Lighting Designer; Project

Job Description:

Project-based role with an anticipated duration of 2+ years.

Project-Based Role: This is a project-based position with an anticipated duration of 2+ years.

Location: Santa Fe, NM or remote NY

Compensation: The base annual salary for this position starts at $76,491. Compensation may vary based on candidate location and experience.

Job Purpose: To design and develop show lighting designs and creative lighting experiences for Meow Wolf’s exhibitions, live events, and other projects.

Are you a lighting expert who brings both technical and creative skills to the table when it comes to designing lighting experiences? Come revel in the “spotlight” at Meow Wolf as a Lighting Designer, where you’ll help conceptualize and draft lighting plots for our exhibitions, events, elements, concerts, pop‑ups and other projects. As a member of the Audio, Video and Lighting team, you’ll impart your expertise in developing a certain mood, steering audience attention, and establishing special effects, all while preserving the creative intent of the project.

You will enthusiastically bring a balanced technical and creative prowess to designing Meow Wolf’s lighting experiences, thereby elevating the guest experience.

• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders to inform and understand the overall Creative Intent for Exhibits, Events, Projects, and Elements in order to drive development of the lighting creative intent for these projects.
• Delve into learning Meow Wolf’s design processes and phase deliverables, as well as general keystone technologies.
• Strategically plan then manage the physical lighting integration.
• Program and focus the lighting integration as dictated by creative intent.
• Support installation and document the systems after completion of each project.
• Research cutting‑edge technologies, software, and equipment to better implement and innovate upon creative designs.
• Introduce new processes to lighting design for improved or new workflows.
• Establish relationships with industry vendors for contract work.

• 3 to 5 years of lighting design experience in themed entertainment, immersive art or theater, with a strong balance in both technical and creative skills.
• Experience concealing and integrating fixtures that enhance the environment, without drawing attention to the equipment.
• Experience with architectural lighting but also aware of trends in dynamic lighting, like concert lighting.
• Basic knowledge and experience with immersive group entertainment and/or art curation.
• Excellent self‑starter, driving your own projects and timelines.
• Fearless team member who isn’t afraid to ask questions and has a “go‑getter” approach.
• Open‑mind to a DIY culture and amenable to the ebbs and flows of lighting design.
• Patience and perseverance, able to serve as a teacher to teammates and other departments.
• Adroit at receiving input and information from multiple parties.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication, organizational and creative thinking skills.
• Professional representation of the project and department when working with internal and external partners.

• Google Suite
• Vectorworks Spotlight, Auto Cad, Revit, ETC EOS, ETC Mosaic
• MSD and/or Depence2, WYSIWYG, and Capture Pre‑Visualization software
• Touch Designer and Max/MSP interactive design/development software
• Working knowledge of sACN/Art‑Net/DMX/OSC/IP networking

This is a professional office environment with exposure to noisy areas, dim lighting, strobing lights, special effects, fog machines and small or enclosed spaces. Physical demands include walking, standing, using stairs or elevators, repetitive motions of hands and fingers, vision requirements (close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception), and lifting up to 25 pounds at times.

Full‑time, Monday‑Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. or 10 a.m.–6 p.m. with occasional evenings and weekends as required.

Travel is required: 10‑25 % during design phases, 30 %+ during production and installation phases.

Meow Wolf is an equal‑opportunity employer…