Demo

HEAD OF DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: GALLERY SCALE ARTWORKS

Design Observer
Brooklyn, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 6/16/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/15/2026
POSITION TYPE: Full time, Salaried Employee-at-Will

BENEFITS: Health Insurance, PTO

FLSA / NY WAGE & HOUR LAWS STATUS: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $110,000 to $175,000

Leo Villareal Studio is a fine art studio located in Brooklyn, NY specializing in the creation of sequenced light artworks. We are looking for a new Head of Design and Production of Gallery Scale Artworks who will work in person in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Reporting to the Studio Director, this role will design and fabricate light sculptures and manage exhibition projects.

Leo Villareal Studio seeks a product design professional to lead the development of impeccably finished, high-performance custom LED light sculptures. The ideal candidate possesses ten years of expertise in bespoke product design and the cultivation of sophisticated vendor partnerships and fabrication systems necessary for precise artistic construction. This role demands a proactive leader to oversee the entire lifecycle, from initial R&D and rapid prototyping through complex fabrication and final onsite installation. When considering your suitability to join our small studio, please note that the ability to design and fabricate bespoke electronics is paramount to the role.

Key Responsibilities

DESIGN STRATEGY

Lead the design and production of gallery artworks to maximize artistic quality while maintaining efficiency and scalability of systems.

Cultivate a vendor roster for design, fabrication, and contract assembly.

Balance in-house vs. outsourced design and optimize studio space use.

Define the guidelines for the use of off-the-shelf products versus custom components, setting guideposts for how to document and store each type.

DESIGN EXECUTION

Collaborate with the artist on R&D priorities and perform rapid prototyping.

Generate photorealistic visualizations of nascent concepts to facilitate high-level presentations and iterative artist reviews.

Develop holistic artwork systems including specifying LED components, specifying all other components, creating CAD models to communicate design requirements to vendors, determining production strategy for entire artwork.

PRODUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Deliver simultaneous projects on-budget and on-schedule.

Vet vendors, write technical specs, and manage RFPs/work orders.

Oversee production budgets and bi-weekly variance reporting.

Guide the budgeting for material and labor for multiple simultaneous projects.

EXHIBITION DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Design artworks for inclusion in exhibitions.

Design exhibitions in partnership with the artist.

Coordinate venue site preparation and supervise onsite installations.

DOCUMENTATION

Record each step in the creation of an artwork, ensuring that a design is properly documented in the studio’s archive.

Create and maintain Bills of Materials for active projects.

Create artwork manuals and system diagrams.

Qualifications

This position requires excellent attention to detail, including the ability to inspect artworks and artwork components with an exacting micro-vision.

This position requires experience specifying, designing, and fabricating electronic artwork, including the ability to draw complex metalwork in 2D and 3D and to specify build parameters for fabricators while overseeing a given fabricator's execution of the design.

This position requires experience in mechanical and electrical assembly, including crimping, wiring, and soldering.

This job requires proficiency with modern CAD, rendering, and creative tools.

Additionally, the following education and/or prior job experience is required: A college degree and at least five years of related experience in product design. The ideal candidate has 10 years of experience in product design or related pursuit.

Application Instructions

Please submit a portfolio, resume, and cover letter, along with three references. Kindly include note of where you found this job posting. Only complete applications will be considered. Email applications to: jobs@villarealstudio.com

Salary : $110,000 - $175,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a HEAD OF DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: GALLERY SCALE ARTWORKS?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the HEAD OF DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: GALLERY SCALE ARTWORKS career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$53,911 - $69,777
Income Estimation: 
$67,211 - $85,724
Income Estimation: 
$65,700 - $87,740
Income Estimation: 
$83,758 - $120,604
Income Estimation: 
$85,588 - $121,698
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Design Observer

  • Design Observer Auburn, AL
  • Job Description The College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) at Auburn University invites applications for the position of Director of Commu... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Design Observer Hyattsville, MD
  • Role Description Design Foundry is seeking a full-time, on-site Graphic Production Designer to support the development and execution of event graphics, sig... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Design Observer Las Vegas, NV
  • As an Exhibit Designer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the visual and experiential aspects of our clients’ trade show exhibits. From initial brain... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Design Observer Clemmons, NC
  • Overview Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence i... more
  • 3 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other HEAD OF DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: GALLERY SCALE ARTWORKS jobs in the Brooklyn, NY area that may be a better fit.

  • Leo Villareal Studio Brooklyn, NY
  • HEAD OF DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: GALLERY SCALE ARTWORKS POSITION TYPE: Full time, Salaried Employee-at-Will BENEFITS: Health Insurance, PTO FLSA / NY WAGE & ... more
  • 1 Month Ago

  • The One Club For Creativity Miami Brooklyn, NY
  • We use essential cookies to make our site work. With your consent, we may also use non-essential cookies to improve user experience, personalize content, a... more
  • 7 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!