Manager, Ride & Show Engineering (Animated Figures) - UK Project

NBCUniversal; Bedford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media and entertainment company seeks a Technical Manager to oversee the design, production, and testing of theme park attractions. The ideal candidate will possess a technical degree, experience in theme park engineering, and strong project management skills. Responsibilities include vendor coordination, schedule management, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and creativity.

Qualifications

• Experience in theme park-specific technical/engineering roles supporting animated figure equipment.
• Project experience within the scenic/entertainment/theme park industry required.
• Knowledge of show and ride systems design or fabrication is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages installation and testing of scenic systems.
• Reviews vendor designs ensuring compliance with specifications.
• Creates scope of work documentation and awards contracts.
• Leads design and production reviews for product quality.
• Develops and oversees project schedules and budgets.
• Participates in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities.

Skills

Ability to interpret technical instructions

Problem defining and data collection

Complex task management

Schedule analysis and contract management

Tact and diplomacy

Adaptability to changing environments

Education

Bachelor's Degree in applicable technical field

Job description

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

At Universal Creative, we design, develop and deliver the most compelling entertainment experiences imaginable to drive growth for Universal Parks & Resorts worldwide. Our innovative attractions, immersive theme parks and world-class resorts fuse art and technology to create new standards in the themed entertainment industry.

Our team members are the driving force behind Universal Creative. With their diverse skills and forward-thinking ideas, our team pushes us beyond the boundaries of what’s possible to achieve the extraordinary. Together, we’re creating a Universe of fun, always ensuring the next thing we do is better than the last thing we did.

Job Description

Position Summary

Provides technical management, inclusive of budget and schedule, for an attraction or attractions under an area of responsibility. Responsible for the successful specification, bid/award, design, production, installation, and acceptance testing of Ride and/or Show systems, to include Animated Figures.

Major Responsibilities

• Manages in-field installation, test and adjustment of scenic systems to ensure compliance with contract specifications. Works with Facility & Construction team and vendors to ensure a clear line of communication regarding installation, test, and adjust activities.
• Reviews designs and documentation from vendors, ensuring compliance with contractual requirements and specifications. Oversees vendor's mock-up, prototype, and acceptance testing efforts to ensure final installed systems meet scope of work and contract specifications.
• Creates scope of work documentation and awards contracts to vendors based on quantitative requirements derived from interpreting creative intent and employing Universal specifications.
• Leads design and production reviews at vendor locations, ensuring product quality, specification conformance, and schedule accuracy.
• Develops and oversees project schedules and budgetary demands. Produces scopes of work and manages vendor progress from design through installation, ensuring alignment with schedule and budget.
• Understand and actively participate in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities by following established UDXpolicy, procedures, training and team member involvement activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in applicable technical field required (examples include, but are not limited to, robotics, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, technical theater) or equivalent demonstrated skill and experience.
• Experience in direct theme park-specific technical/engineering roles supporting animated figure equipment required (examples include, but are not limited to, animated figure systems, prop systems, soft robotics, puppets) or similar experience in related technical field.
• Projects experience within the scenic/entertainment/theme park industry required. Any experience in theme park development, construction, show and ride systems design or fabrication is preferred.

A successful candidate would be able to perform the following to include, but not be limited to:

• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to organise and manage a complex series of tasks and vendor(s) to develop and implement show and ride systems.
• Strength in schedule analysis and contract management required.
• Comfortable Influencing decisions of major nature. High degree of tact & diplomacy to obtain favorable decisions or maintain good will.
• Comfortable working in a non-routine environment with frequently changing situations.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [e-mail].