Manager Entertainment Technical

NBCUniversal•Universal City, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Technical Manager – Entertainment Technical is responsible for the planning, management, execution, and delivery of technical entertainment projects, live shows, special events, seasonal offerings, and other assigned initiatives at Universal Studios Hollywood. This role serves as the technical lead and primary point of coordination between Entertainment, Technical Services, Creative, Operations, Safety, vendors, contractors, and regulatory agencies to ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with creative intent, operational requirements, compliance standards, schedules, and budgets. The Technical Manager provides technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle, including design development, fabrication, installation, commissioning, operational readiness, and lifecycle support. This position is accountable for delivering high-quality entertainment experiences while ensuring compliance with all applicable codes, jurisdictional requirements, and company standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Production, Entertainment Technology, Construction Management, Project Management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum 7 years of experience in special events, theatrical production, themed entertainment, live shows, or related technical production environments.
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing projects, technical teams, or production activities.
Demonstrated experience delivering complex entertainment projects involving multiple stakeholders, vendors, and operational partners.
Strong field experience supporting fabrication, installation, commissioning, and operational turnover activities.
Strong leadership and team coordination skills.
Strong technical knowledge of entertainment systems, scenic systems, electrical systems, show systems, and audio/video technologies.
Working knowledge of entertainment production methodologies, equipment, and technologies.
Experience interpreting construction documents, engineering packages, technical specifications, and fabrication drawings.
Ability to drive execution in fast-paced environments with changing priorities and accelerated schedules.
Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across all organizational levels.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CAD software.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of permitting processes, jurisdictional requirements, and regulatory compliance.
Experience working within union environments.
Proven ability to deliver projects through flawless execution and cross-functional collaboration.
Strong balance of technical expertise, leadership capability, and project delivery focus.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, development, and execution of entertainment projects, special events, live shows, atmosphere offerings, and seasonal activations.
Develop and implement project execution strategies that achieve creative, operational, financial, and schedule objectives.
Direct and manage all technical aspects of assigned projects from concept development through operational turnover.
Identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and drive resolution of issues impacting scope, budget, schedule, quality, or compliance.
Provide technical leadership across architecture and engineering integration, show systems, scenic systems, electrical systems, audio/video technologies, and other project-specific disciplines.
Lead technical reviews of design packages, fabrication documents, specifications, engineering submittals, installation plans, and vendor deliverables.
Develop technical solutions that support both creative intent and operational requirements.
Provide technical drafting, design support, and documentation development as required.
Ensure technical integration across all project disciplines to support constructability, maintainability, reliability, and long-term operational success.
Develop and maintain technical schedules, staffing plans, resource requirements, and project execution strategies.
Communicate project status, risks, milestones, and mitigation plans to leadership and stakeholders.
Support project budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning activities.
Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory and compliance agencies, including Building & Safety, Fire Department, and other authorities having jurisdiction.
Lead permitting, plan reviews, inspections, approvals, documentation, and project closeout requirements.
Ensure all work complies with applicable codes, regulatory requirements, internal standards, and jurisdictional requirements.
Partner with Engineering, Safety, and Operations teams to ensure successful compliance throughout all project phases.
Ensure all project activities are executed in accordance with company safety standards, regulatory requirements, and operational procedures.
Promote a strong safety culture throughout planning, fabrication, installation, and operational phases.
Ensure final products meet established artistic, production, quality, and compliance standards.
Act as the primary technical representative for internal and external partners.
Facilitate cross-functional alignment to support efficient decision-making and successful project delivery.
Translate technical requirements into actionable project plans and communicate project status to stakeholders at all organizational levels.
Maintain effective collaboration with internal and external partners throughout project execution.
Manage technical coordination with vendors, fabricators, consultants, contractors, and specialty service providers.
Lead production reviews both on-site and at vendor facilities to verify quality, schedule adherence, contractual compliance, and technical requirements.
Provide field leadership during fabrication, installation, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
Monitor project progress and drive timely resolution of technical, logistical, and installation-related challenges.
Lead technical turnover activities and support transition from project execution to operations and maintenance teams.
Ensure project documentation, training materials, maintenance requirements, and operational support resources are complete and properly transferred.
Support post-installation evaluation and continuous improvement initiatives.