Technical Operator I

Technical Operator I

Agency: Texas A&M University

Department: College of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts

Proposed Minimum Salary: Commensurate

Job Location: College Station, Texas

Job Type: Staff

Job Description

A Glimpse of the Job

Technical Operator I assists with day-to-day operations of a state-of-the-art LED volume sound stage in the Virtual Production Institute.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire's experience.

Cover Letter/Resume: A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended and will help in our review. You may upload them on the application under the CV/Resume section.

Other Requirements and Factors: Work beyond normal office hours and/or on weekends. Travel required.

Opportunities to Contribute

Planning and Implementation

• Assists with planning and implementation of the LED volume sound stage.
• Assists with the technical execution, reliability, and on-set operation of virtual production systems, including real-time rendering engines, data workflow and storage.
• Perform pre-shoot system checks, calibration, and validate system workflow.
• Assists with the technical execution, reliability, and on-set operation of virtual production systems, including real-time rendering engines, data workflow and storage.

Program Coordination and Support

• Assists with maintaining digital records and databases.
• Assists, as needed, with operation and monitoring of LED volume systems, including wall processors, render nodes, and playback servers.
• Support real-time engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) during prep, rehearsals, and live shoots.
• Coordinate with DPs, VFX supervisors, virtual art departments, and stage managers.
• May support load-ins, strike, and preventative maintenance of stage equipment.
• Maintain technical documentation, workflows, and system logs.

Training Management

• Assist with development and updating of training materials.
• Assist with delivery of training sessions.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years' experience in LED stages, sound stages, VFX pipelines
• Working knowledge of:
• LED wall systems and processors
• Real-time engines (Unreal Engine strongly preferred)
• Comfortable working on live sets with high-profile talent and crews
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot under time pressure
• Experience with nDisplay, or similar media servers
• Familiarity with color science, LUTs, and HDR pipelines
• Background in VFX, game engines, and systems data pipelines
• Ability to assist with system expansion

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Knowledge of technical roles described above.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Planning and organization skills.

Who We Are

Texas A&M University's College of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts (PVFA) educates dancers, directors, computer graphics engineers, composers, art historians, sound technologists and more to serve our community, the nation, and the world.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.