CoSTAR Technical Operations Manager

Royal Holloway University of London; Egham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK is seeking a Technical Operations Manager to optimize the technical infrastructure for innovative projects at the CoSTAR Stage. This role involves managing a multidisciplinary team, overseeing complex technical operations, and integrating cutting-edge technologies in a collaborative environment. Strong experience in media technology and proven leadership in technical settings are essential. The position is based in Egham, with travel expected.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Training and development opportunities

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Free parking

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex technical operations in a media technology or R&D environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of AV, IT, and stage systems.
• Adept at managing multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of studio technicians and engineers.
• Oversee commissioning, maintenance, and optimisation of studio systems.
• Coordinate workflows between in-house teams and suppliers.

Skills

Leadership in technical operations

Technical knowledge of AV

Hands-on with Unreal Engine

Team management in innovative settings

Problem-solving and continuous improvement

Tools

Unreal Engine

Disguise

Job description

Full‑Time, Permanent

The role:

We are seeking a highly skilled and collaborative Technical Operations Manager to lead and optimise the technical infrastructure and operations of the CoSTAR Stage at Pinewood Studios – the flagship facility of the UK’s National R&D Lab for Creative Technology.

This is an exceptional opportunity to play a central role in the delivery of world‑class technical operations that underpin cutting‑edge research and development in virtual production, AI, immersive media and converged creative technologies.

You will recruit and lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers, technicians and external suppliers to ensure operational excellence, technical integration and continuous improvement across all aspects of the CoSTAR Stage’s technical systems and facilities.

Working closely with the Director of Technology and Studio Manager, you will ensure the seamless coordination of hardware, software and network infrastructure, supporting innovation and production workflows across the CoSTAR National Lab and its partners.

About the National R&D Lab:

The CoSTAR National Lab for R&D in Creative Technology is the largest ever investment in creative industries R&D in UK history: a £51.1m programme led by Royal Holloway, University of London to develop a National R&D Lab for creative technologies to ensure the UK’s screen and performance industries have innovation infrastructure needed to compete globally. Our consortium brings together world‑leading research teams from media production, psychology, business and drama at Royal Holloway, Creative‑AI at University of Surrey; and Creative (Games) Technologies at Abertay University; as well as the professional training at the National Film & Television School. By partnering with Pinewood Studios, BT and Disguise, the CoSTAR National R&D Lab will place R&D at the heart of UK storytelling and storytelling at the heart of R&D.

What you will be doing

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of studio technicians, systems engineers and creative technologists to ensure technical and operational excellence.
• Oversee commissioning, maintenance and optimisation of studio and production systems, ensuring reliability, security and compliance.
• Coordinate workflows between in‑house teams and suppliers, managing schedules, SLA and performance reviews.
• Develop and document operational procedures, workflows and escalation processes in collaboration with the Studio Manager.
• Forecast technical resource requirements and align operational goals with CoSTAR’s strategic objectives.
• Integrate new R&D technologies (including AI and immersive systems) into the Lab’s core infrastructure.
• Promote innovation, inclusivity and sustainability across all aspects of technical operations.

You should apply if you:

• Have significant experience leading complex technical operations within a media technology, R&D, or virtual production environment.
• Demonstrate a strong technical knowledge of AV, IT and stage systems, with proven ability to integrate and optimise complex infrastructures.
• Possess hands‑on understanding of Unreal Engine, Disguise or similar real‑time and immersive production tools.
• Are adept at managing multidisciplinary teams, suppliers and stakeholders in fast‑paced, innovative settings.
• Are a strategic thinker with a practical approach to problem‑solving and continuous improvement.
• Are committed to advancing equality, diversity, inclusion and sustainability within the creative technology sector.

In return we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Training and development opportunities
• Pension scheme with generous employer contribution
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of eyesight testing.
• Free parking

Additional information

This post is initially based in Egham, Surrey, but with the expectation of significant working time at the National Lab located within the region and some national travel expected.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is a priority for CoSTAR. As such, we actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are especially keen to recruit people from groups currently under‑represented in creative technology including women, non‑binary and disabled people and ethnic minority / global majority candidates.

We also aim to remove barriers to our recruitment process and invite applicants to contact us on [e-mail] if you require any reasonable adjustments or support with your application.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact [e-mail]

The RHUL Recruitment Team can be contacted with queries by email at: [e-mail]

Please quote the reference: 1125-289

Closing Date: 23:59, 8 December 2025

Interview Date: Online and In‑person interviews will take place in December 2025 and January 2026.