Fabrication Floor Manager

The Position

Ideum is seeking a skilled and dedicated Fabrication Floor Manager to lead daily operations in our fabrication shop. This full‑time, on‑site role is essential for maintaining an efficient, clean, and safe facility while ensuring project schedules are met and quality standards upheld.

The Floor Manager works under the direction of the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) and collaborates closely with exhibit designers, producers, technicians, industrial designers, and fabricators to manage workflows, review production readiness, and support the successful execution of one‑of‑a‑kind exhibit components. The role also helps streamline the production of two touch‑table products that are produced in small batches, serving world‑famous museums, zoos, aquariums, and Fortune 500 companies around the globe.

This position does not routinely create fabrication drawings. Instead, it focuses on reviewing, interpreting, and marking up them, coordinating shop activities, and ensuring that both traditional and digital fabrication tools are operational and ready for use. The ideal candidate is an experienced fabricator with a deep understanding of both analog and digital methods and who thrives in a leadership role on the shop floor.

The role is in‑person at Ideum's studios in scenic Corrales, New Mexico (near Albuquerque and an hour from Santa Fe).

• Manage daily scheduling of fabrication work based on project priorities and deadlines.
• Monitor progress and proactively adjust workflows to meet production milestones.
• Maintain clear and regular communication with producers and design leads about project needs, shop capacity, and scheduling constraints.
• Ensure all work aligns with the project scope, fabrication drawings, and quality expectations.

• Maintain all fabrication shop equipment, including traditional woodworking tools, CNC machines, laser cutters, and hand tools.
• Ensure the shop is clean, safe, and organized at all times.
• Schedule preventative maintenance and repairs, and track tool usage and condition.
• Support safety protocols and enforce safe working practices among all staff and collaborators.

• Review and interpret production drawings for completeness and constructability.
• Identify fabrication concerns early and work with designers to resolve challenges before production.
• Ensure adherence to ADA, client, and museum‑grade quality standards.
• Coordinate with shipping and installation teams to support packing and readiness of finished items.

• Provide daily leadership on the shop floor, acting as the primary point of contact for fabrication staff during active builds.
• Mentor junior and mid‑level fabricators, sharing best practices in tool use, material selection, and fabrication methods.
• Support training in both traditional and digital fabrication techniques.
• Encourage a culture of precision, problem‑solving, and accountability.

• Minimum of 5 years’ hands‑on experience in fabrication, including both traditional shop practices and digital fabrication (CNC, laser cutting, etc.).
• Strong familiarity with a range of materials, including wood, plastics, and metals.
• Excellent working knowledge of shop tools and safety protocols.
• Demonstrated experience managing people and coordinating complex build schedules.
• Ability to read and interpret CAD files and fabrication drawings.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across teams.
• Self‑motivated and organized, with the ability to manage shifting priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

• Experience in museum exhibit fabrication or custom fabrication for public environments.
• Knowledge of CAD for drafting and tool paths.
• Familiarity with basic AV integration or mechanical systems.
• OSHA certification or safety training credentials.

We are a multidisciplinary experience‑design firm that focuses on using emerging technologies in creative and unexpected ways. We create visitor‑centric exhibits that evoke wonder, awe, and surprise, and that also tell important stories about science, art, history, and…