Scenic Install Lead

The Escape Game•Smyrna, TN

4d•$27 - $30•Hybrid

About The Position

The Installation Department is responsible for the deployment of The Escape Game Products through various project types, including but not limited to New Store Installs, Store Expansions, Infills, Reskins, and Renovations. The Scenic Lead is TEG's subject-matter expert for scenic and art finishes across our game portfolio, splitting time between leading scenic work on-site and supporting the scenic program from HQ. On the road, this role leads and executes scenic treatments, set dressing, and finish work, trains new internal and external scenic artists, and finds ways to save time on-site. Off the road, this role owns the game-specific Scenic Guides and documentation, supports scenic planning for upcoming projects, and assists leadership and Project Coordinators with travel, logistics, material packouts, and ordering. The Scenic Lead has the integral responsibility of Delivering Epic Interactive Experiences to our guests through the successful execution of our product's look and feel.

Requirements

A love for escape rooms and interactive media
[2+] years of experience in scenic painting, themed construction, set/theatre production, or a related trade
Portfolio or demonstrated skill in faux finishing, aging/distressing, color matching, and HVLP spray work
Experience with sculpting/texturing materials (foams, caulks, fillers, Dryvit or similar) preferred
Experience training or leading others in an informal structure
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
Contagiously positive, can-do attitude
Loves to “win.”
Strong communication skills - written, on the phone, in-person
Proficient at spreadsheets & document creation (Google Workspace); comfortable writing step-by-step guides with photos
Comfortable with travel booking, ordering, and administrative tasks
Willingness to learn and grow skills
General business acumen
Ability to read and interpret floor plans, elevations, and installation/scenic guides
Comfortable with power tools (drills, impact drivers, hammer drills, multitools, circular saws)
Ability to work safely with paints, solvents, and spray equipment, including wearing a respirator
Ability to lift/carry up to 75 pounds individually
Able to stand, walk, climb ladders, and navigate tight spaces for extended periods of time

Responsibilities

When on-site: Coordinate the efforts of all scenic artists on-site, internal and contracted, working through each game’s Scenic Guide in its efficient order of tasks and completing its Final Checklist
Set daily scenic assignments and sequencing with the Site Supervisor (e.g., smoking before set dressing, floor treatments at end of day to allow dry time, aging fully cured before washes)
Coordinate scenic work with carpentry, masonry, flooring, trim, and tech to avoid rework
Perform quality checks on all scenic work under game lighting and lead scenic punch-list completion
Communicate daily scenic progress, issues, material needs, and schedule impacts to the Site Supervisor and Project Leadership
Assist with general installation work as needed (trim, wall panels, finish work, punch-work, etc.)
When off-site: Work with Site Supervisors to get the most out of the scenic skillset scheduled on-site: plan the order of tasks, assign them by each artist’s strengths, and identify gaps before the crew arrives
Provide remote support to scenic crews on-site (technique questions, color matches, photo reviews of completed work)
HVLP spray work: smoking walls, corners, seams, and wall-to-floor edges at varied fan widths and opacities
Aging and weathering: dry brushing, paint/poly washes, dirt washes, black washes, drips, water damage, scorch marks, and "saucing" hardware
Faux finishes: faux rust (layered Van Dyke / Brandywine mixes), rag rolling, glazing, ice glaze, frost and condensation effects, moss, and dry-brushed stone and root highlights
Custom color matching with Sherwin-Williams paints, flat paint / polyurethane mixes, Mixol pigments, and touch-up lacquers
Sculpting and blending: gap & crack foam, EPS foam, Froth Pak, Free Form, Dryvit, mortar repair caulk, and Bondo to hide seams, hardware, and gaps in rock walls, snow, and themed surfaces
Specialty effects such as epoxy resin icicles, snow piles with hard shells in guest paths, and food/kitchen grime (grease, marinara splatter, dirty sink water)
Floor treatments with Tread-Plex (sponge-roller texture, sponging, HVLP edge softening)
Murals and hand-painted details using artist acrylics; apply vinyl, stencils, perspective vinyls, and posters straight, level, and per placement guides
Wall and component repair: patching, sanding, priming, caulking seams, and touch-ups using foam rollers/brushes for a mark-free finish
Wood finishing: stain touch-ups (Dark Walnut, Red Mahogany, Golden Oak, etc.), touch-up pens, and putty
Paint doors, frames, and components to spec (e.g., Rustoleum Silver, lacquer kits)
Unpack prop totes and place props per Scenic Guide photos, elevations, and placement notes
Secure props so they hold up to guest play: screws with fender washers, JB Weld epoxy, VHB tape, tapcons, construction adhesive, and lath screws
Follow game-specific rules (loose vs. secured items, nothing beyond the shelf plane, clue props in exact locations, out-of-reach placement)
Place and fluff foliage, hang décor, and fill empty spaces so rooms feel full and lived-in
Match each room's intended story and level of wear (e.g., lived-in vs. grimy vs. cold) as defined in the Scenic Guide overview
Identify and implement improvements that reduce on-site scenic labor hours (e.g., pre-finishing and pre-aging in shop, kit-of-parts finishes, pre-mixed washes and color matches, better task sequencing, tool and material changes)
Track time spent on recurring scenic tasks by game to measure the impact of improvements
Bring field feedback to Production, Creative Engineering, and Project Leadership to improve products and processes upstream
Recommend and test new materials, products, and techniques
Train and onboard new scenic artists - internal team members and external/contracted scenic resources - on TEG techniques using the Scenic Guides
Provide on-site coaching on scenic techniques, standards, safety (respirators, ventilation, HVLP), and workflow
Assess scenic skill levels of internal and external resources and provide feedback to leadership for staffing decisions
Develop training materials (sample boards, finish recipes, step-by-step references, video walkthroughs) to support consistent results across crews
Own and maintain the TEG Scenic Guides for each game (e.g., The Heist, Playground, Prison Break, Ruins, Timeliner, Murder with a Side of Meatballs, Spec Ops, Cosmic Crisis, The Depths, Yeti) - including paint lists, material lists, efficient task order, final checklists, reference photos, and change logs
Update guides with field changes and lessons learned after each project; create guides for new games and reskins
Assist with scenic planning for upcoming projects: scope review, labor-hour estimates, crew size recommendations, and finish/material takeoffs based on past project data
Build and maintain a scenic knowledge base / experience pool (finish recipes, hours by game, lessons learned, photos)
Participate in project kickoffs and debriefs; capture and follow through on scenic action items
Build, pack, and restock Scenic Carts and game-specific scenic packouts (paints, touch-up kits, props, vinyls, foliage, consumables) for assigned and upcoming projects
Order and track scenic materials (Sherwin-Williams paints, stains, polys, foams, adhesives, tools, consumables) and coordinate delivery to shop or site
Maintain scenic inventory and par levels at HQ, including HVLP equipment and touch-up kits
Organize and sort returning scenic project items after each trip
Assist leadership and Project Coordinators with travel booking for internal and external resources (airfare, lodging, ground transportation, etc.)
Assist with project planning, scheduling, and logistics coordination (load-in, load-out, hotshots, deliveries)
Assist with packing and inventory of install and project job-boxes
Assist with ordering and logistics of general project materials
Assist the Production Facilities, Warehouse, and Store Support as needed while off the road