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

Universal Orlando Resort; Orlando (FL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Universal Creative in Orlando seeks a Senior Manager, Ride & Show Engineering – Ride & Show Controls for the UK Project. This role leads technical delivery across design, fabrication, installation and testing, coordinating with vendors, contractors and internal teams to ensure safety and reliability of ride systems.

You will supervise a multidisciplinary engineering team, manage schedules and contracts, and drive quality, risk management and environmental health and safety compliance across

Qualifications

• 7+ years in theme park ride/controls engineering.
• Vendor management and contract management experience.
• Ability to interpret complex technical instructions.

Responsibilities

• Ensure ride and show equipment meet safety and universal specs.
• Provide vendor management for design, fabrication, and installation.
• Coordinate with project teams, vendors, and subcontractors on ride control systems.
• Develop scope of work and award contracts to vendors.
• Advise on status and engineering quality of ride systems.
• Ensure EH&S responsibilities are followed.

Skills

Vendor management

Contract management

Show & Ride systems

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering / Computer Science / Software Engineering

Advanced Degree preferred

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.

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.
• Advise, coordinate, 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.