Projectionist

Smithsonian Institution; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC seeks a Projectionist to operate IMAX and digital cinema projectors, A/V systems, and related equipment across venues including the National Mall theatres and Udvar-Hazy Center.

The role requires weekend/holiday availability, strong technical skills, and ability to travel between Smithsonian theater locations; associate degree with 1 year experience preferred. Trust Fund position with standard Smithsonian benefits.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or equivalent; 6 months to 1 year of related experience.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and evenings to support 364-day schedule.
• Familiar with audio/visual equipment and basic service/repair skills.
• Experience operating cinema and/or digital dome theater systems.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain projection and A/V equipment across venues.
• Perform routine maintenance, adjust lamps and filters as needed.
• Escort vendors during preventive maintenance and repairs.
• Interact professionally with patrons and museum staff.
• Maintain inventory of theater content and media assets.

Skills

AV equipment operation

Cinemas projection

Dome theater tech

Patron interaction

Education

Associate's degree

Tools

Cinema projectors

Digital dome systems

Theater lighting systems

Job description

Projectionist

Application Deadline: 18 September 2026

Department: Smithsonian Enterprises

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Theater Technical Manager

Compensation: $50,000 - $52,500 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: 09/01/2026

CLOSING DATE: 09/18/2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC Metro Area

Position sensitivity and risk: Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions? Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

Our Projectionists operate IMAX dual laser 3D and conventional digital cinema projectors, various audio/visual equipment (including a range of ADA equipment), digital dome projection and sound systems, PowerPoint and similar presentation projectors, meeting room A/V systems, theater and planetarium audio and lighting systems, computers, and other audio/visual systems, as needed. Projectionists may work in a variety of locations as assigned. The theaters include the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater and Northrup Grumman Planetarium (National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC) and at the Airbus IMAX Theater (National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly VA), and other work locations if needed.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and maintains knowledge and skills used to operate existing and new equipment. Studies, understands, and follows policies and procedures related to the theaters, including related technical and safety issues.
• Follows a very flexible work schedule that may include early mornings, late nights, or occasional overnight work.
• Notifies supervisor immediately in the event of any problem with operation of any piece of equipment or system that affects the quality of shows.
• Provides routine technical maintenance of selected projectors and A/V systems, such as changing projection lamps, cleaning filters, and other tasks as needed/required.
• Escorts and assists vendors during preventive maintenance and emergency repair sessions.
• Professionally interacts with theater patrons and museum visitors as well as co-workers and associates. Answers questions and completes other duties as assigned.
• Maintains and updates an inventory of theater content on hand including hard disk drives and other media.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Associate's degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two-year College or technical school; and six months to one-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to work weekends and holidays, as well as weekdays and evenings, is required in order to meet the demands of the Smithsonian Theaters 364-day-per-year public schedule and schedule of special events.
• One year of general experience in the operation and maintenance of audio/visual equipment or one year experience as a professional digital dome theater console operator is required.
• Must be familiar with audio/visual equipment and able to perform basic service and repair, and operate a wide range of electrical, electronic, and optical equipment.
• Must be experienced operating cinema and/or digital dome and theater sound and lighting systems.
• Must demonstrate an ability to readily acquire new skills and learn on the job.
• Must be able to travel between all of the Smithsonian Theater locations on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and Chantilly, Virginia.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo