Technical Director

About this Opportunity

The Mississippi Museum of Art is looking for a seasoned Technical Director with experience in the planetarium industry. This person will be instrumental in successfully re-opening and operating the newly renovated three-story McNair-Davis Planetarium which includes a multi-purpose room for educational and programming opportunities, a space station, and an auditorium that accommodates 180 seats for dome shows.

The McNair-Davis Planetarium is a not-for-profit entity that is owned by the City of Jackson and is currently under the management of the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) for the next three years. Planetarium staff are part of the Mississippi Museum of Art’s staffing structure, payroll system, benefits package, and employment policies. The Technical Director will report to the Director of the McNair-Davis Planetarium and will work closely with both Planetarium and MMA staff to plan the much-anticipated public re-opening. Planetarium and MMA staff will continue to collaborate through programming and day-to-day operations to provide meaningful visitor experiences to both organizations and the 1.3 acres garden that naturally connects the buildings. MMA anticipates hiring the Technical Director by or before December 1, 2026.

Job Summary

The primary function of the Technical Director is to oversee all technological aspects of the McNair-Davis Planetarium and Mississippi Museum of Art. Their primary mission is to maintain and repair all the planetarium and exhibit technologies, and to regularly train all full-time, part-time staff, and volunteers on the proper usage of these technologies. In addition, they will collaborate with Mississippi Museum of Art staff to manage, operate, and troubleshoot the audio visual and technological elements at the Mississippi Museum of Art.  

Essential Functions

Role #1: Manage all planetarium and exhibit technologies

• Maintain and repair all planetarium and exhibit technologies to ensure systems properly and reliably function
• Conduct the maintenance and troubleshooting of all planetarium and exhibit equipment
• Oversee all planetarium and exhibit service contracts, including site inspection and approval of all warranty and service work.
• Conduct regularly scheduled pre-emptive service on all planetarium equipment and exhibits
• Conduct emergency repairs and create a shop of tools needed for such repairs
• Ensure the safety and comfort of all visitors to both the planetarium and exhibits.

Role #2: Oversee usage of planetarium and exhibit technologies

• Assist the Show Producer in the production of all planetarium and exhibit audio-visual content (flat screen content for inset projection, full dome video production, and laser show production) and fill in for the Show Producer and Chief Educator as needed
• Be a staff resource providing technical expertise on all equipment used to create and implement new programs and exhibits
• Train all full-time staff, part-time staff, and volunteers on the proper usage of the planetarium and exhibit technologies, particularly when new staff are hired
• Create a basic site-specific training/reference manual for all the planetarium and exhibit equipment, updating them as new software and equipment is added
• As equipment and software updates are implemented, conduct additional staff training, as required
• Assist, as needed, the Chief Educator and Chief Show Presenter in their training of part-time and volunteer presenters
• Assist the Office Manager and the Front Desk/Gift Shop Manager with Point-of-Sale and Ticketing software and hardware, performing repairs and upgrades as required.

Role #3: Oversee audio visual elements and technologies at the Mississippi Museum of Art

• Provide a high level of support and technical expertise for MMA’s audio-visual systems, digital displays, and interactive technology
• Train MMA staff on the audio-visual and technological systems
• Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and applicable vendors to ensure audio-visual systems, digital displays, and all other technology systems are up to date and working properly
• Provide audio visual support at Museum events and programs, as needed

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Salary Range

$45,000 - $60,000

Competency

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Astronomy, Physics, Science Education or a closely related field
• Strongly prefer 5 years of professional experience in planetarium technologies or a closely related field
• In place of a bachelor's degree, applicant must have a high-school diploma and a minimum of 15 years hands-on experience as a planetarium technician or technical director

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated expertise in all planetarium technologies (software and hardware), including full dome digital projection technologies, DMX 512 lighting, 5.1 audio systems, laser systems, interactive exhibitions, and the various computer systems that support these technologies as well as point-of sales and ticketing systems
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Experience working with planetarium directors, educators, and show producers developing and delivering engaging educational programs and entertainment productions, as well as exhibits for diverse audiences
• Experience overseeing and working with part-time staff, show presenters, and volunteers
• Demonstrated ability to stay calm under pressure and balancing multiple high-priority tasks at once

Travel

Occasional travel may be required.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The typical workweek is 40 hours a week during normal business days from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the Planetarium is open six to seven days a week. Full-time staff may be required to work some evenings and weekends to accommodate public programming,  public operating hours, and supplement for part-time staff. All Planetarium staff are required to be cross trained to run the facility.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some duties may require long periods of movement as well as frequent reaching and kneeling, pushing, pulling, carrying, lifting and moving objects 5 pounds or more.

• Work may be performed both indoors and outdoors throughout the facility and grounds.
• A successful candidate must pass a background check secured by the Mississippi Museum of Art 

The Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The Museum is a private not-for-profit and is not a department or agency of the state or federal government.

To apply for this position, please send your current CV and cover letter to careers@msmuseumart.org by November 18, 2026.