Audio-Visual Systems Engineer

Seattle Art Museum • Seattle, WA

3d • $37 - $41

About The Position

Join the Seattle Art Museum's AV Services team as an Audio-Visual Systems Engineer, where you'll bring art to life through cutting-edge technology. This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of creativity and technical excellence, supporting world-class exhibitions, performances, and events across three iconic museum locations.

As our AV Systems Engineer, you'll serve as a key technical resource for museum events and exhibitions. You'll plan, execute, and troubleshoot complex AV installations—from intimate artist talks to large-scale theatrical performances and hybrid events connecting local and global audiences. This role combines hands-on technical work with collaborative planning, requiring both deep AV expertise and excellent communication skills.

You'll balance diverse priorities: maintaining and upgrading permanent AV infrastructure, designing and executing event setups, troubleshooting systems in real-time, collaborating with curators and event planners, supervising on-call technicians, and documenting systems and processes. Schedule flexibility is essential—you'll work evenings and weekends to support museum programming, with advance coordination.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Five years of experience in theatre, events, or professional audio-visual work
• Demonstrated expertise in maintaining, troubleshooting, and operating AV systems including digital video projectors, live sound reinforcement, theatrical lighting, power distribution, and video recording equipment
• Experience with industry-standard video switching and engineering systems
• Working knowledge of audio and lighting consoles
• Understanding of signal flow, system routing, and AV over IP concepts
• Knowledge of safe rigging practices and temporary electrical wiring (including varying voltage systems)
• Proven ability to successfully execute high-visibility events
• Excellent communication skills—ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical colleagues across all organizational levels, as well as artists, vendors, and external partners
• Strong organizational skills, time management, and ability to balance multiple priorities simultaneously
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Asana, Slack, and internet-based research
• Ability to pass and maintain security background check clearance
• Physical ability to transport up to 50 pounds of equipment and work safely at heights using ladders, scaffolding, and lifts

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a major museum, large nonprofit, cultural institution, or corporate environment
• AVIXA CTS certification (CTS, CTS-I, or CTS-D)
• Dante Level 1-3 certification or demonstrated networking experience
• Safety certifications including OSHA 30 or 10, MEWP, ETCP, and/or Fall Arrest
• Lighting console programming experience
• Specialized AV brand or gear certifications
• Experience managing mixed teams of in-house staff, vendors, freelance technicians, and contractors

Responsibilities

• Manage and operate AV systems across all museum locations for diverse programming including lectures, performances, corporate events, artist demonstrations, hybrid meetings, and private rentals
• Design and execute AV installations for exhibitions, including systems integrated within individual artworks
• Set up and operate hybrid event technology, including audio routing (microphones, Zoom, Dante), video switching, livestreaming, and recording workflows
• Perform installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and teardown of permanent and temporary AV systems
• Troubleshoot audio, video, lighting control, networking, and conferencing systems
• Supervise on-call staff and freelance technicians through event load-in, execution, and strike
• Maintain equipment inventory and ensure safe installation practices
• Collaborate with the Associate Director on capital equipment selection and the Production Manager on rental equipment coordination
• Create and maintain technical documentation including SOPs, playbooks, signal flow diagrams, wiring schematics, and equipment inventories
• Train new AV staff and contractors on museum systems and best practices
• Collaborate with curators, event planners, educators, and development staff to understand AV requirements and deliver effective technical solutions
• Participate in equipment budgeting, project timelines, and safety assessments
• Stay current with emerging AV technologies and industry best practices

Benefits

• Benefits include a fully employer paid HMP medical plan or an employee contribution PPO plan, dental, vision, and basic life insurance/LTD/AD&D, Flexible Spending Account, Short Term Disability, Supplemental Dental Insurance and participation in SAM’s 403b retirement plan.
• Following 1 year of service and 1,000 hours worked, SAM makes a discretionary 3% employer contribution regardless of participation and provides an employer match program. Historically, this contribution has been made annually.
• Additional benefits include paid time off for vacation, PSST, bereavement leave, and jury duty, 11 scheduled holidays, 1 paid floating holiday, a subsidized unlimited Orca card, onsite fitness facility, and an EAP. FT Staff also receive a Patron level membership to SAM, a Tier III membership to the American Alliance of Museums and discounts to museum shop and programming.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level