Technical Director

SUMMARY

The Technical Director is the operational backbone of the BB6 studio and lab at CCAT. This is a hands-on, infrastructure-facing leadership role responsible for keeping CCAT’s physical and digital environments functional, accessible, and continuously evolving in support of an interdisciplinary rotating program of artists, researchers, and fellows.

CCAT’s technical infrastructure exists to serve creative inquiry, not the other way around. The Technical Director understands this instinctively. They are equally comfortable troubleshooting a hardware failure at 9am and advising a visiting artist on projection mapping at 2pm. They think scrappily and resourcefully about expanding the studio’s capabilities, know how to stretch a budget without sacrificing quality, and approach every constituent, from a first-year student to a senior researcher, as someone worth helping well.

This is a fully on-site role. The Technical Director is a visible, trusted presence in the BB6 studio every day, someone who genuinely enjoys playing a support role for others and understands that being useful to artists, researchers, students, and faculty is itself a form of leadership. They bring excellent organizational and communication skills to every interaction, whether they’re coordinating with CalArts IT and facilities on an infrastructure issue or walking a first-year student through an unfamiliar tool. Above all, they are curious: about next-generation tools, emerging research practices, and the evolving possibilities of the field, and they bring that curiosity actively into CCAT’s work.

This is a grant-funded position. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of funding from the CHANEL Culture Fund. There is no guarantee of continued employment beyond the period for which funding has been secured.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Studio and Lab Operations
  
  

The Technical Director is the primary steward of BB6’s physical and technical infrastructure. Responsibilities include:

• Maintain and manage all studio equipment, hardware, and software systems, ensuring reliable readiness for daily use by a rotating cast of artists, fellows, students, and researchers.
• Establish and enforce equipment use policies, access protocols, and lab safety procedures appropriate to a professional creative environment.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive equipment inventory, including tracking condition, usage, maintenance history, and depreciation for all assets.
• Oversee scheduling and allocation of studio resources, spaces, and equipment across concurrent programs and users.
• Manage software licensing, updates, and system configurations across the studio’s computing infrastructure, including high-performance workstations and any networked lab environments.
• Serve as the primary liaison with CalArts IT, facilities, and campus safety on all technical infrastructure matters related to BB6.
• Manage and maintain CCAT’s high-performance computing infrastructure, including the lab’s primary GPU compute systems used for ML model training and research workloads, in close coordination with CalArts IT and the Director of Machine Learning.
• Technical Support and User Enablement
  
  

A Core Function Of This Role Is Ensuring That Every Constituent Who Uses The BB6 Studio Can Do So Effectively, Regardless Of Their Technical Background. Responsibilities Include:

• Provide responsive, patient technical support to users of all skill levels, including visiting artists, faculty fellows, post-graduate fellows, graduate students, and research staff.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, and connectivity issues quickly and competently, minimizing disruption to active programs and installations.
• Develop onboarding materials, orientation protocols, and reference guides that help new users understand studio systems, tools, and policies from day one.
• Offer informal skill-building support and hands-on guidance to artists and researchers engaging with unfamiliar tools or techniques, particularly around virtual production, projection, and real-time computing workflows.
• Collaborate with the Directors of Machine Learning and Moving Image to ensure the studio’s technical environment aligns with active research and production needs.
• Virtual Production and Immersive Technologies
  
  

The Technical Director brings working knowledge of virtual production pipelines and immersive media technologies as core competencies. Responsibilities include:

• Support the design, setup, and operation of virtual production workflows, including real-time rendering environments, LED volume or greenscreen configurations, and camera tracking systems as applicable.
• Maintain and operate projection mapping systems, including calibration, warping, blending, and software configuration for single and multi-projector installations.
• Support artists and researchers working with XR technologies (VR, AR, MR), including headset configuration, spatial computing setups, and associated software environments.
• Advise on technical feasibility and scope of proposed projects involving real-time media, spatial audio, or other immersive production elements.
• Stay current with developments in virtual production, spatial computing, and real-time media tools, and bring emerging techniques and equipment options actively into CCAT’s planning conversations.
• Equipment Strategy and Resource Development
  
  

The Technical Director Approaches CCAT’s Equipment Collection As a Living, Evolving Resource To Be Developed Thoughtfully Over Time. Responsibilities Include:

• Assess the studio’s current equipment capabilities against the evolving needs of CCAT’s research program and rotating user community, and identify gaps and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a forward-looking equipment wish list and acquisition strategy, balancing ambition with budget reality.
• Research and recommend equipment purchases, rentals, and partnerships that expand the studio’s capabilities in a cost-effective and mission-aligned way.
• Identify opportunities to pursue grants, in-kind partnerships, industry loans, or other non-purchase pathways for acquiring new tools and technologies.
• Manage vendor relationships related to equipment procurement, maintenance contracts, and technical services.
• Make annual recommendations to the Executive Director on equipment budget allocation and capital investment priorities.
• Installation and Exhibition Technical Support
  
  

CCAT Produces Public-facing Programs That Require Rigorous Technical Delivery. The Technical Director Plays a Central Role In Ensuring These Programs Succeed. Responsibilities Include:

• Support the technical design, installation, and strike of exhibitions, performances, screenings, and public programs produced under CCAT’s name.
• Coordinate with the Senior Curator, Directors, and visiting artists to scope and execute technical requirements for public-facing events and installations.
• Advise on technical production standards and ensure all public-facing presentations meet the quality level appropriate to CCAT’s institutional reputation.
• Maintain documentation of installation setups, technical riders, and equipment configurations to support institutional memory and future replication.
  
  

All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

• Hands-on expertise across studio and computer lab operations, including hardware maintenance, software management, and networked computing environments.
• Proficiency in Linux/Unix system administration and command-line environments, with working knowledge of GPU computing infrastructure, containerization tools (e.g., Docker), and networked storage systems as they relate to high-performance and ML research workflows; experience supporting or administering HPC or GPU cluster environments is a strong asset.
• Working knowledge of virtual production practices and pipelines, including real-time rendering, camera tracking, and LED or projection-based volume work.
• Proficiency with projection mapping systems and software (e.g., Resolume, MadMapper, Disguise, or comparable platforms).
• Familiarity with XR technologies and spatial computing platforms, including VR/AR headset configuration and associated development environments.
• Strong troubleshooting instincts and the ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues quickly and calmly under pressure.
• Genuine enthusiasm for supporting users of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners, with patience and without condescension.
• Scrappy, resourceful approach to equipment strategy: ability to think creatively about expanding studio capabilities on constrained budgets.
• Experience managing equipment inventories, maintenance schedules, and asset tracking.
• Comfort working in a startup-phase environment and contributing to the development of new systems, policies, and operational culture.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills: able to manage multiple concurrent priorities, keep stakeholders informed, document clearly, and maintain systems that others can rely on.
• Enthusiasm for the intersection of arts and technology, and genuine curiosity about CCAT’s mission and the communities it serves.
• Active curiosity about next-generation tools, emerging research practices, and developments across virtual production, spatial computing, and AI-adjacent creative technologies.
• Genuine enjoyment of a support-oriented role: derives satisfaction from enabling others to do their best work.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across institutional boundaries, with faculty, students, visiting artists, IT, and facilities teams.
• Adherence to CalArts and CCAT institutional policies on AI use, equipment access, and lab safety.
  
  

ADMINISTRATION

• Day-to-day coordination with the Directors of Machine Learning and Moving Image, Project Manager.
• Primary operational steward of the BB6 studio and all associated technical infrastructure.
• Full-time, on-site presence at CalArts (Valencia, CA) required. This role is fundamentally tied to the physical studio environment; remote or hybrid arrangements are not available.
• Participation in CCAT team meetings, program planning sessions, and relevant cross-departmental coordination as needed.