Technical Designer - Live Entertainment

Stories Illuminated; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401k with 4% Matching

Life Insurance

Long Term Disability Insurance

Travel with United Airlines

Job summary

Stories Illuminated is seeking a Designer to craft immersive lighting, sound, and visual experiences for clients like Netflix, Disney, Google, and The Wynn Las Vegas. The candidate will lead design efforts across live events and installations, collaborating with creative and technical teams to deliver high-impact experiences.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a design discipline or 5+ years of related work, strong VectorWorks skills, and proficiency with CAD tools and production software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in theatrical, architectural, or film/television design discipline or minimum 5 years related work experience.
• Portfolio of creative projects for well known brands/venues.
• CAD drafting, programming, building systems design coursework/experience.
• Experience in Architectural, Live Event, Install Systems/Integration, TV/Film, Experiential Marketing, Concerts.
• Proficient in VectorWorks; experience with AutoCAD/SketchUp/Photoshop/Asana/Google Suite preferred.
• Proficiency in EOS, MA, Resolume, QLab.
• Experience creating and managing project budgets.
• Ability to explain creative and technical ideas to diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Run projects from proposal to post-mortem, owning design, budget, installation, execution, and client satisfaction.
• Craft creative decks and lead design meetings with internal and client teams.
• Pre-production: proposals, RFPs, meetings, site visits; draft plans and renderings; manage budgets.
• Production: plan logistics, rentals, deliveries, and labor needs; hands-on work on site.
• Post-production: coordinate invoicing and post-mortems for learnings.
• Provide on-site and off-site client support and troubleshooting.
• Cultivate potential clients and new projects whenever possible.

Skills

Lighting design

Lead designer

Budget management

Client collaboration

Project prioritization

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in theatrical/architectural/film design

Tools

VectorWorks

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Photoshop

Asana

Google Suite

EOS

MA

Resolume

QLab

Job description

Stories Illuminated is looking for a Designer to create magic with us using light, sound, video, and special effects. We develop experiences and attractions for clients including Netflix, Paramount, Disney, MTV, Meta, Samsung, Absolut, The Magic Castle, Google, and The Wynn Las Vegas. See our work: storiesilluminated.com/portfolio

Designers at Stories Illuminated (SIE) take on creative and technical responsibilities for live entertainment and immersive projects of varying scope. They move seamlessly between acting as Lead Designer for assigned projects and collaborating with our creative and technical teams to support collective efforts. We are looking for self-motivated and trustworthy candidates who can work independently, prioritize, and delegate.

Responsibilities

• Run projects smoothly from proposal to post-mortem—taking responsibility for design, budget, installation, execution, and client satisfaction.
• Craft creative decks and lead design meetings, both internal and client-facing.
• Pre-Production: Generate proposals and RFPs; schedule and manage project meetings and site visits; draft lighting, production and schematic plans in VectorWorks or delegate to associates as needed; create visual renderings; meet creative deadlines to keep project teams on track; develop project budgets and track expenses; work with operations on staffing and planning.
• Production: Specify production logistics including rentals, deliveries, and labor needs; participate in hands-on work both in the office and on site.
• Post-Production: Work with finance team on client invoicing and adders; schedule and run post-mortems to document key learnings for future projects.
• On-site and Off-site client support and troubleshooting.
• Cultivate potential clients and projects whenever possible.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a theatrical, architectural, or film/television design discipline or minimum 5 years related work experience required.
• Portfolio of creative projects completed for well known brands and venues
• Coursework and/or experience in CAD drafting, programming, building systems design
• Experience in one of the following required: Architectural, Live Event, Install Systems & Integration, Television/Film, Experiential Marketing, Concerts
• Proficient in VectorWorks required
• Experience with AutoCAD, SketchUp, Photoshop, Asana, and Google Suite preferred
• Proficiency preferred in one of the following programs: EOS, MA, Resolume, QLab
• Experience creating and administering project budgets
• Able to explain creative and technical ideas to teams of varying background/experience

Salary: $80,000-$90,000 annually

About You

• Strong background and interest in lighting design
• Interest in all entertainment design disciplines (audio, projection, special effects)
• Comfortable delegating tasks and leading teams
• Friendly and trustworthy demeanor
• Collaborative-driven individual well versed with working on interdisciplinary teams
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt in a fast-paced environment
• Available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Available for occasional travel to be onsite, both locally and out of town

ABOUT US

At Stories Illuminated we are storytellers. With an emphasis on Blue Sky Thinking, we utilize the creative technologies of lighting, sound, video, and special effects to create magic for every project and bring innovation to every design. Collaborative-driven, our process focuses on the creative interactions between clients, brands, studios, technologists, and designers. Our team works on a range of creative installations including: Experiential Marketing, Live Events, Immersive Interactive Experiences, Multi-camera Television, Festivals, Corporate Events & Trade Shows, Theater/Dance, Concerts, Architectural Installations, and Themed Attraction Installations.

We encourage continual learning, investigation, and reflection within our team to inspire new perspectives and create revolutionary solutions. Stories Illuminated’s goal is for our team to become the best version of themselves while telling special stories throughout the world.

Be Encouraged

• Learn New Technologies
• Earn Certifications or Endorsements
• Position Advancement
• Inclusive Environment where Everyone is Welcome
• Employer Sponsored Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401k with 4% Matching
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Travel in style on United Airlines and stay in Marriott Hotels
• Collaborative workshop environment in Glendale
• Our office is fully stocked for productivity, from snacks and coffee to tools and equipment