraged.
• Mechanical, structural, and/or fluid power design experience.
• AutoCAD 3D computer aided drafting experience. Inventor or SolidWorks is a plus. (3D AutoCAD is the minimum for us)
• Basic knowledge of typical theater equipment and terminology
• Computer literacy with Windows, Excel, Word
• Bachelors degree in technical theater or engineering
• 3-5 years industry experience.
• Good oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Must be self-motivated and able to self-manage time and provide accurate time estimates for technical design work to design leads/project managers
• Ability to work with remote co-workers consistently.

EEO and Disclosure

The pay range for this position is estimated to be $65,000.00-85,000.00. Actual pay to be determined by the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant combined with location and alignment with market data. Additionally, we offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions

PRG is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PRG is a drug-free work environment, pre-employment testing will be required.

This is a safety sensitive position and will require pre-employment drug screening.

Production Resource Group LLC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

PRG cares about the safety of our employees and applicants. PRG does not use chat rooms for job searches or communications. PRG will never request personal information via informal chat platforms or unsecure email. PRG will never ask for money or an exchange of money, banking or other personal information prior to an in-person interview. Be aware of potential scams while job seeking. For information on job scams, visit, https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/JobScams or file a complaint at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.