Lighting Designer (Project-Based Role)

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Meow Wolf opens portals of possibility. Come as you are! 

We are individuals who inspire creativity in people's lives through art and exploration, so that our combined imaginations can transform the world we live in. We create immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences into fantastic realms of story and exploration.  Our Vision is to be the world’s leading creative company, reimagining the paradigm of art and storytelling, to make a positive difference in the world.  

We share a strong commitment to Belonging through our values of: 

• Collaborative Creativity: We believe the act of creating together amplifies possibilities.

• Provocative Playfulness:  We celebrate the unexpected because it is the doorway to discovery.

• Outsiders Welcome: We are all outsiders at heart, and we create space for everyone to feel like they belong.

• Authentic Compassion: We are “kind punks” - supportive to each other and standing up for what we believe in.

• Audacious Courage: We have the courage to radically reinvent ourselves to push the boundaries of art.

If this all sounds like YOU, read on….

Job Description:

Job Disclosures: 

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.

Job Summary:

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 of spaces for our exhibitions, events, elements, concerts, pop-ups and other projects. As a member of  the Audio, Video and Lighting team, which is part of the Exhibitions Technical Arts department, you’ll impart your lighting expertise in developing a certain mood, steering the attention of your audience in the right direction or establishing the right kind of special effects, all while keeping the creative intent of the project intact. 

As a Lighting Designer, collaborating with other team members to craft the desired result is paramount. You’ll partner closely with project leads and show managers to determine the scope of work, establish work priorities and communicate ongoing work status. Additionally, you’ll join forces with project stakeholders  for creative direction, design, and product installation, respectively, while also developing relationships with vendors for contract work. 

A Lighting Designer is a true subject matter expert in their medium, bringing “to light”  “brilliant” approaches that will yield specific results to achieve both technical and artistic outcomes. 

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

Key Responsibilities:

• 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 impleme