Manager, Ride & Show Engineering – Show Controls (Expat to Beijing)

Universal Studios

Orlando (FL)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 140,000

Full time

14 days+
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Job summary

Universal Studios in Orlando seeks a technical manager to oversee installation, testing, and budget for ride/show systems, ensuring design and contract compliance.

You will coordinate vendors, review designs, manage scopes of work, and lead production reviews to align with schedule and budget, with 5+ years in theme park tech.

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field is required; advanced degree preferred.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as electrical engineering, computer science, software engineering or mechatronics, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee in-field installation, testing and adjustment of scenic/show systems to contract specs.
  • Review vendor designs and documentation for contractual compliance and oversee testing activities.
  • Create scope of work and award contracts to vendors based on quantitative requirements.
  • Lead design and production reviews at vendor locations to ensure quality and schedule adherence.
  • Develop and manage project schedules and budgets, ensuring alignment with scope and financial targets.
  • Ensure Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities are followed and upheld.

Skills

Schedule analysis
Contract management
Vendor management
Problem solving
Diplomacy/communication
Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/CS/mechatronics

Job description

JOB 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 Ride Control or Show Control Systems.

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 UO policy, procedures, training and team member involvement activities.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

3+ Years: 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.

QUALIFICATIONS

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 organize 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.
EDUCATION

Bachelor's Degree in applicable technical field required (examples include, but are not limited to, electrical engineering, computer science, computer programming, software engineering, mechatronics) or equivalent demonstrated skill and experience; Advanced Degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE

5+ years' experience in direct theme park-specific technical/engineering roles supporting show control equipment required (examples include, but are not limited to, ladder logic, variable frequency drives, motion control systems, control theory) or similar experience in related technical field.

Your talent, skills and experience will be rewarded with a competitive compensation package.

Universal is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Universal Orlando via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from Universal Orlando HR/Recruitment will be deemed the sole property of Universal Orlando. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Universal Orlando as a result of the referral or through other means.

Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2026 Universal Studios. © 2026 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved. EOE

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