Senior Manager, Ride & Show Engineering - Ride & Show Controls - UK Project

Universal Orlando Resort; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading theme park entertainment company is seeking a Senior Manager for Ride & Show Engineering. This role encompasses technical management for attractions, ensuring safety, and vendor oversight. Ideal candidates have 7+ years in ride control systems and strong skills in schedule and contract management. The position is based in Orlando, Florida, with a competitive compensation package.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of vendor management experience in field installation.
• 7+ years in direct theme park-specific technical roles.
• Ability to interpret technical instructions and manage complex tasks.

Responsibilities

• Provides technical management for attractions and systems.
• Ensures safety standards for Show and Ride equipment.
• Leads communication with project teams and vendors.

Skills

Technical management

Vendor management

Schedule analysis

Contract management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in applicable technical field

Job description

Senior Manager, Ride & Show Engineering - Ride & Show Controls - UK Project

Join to apply for the Senior Manager, Ride & Show Engineering - Ride & Show Controls - UK Project role at Universal Creative

At Universal Creative, we design, develop and deliver the most compelling entertainment experiences imaginable to drive growth for Universal Destinations & Experiences 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 SUMMARY

This role is associated with the proposed Universal destination in Bedford, UK. Successful candidates will spend time at the Universal Creative Headquarters in Orlando, and at the site in Bedford.

Provides technical management, inclusive of budget and schedule, for an attraction or attractions. Responsible for the successful specification, bid/award, design, production, installation, and acceptance testing of Ride and/or Show systems, to include Ride Control, and/or Show Control Systems. Role may have multiple direct reports who manage multiple aspects of an attraction.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensures all Show and Ride equipment maintains the highest level of safety in accordance with Universal Specifications, accepted manufacturing practices and applicable standards.
• Provides technical guidance and vendor management of the design, fabrication and day‑to‑day detailed installation, test, and adjust activities in the field. Vendor management includes participation in all aspects of both technical and project / contract management as it applies to vendor contracts, directives, and change orders.
• Oversees all technical interaction with other project team members, vendors, sub‑contractors, and other relevant 3rd parties involved with Show and Ride systems with a focus on Ride Control systems. Develops an open working relationship with the facility & construction team and vendors to ensure a clear line of communication regarding installation, test, and adjust activities. Builds strong team cohesion and motivation within the attraction technical team.
• Creates scope of work documentation and awards contracts to vendors based on quantitative requirements derived from interpreting creative intent and employing Universal Specifications. Leads enforcement of Show and Ride technical and safety principles to provide a quality product and necessary deliverables.
• Advises, coordinates, and is accountable for the status and engineering quality of Show & Ride systems, including areas of risk or potential future risks.
• 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

• 5+ Years: Required Vendor Management experience with significant in‑field installation related experience. 3‑5 Years: Preferred experience with contract management and practices in the theme park and/or construction industries. 7‑10 Years: Required related experience in scenic systems. Theme Park‑specific experience is highly preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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

7+ years’ experience in direct theme park‑specific technical/engineering roles supporting ride 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.