Exhibit Lighting Specialist

Job Title:
Exhibit Lighting Specialist

Posting Date: August 2026

Job Department: Exhibit Fabrication & Operations

Schedule: Full Time

Job Type: On-site

Location: National Aquarium Pier 3 501 E Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202/ACRC 901

E. Fayette St Baltimore, MD 21202

The National Aquarium is seeking an Exhibit Lighting Specialist to maintain and document all internal exhibit lighting systems. This individual will work on tasks ranging from re-lamping fixtures to DMX programming, topology design, and troubleshooting. A secondary expectation of this individual is to work with the current team of exhibit builders, assisting in the fabrication and maintenance of interpretive (dry, public space) exhibit lighting components as well as live (wet, in-tank, Back of House) installations.

This position is paid hourly, and schedule flexibility is important, as early starting times and late after-hours work are occasionally required.

• Assist in maintaining existing live-display components, primarily exhibit lighting but also including some habitat décor and Back of House elements.
• Fabrication duties include sustained and potentially rigorous physical activity under varied site and workshop conditions, which may involve hazardous materials, working at heights, or other challenges.
• Participate in product selection, customization, installation, and maintenance of gallery exhibit lighting.
• Assist in the fabrication and installation of new or renovated interpretive exhibits.
• Assist with the daily maintenance of the exhibits; including but not limited to; cleaning fixtures, soldering wires, re-lamping of exhibit lights/panels/boxes, storage, and inventory. Participate in preventative maintenance, condition assessment, lifecycle planning, and replacement prioritization for exhibit lighting systems.
• May assist in producing working scale models and/or presentation scale models. Bench testing fixtures.
• Adhere to all institutional safety procedures, which pertain to assigned tasks, proper use of shop tools and routine upkeep of shop spaces and related work sites.
• Participate in material purchases, maintains accurate financial records of these activities, and works within budget boundaries.
• Maintain accurate documentation of all systems; including records of specific workload activities, system documentation, fixture inventories, physical locations, control addresses, network/DMX topology, programming information, maintenance history and replacement needs.
• Gather existing site or project related data in the form of organized and legible lists, descriptions, dimensioned sketches/diagrams, etc.
• Research materials, fabrication methods, techniques, prototyping and testing of lighting, etc., as directed by supervisor(s)
• Communication with outside vendors/technicians and technical assistance.
• Participate in achieving goals and project deadlines set by supervisor; this may include flexibility in schedule to accommodate irregular working hours or pre-approved over-time to accomplish specific tasks/activities.
• Fully accountable for personal professional behavior, self-direction and support in a team-oriented environment.
• Must be safe, organized and practice responsible conduct with all shop spaces, tools, materials, institutional vehicles, and personal safety equipment.
• Participate in departmental SDS accounting and required HAZCOM responsibilities.
• Support company mission.
• Adhere to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

• 3-7 years of experience in exhibits, theater, architectural or production lighting (or similar field)
• Candidates are required to submit documentation and/or photos of previous work along with a cover letter…