Exhibitions Creative Engineer (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 18+ months.

Location: (On-site) Santa Fe, NM

Compensation: The base salary for this position starts at $80,000.00 USD Annual .  Compensation may vary based on location and experience.  

Exhibitions Creative Engineer 

Job Summary:

The Exhibitions Creative Engineer (CE) is a key member of Meow Wolf’s Creative Technology team, collaborating across art, design, and technical disciplines to develop, program, and integrate interactive elements for immersive exhibition environments. This role combines creativity and engineering expertise to design technical artwork, drive system design, and ensure interactive elements function cohesively within Meow Wolf’s installations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Experience Designers, Audio, Video, and Lighting Designers, Artists, and Technical Directors to design interactive elements.

• Define system architecture, sensor logic, and control flow for interactive behaviors and elements.

• Research, prototype, and test electronic and mechanical systems to validate design viability.

• Program and develop software for microcontrollers and other interactive systems.

• Design and document multimedia hardware and software systems for exhibitions.

• Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for installation and maintenance.

• Finalize programming of all elements and ensure integration with exhibit show controllers.

• Deliver final system code and documentation to Operations Maintenance upon project completion.

• Support installation and troubleshooting during production phases.

• Apply best practices for risk management, safety, and technical reliability.
   

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or a related field preferred.

• 3+ years of experience developing interactive environments, electronics, and control systems.

• Proven proficiency in at least one high-level multimedia programming language (e.g., TouchDesigner, Python, Processing, Max/MSP).

• Experience programming and integrating Arduino or other microcontroller-based systems.

• Demonstrated ability to create dynamic, sensor-based interactions using custom electronics.

• Strong understanding of electrical, electromechanical, and software systems design.

• Excellent technical writing and document