Location: Highland Park, NJ
Position Type: Full-time, salaried
Contact: careers@stagesconsultants.com
Position Objective
The Theatre Systems Designer / Drafter will apply knowledge of stage equipment, stage machinery, and/or performance lighting systems to support the firm’s theatre planning and theatre systems design work. This role requires strong drafting skills, practical technical theatre knowledge, attention to detail, and the ability to coordinate across multiple disciplines.
The position will work in collaboration with project leaders and firm leadership to develop drawings, details, and technical documentation for performance spaces. We are looking for someone who can follow direction well, identify coordination issues before they become problems, ask good questions, and contribute to practical design solutions. The right candidate will take ownership of their work and care about getting it right.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Preparing stage machinery, rigging, and performance lighting drawings in Autodesk Revit
- Developing schematic design, design development, and construction document drawings under the supervision of senior staff
- Assisting with the development, integration, and coordination of specialized theatrical construction details
- Coordinating theatre systems information with architectural, structural, electrical, and other consultant drawings
- Reviewing drawings for consistency, completeness, and coordination
- Preparing sketches, diagrams, schedules, and other technical documentation
- Participating in internal project coordination and quality control reviews
- Preparing written correspondence, meeting notes, and technical narratives
- Using Microsoft 365 tools, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in theatre, architecture, technical theatre, theatrical design/technology, or equivalent experience in a related theatrical, technical, or design field.
- Practical experience in technical theatre, theatrical production, stage equipment, performance lighting, rigging, or related fields
- Experience with computer-aided drafting
- Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work effectively in a deadline-driven environment
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word
- Ability to work collaboratively while also taking responsibility for assigned tasks
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Autodesk Revit
- Substantial knowledge of one or more of the following: stage machinery, theatrical rigging, or performance lighting systems
- Experience preparing design or construction documents
- Familiarity with architectural drawing sets and consultant coordination
- Experience with theatre systems specifications, equipment layouts, or technical design documentation
- Interest in learning additional areas of theatre planning, performance space design, and specialized theatrical systems
Growth Opportunities
This is a consultant-level position with opportunity for advancement. Responsibility and independence will increase as capability, judgment, and initiative are demonstrated. We promote from within and value people who are invested in building long-term expertise.
The position offers opportunities to learn and apply additional skills, including theatre planning, space planning, performance lighting infrastructure, stage equipment design, specification writing, construction documentation, and equipment scope development. We are a principal-led firm doing complex, meaningful work, and the right person will have room to grow into it.
Further Information
This is a full-time staff position located in our office in Highland Park, New Jersey. The anticipated starting salary range is $65,000 to $90,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Stages offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k), paid time off, and other benefits.
About Stages
Founded in 2011, Stages Consultants is a theatre planning and acoustics design firm based in Highland Park, New Jersey. Since then, Stages has grown from two founding partners to a staff of fifteen full-time employees, supported by part-time staff and specialized consultants.
We have completed well over 250 contracts and are currently involved in approximately $1 billion in design and construction projects. Our work includes new construction, historic restoration, and renovation projects for high school auditoria, university and professional theatres, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, concert halls, and other cultural facilities throughout the United States and abroad.
Stages was founded to help clients, architects, and building owners create thoughtful, practical, and inspiring performance spaces. That mission still drives everything we do.
Stages Consultants, LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.