Audio/Visual Design @ Project Manager

Xtek Partners; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Xtek Partners is seeking an AV Design & Project Manager in Dublin/Columbus, Ohio. You will design, specify, and oversee AV systems from concept through installation and handoff, blending CAD/design work with active site coordination.

The role is hybrid—one day in CAD/design, the next on a job site coordinating subcontractors and field teams. Requires 5+ years in commercial AV and CTS preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in commercial AV, with design and project management experience.
• Strong knowledge of AV distribution, DSP/control, and conferencing platforms.
• CTS certification (CTS-D/CTS-I) preferred.
• Able to read architectural/electrical drawings and coordinate with GC/electricians/IT.

Responsibilities

• Design commercial AV systems for conference rooms, training spaces, and digital signage.
• Own project budgets, schedules, and subcontractor coordination from kickoff to closeout.
• Serve as primary client point of contact and manage change orders and site logistics.
• Oversee field technicians, run system testing, and coordinate commissioning.
• Prepare scopes of work, BOMs, and pricing inputs for proposals.

Skills

AV design

Project management

Client-facing communication

CTS certification

Reading architectural/electrical plans

Tools

AutoCAD

Visio

D-Tools

Zoom Rooms

Teams Rooms

Cisco systems

Job description

AV Design & Project Manager

Company: Xtek Partners

Location: Dublin / Columbus, Ohio (on-site with travel to job sites)

Reports To: SVP of Technology

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

We're looking for an experienced AV professional who can own projects end-to-end: from initial design and system specification through installation oversight, commissioning, and client handoff. This is a hybrid role - you'll be in CAD/design software one day and running a job site or coordinating subcontractors the next. You'll work closely with our existing security and low-voltage teams, and there's real opportunity to help shape how AV integrates into our broader systems offering as this practice grows.

What You'll Do

Design

• Design commercial AV systems for conference rooms, boardrooms, huddle spaces, training rooms, digital signage, and multi-purpose/event spaces
• Design paging and PA/intercom systems (bell schedules, mass notification, zoned paging) for K-12, commercial, and multi-building campus environments
• Produce system schematics, signal flow diagrams, and equipment schedules (AutoCAD, Visio, or D-Tools/similar)
• Select and specify AV hardware across our core platforms — Atlona (AV distribution/switching), QSC (DSP/control), Shure (audio/microphones), Newline (displays/interactive panels), Epson (projection), ClickShare (wireless presentation), Algo (paging, PA, and intercom systems), Netgear (AV-over-IP networking), and Paragon/Prism (as applicable to project scope)
• Coordinate AV design with electrical, low-voltage cabling, and IT/network infrastructure requirements
• Prepare scopes of work, BOMs, and pricing input for proposals and estimates

Project Management

• Own project budgets, schedules, and subcontractor/vendor coordination from kickoff through closeout
• Serve as primary client point of contact during execution — managing expectations, change orders, and site logistics
• Oversee field technicians and subcontractors during rough-in, trim, and commissioning
• Run system testing, programming verification, and client training at project close
• Manage submittals, RFIs, and as-built documentation

Cross-Functional

• Partner with the security/technology team on projects where AV overlaps with access control, surveillance, or structured cabling
• Help build out repeatable design standards and pricing tools as the AV practice scales

What You Bring

• 5+ years in commercial AV, with demonstrated experience in both system design and project management
• Working knowledge of AV distribution, DSP/control, and conferencing platforms — experience with Atlona, QSC, Shure, Newline, ClickShare, Epson, Algo, Netgear, Paragon, or Prism strongly preferred; video conferencing systems (Zoom Rooms, Teams Rooms, Cisco)
• Experience with paging/PA and mass notification system design (IP-based paging, bell scheduling, zoned announcements)
• Comfort reading architectural/electrical drawings and coordinating with GCs, electricians, and IT
• CTS certification (CTS-D and/or CTS-I strongly preferred)
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, and subcontractors
• Strong client-facing communication — able to run a project meeting and a job site with equal confidence
• Valid driver's license; ability to travel to job sites across Central Ohio

Nice to Have

• Experience in K-12, higher-ed, or government environments (E-rate/prevailing wage familiarity a plus)
• Familiarity with structured cabling and low-voltage standards

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: On the road