AV Technician

AV Technician at National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a significant renovation project on its campus (called Base Camp), which will be completed in 2026. The public-facing portion of this renovation will be the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration. Components of the new museum will include a state‑of‑the‑art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk‑through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space.

The capstone of the renovation is a one‑of‑a‑kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.

The AV Technician I (Experience Technology) is responsible for the installation, operation, maintenance, and de‑installation of complex audio, video, lighting, and networking hardware for National Geographic Society’s world‑renowned exhibitions and experiences. These include the new permanent exhibitions and spaces at the Museum of Exploration and our world‑renowned traveling exhibitions. The AV Technician I reports to the Manager, Exhibition AV Technology and is accountable for the ongoing installation, de‑installation, hardware maintenance and support of each exhibit to ensure zero downtime.

They are a subject‑matter expert in AV, lighting, and IT solutions required to deploy Permanent & Traveling Exhibitions.

They will work closely with the larger Experience Technology team to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and attention to detail. They will advise the technical design of Base Camp and NGS’s future traveling exhibitions. Travel up to 10 weeks throughout the year for traveling exhibit installations and de‑installations is required.

• Operate audio, video, lighting, and control systems in dynamic and multifunctional spaces for exhibitions and immersive experiences used for marquee, public‑facing, large‑scale events.
• Troubleshoot problems with cutting‑edge, large‑scale, highly visible AVL experiences as needs arise in a dynamic, active space to maintain zero downtime.
• Manage contracted AV labor for permanent, temporary and travelling exhibitions, maintaining NGS’s high standards among project staff.
• Set up, operate, maintain and strike digital sound console for large‑scale music and speaker events.
• Set up, operate, maintain and strike broadcast cameras, broadcast switcher, graphics, video playback and recording for large‑scale events.
• Operate, maintain and troubleshoot exhibition IT network, ensuring uninterrupted audio, video, lighting and control network traffic.
• Operate and maintain site‑wide AVL control system, routing video to proper destinations, controlling site‑wide lighting, adjusting function of spaces from exhibition to event uses, and leveraging reporting and maintenance tracking.
• Leverage industry experience to streamline team operating procedures (SOPs) and practices.
• Work directly with AV Manager to advise technical design and operation of new exhibits.
• During Museum of Exploration construction, gain a deep understanding of site‑wide Audio, Video, Lighting and networking systems and assist in coordination with architectural and integration partners.
• Travel to National Geographic’s touring exhibitions for installation and de‑installation of AV, lighting, IT and control elements.
• Collaborate directly with other Experience Technology teams to ensure all spaces function as intended daily, as well as before, during, and after events occur, providing hardware support as needed.

• Track and report all maintenance and service requests to identify patterns, trends and reduce potential upcoming risks or failures.
• Maintain constant contact with Manager, Exhibition AV Technology to ensure maintenance requests and service are tracked and acted upon.
• Work with the NGS Technology team to ensure network‑related issues are reported and resolved.

Bachelor’s degree in Audiovisual Engineering or a closely related discipline is a plus. Certifications and equivalent experience in related areas will also be considered.