Find & Apply For Set / Exhibit Designer Jobs in Smyrna, Tennessee

Title:

Scenic Install Lead Primary Focus Areas:

Product Deployment

• Scenic Installation & Scenic Program Support (Hybrid Travel / Admin)

Direct Leader:

Senior Director of Projects Direct Reports:

Assigned Scenic Artists and Installers while on-site (internal and contracted) The Installation Department is responsible for the deployment of The Escape Game Products through various project types, including but not limited to New Store Installs, Store Expansions, Infills, Reskins, and Renovations. The Scenic Lead is TEG's subject-matter expert for scenic and art finishes across our game portfolio, splitting time between leading scenic work on-site and supporting the scenic program from HQ. On the road, this role leads and executes scenic treatments, set dressing, and finish work, trains new internal and external scenic artists, and finds ways to save time on-site. Off the road, this role owns the game-specific Scenic Guides and documentation, supports scenic planning for upcoming projects, and assists leadership and Project Coordinators with travel, logistics, material packouts, and ordering. The Scenic Lead has the integral responsibility of Delivering Epic Interactive Experiences to our guests through the successful execution of our product's look and feel.

Pay & Benefits:

Hourly:

$27

• 30/hr, starting compensation based on experience Regular & Pre-approved 5 hours of weekly overtime Eligible for HQ End of Year FT Team Member Bonus (prorated based on start date) Eligible for TEG HQ Full-Time Benefits 8 Paid Holidays + 15

PTO Days Hours & Schedule:

Expected Weekly Hours:

40

• 45 while in-office, 70+ hours weekly while traveling

Travel Expectations:

Moderate to Frequent ([50-65%] of the workload, varies with project pipeline) Trips are up to 32 days consecutively, 10.5-hour working days (minus break) Trips are local and out-of-state. Travel for work projects are paid for and booked by The Escape Game.

Expected Schedule:

Office:

Monday

• Friday (day shift) Installation(On Sites): Monday
• Friday plus weekends (Dayshift / Midshift / Nightshift
• depends on installation schedule, weekend work often includes accompanying rest/off days during the upcoming workweek) Rest is accrued at a rate of 6 days @ 60 hours = 1 rest day; 7 days @ 70 hours = 2 rest days within a pay period.

Rest days stack over the course of an entire project.

Emergency Travel:

As needed, could include nights & weekends with extended hours

Oncall:

Yes Job Responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• On-the-job training possible for skills without prior knowledge/experience
• Scenic Leadership When on-site: Coordinate the efforts of all scenic artists on-site, internal and contracted, working through each game's Scenic Guide in its efficient order of tasks and completing its Final Checklist Set daily scenic assignments and sequencing with the Site Supervisor (e.

g., smoking before set dressing, floor treatments at end of day to allow dry time, aging fully cured before washes) Coordinate scenic work with carpentry, masonry, flooring, trim, and tech to avoid rework Perform quality checks on all scenic work under game lighting and lead scenic punch-list completion Communicate daily scenic progress, issues, material needs, and schedule impacts to the Site Supervisor and Project Leadership Assist with general installation work as needed (trim, wall panels, finish work, punch-work, etc.) When off-site: Work with Site Supervisors to get the most out of the scenic skillset scheduled on-site: plan the order of tasks, assign them by each artist's strengths, and identify gaps before the crew arrives Provide remote support to scenic crews on-site (technique questions, color matches, photo reviews of completed work) Scenic Treatments & Finish Work HVLP spray work: smoking walls, corners, seams, and wall-to-floor edges at varied fan widths and opacities Aging and weathering: dry brushing, paint/poly washes, dirt washes, black washes, drips, water damage, scorch marks, and "saucing" hardware Faux finishes: faux rust (layered Van Dyke / Brandywine mixes), rag rolling, glazing, ice glaze, frost and condensation effects, moss, and dry-brushed stone and root highlights Custom color matching with Sherwin-Williams paints, flat paint / polyurethane mixes, Mixol pigments, and touch-up lacquers Sculpting and blending: gap & crack foam, EPS foam, Froth Pak, Free Form, Dryvit, mortar repair caulk, and Bondo to hide seams, hardware, and gaps in rock walls, snow, and themed surfaces Specialty effects such as epoxy resin icicles, snow piles with hard shells in guest paths, and food/kitchen grime (grease, marinara splatter, dirty sink water) Floor treatments with Tread-Plex (sponge-roller texture, sponging, HVLP edge softening) Murals and hand-painted details using artist acrylics; apply vinyl, stencils, perspective vinyls, and posters straight, level, and per placement guides Wall and component repair: patching, sanding, priming, caulking seams, and touch-ups using foam rollers/brushes for a mark-free finish Wood finishing: stain touch-ups (Dark Walnut, Red Mahogany, Golden Oak, etc.), touch-up pens, and putty Paint doors, frames, and components to spec (e.g., Rustoleum Silver, lacquer kits) Set Dressing & Props Unpack prop totes and place props per Scenic Guide photos, elevations, and placement notes Secure props so they hold up to guest play: screws with fender washers, JB Weld epoxy, VHB tape, tapcons, construction adhesive, and lath screws Follow game-specific rules (loose vs. secured items, nothing beyond the shelf plane, clue props in exact locations, out-of-reach placement) Place and fluff foliage, hang décor, and fill empty spaces so rooms feel full and lived-in Match each room's intended story and level of wear (e.g., lived-in vs. grimy vs. cold) as defined in the Scenic Guide overview Process Improvement Identify and implement improvements that reduce on-site scenic labor hours (e.g., pre-finishing and pre-aging in shop, kit-of-parts finishes, pre-mixed washes and color matches, better task sequencing, tool and material changes) Track time spent on recurring scenic tasks by game to measure the impact of improvements Bring field feedback to Production, Creative Engineering, and Project Leadership to improve products and processes upstream Recommend and test new materials, products, and techniques Training & Development Train and onboard new scenic artists

• internal team members and external/contracted scenic resources
• on TEG techniques using the Scenic Guides Provide on-site coaching on scenic techniques, standards, safety (respirators, ventilation, HVLP), and workflow Assess scenic skill levels of internal and external resources and provide feedback to leadership for staffing decisions Develop training materials (sample boards, finish recipes, step-by-step references, video walkthroughs) to support consistent results across crews Scenic Program Administration (HQ / Off the Road) Own and maintain the TEG Scenic Guides for each game (e.

g., The Heist, Playground, Prison Break, Ruins, Timeliner, Murder with a Side of Meatballs, Spec Ops, Cosmic Crisis, The Depths, Yeti)

• including paint lists, material lists, efficient task order, final checklists, reference photos, and change logs Update guides with field changes and lessons learned after each project; create guides for new games and reskins Assist with scenic planning for upcoming projects: scope review, labor-hour estimates, crew size recommendations, and finish/material takeoffs based on past project data Build and maintain a scenic knowledge base / experience pool (finish recipes, hours by game, lessons learned, photos) Participate in project kickoffs and debriefs; capture and follow through on scenic action items Materials, Packouts & Ordering Build, pack, and restock Scenic Carts and game-specific scenic packouts (paints, touch-up kits, props, vinyls, foliage, consumables) for assigned and upcoming projects Order and track scenic materials (Sherwin-Williams paints, stains, polys, foams, adhesives, tools, consumables) and coordinate delivery to shop or site Maintain scenic inventory and par levels at HQ, including HVLP equipment and touch-up kits Organize and sort returning scenic project items after each trip Leadership & Project Coordination Support (Downtime) Assist leadership and Project Coordinators with travel booking for internal and external resources (airfare, lodging, ground transportation, etc.

) Assist with project planning, scheduling, and logistics coordination (load-in, load-out, hotshots, deliveries) Assist with packing and inventory of install and project job-boxes Assist with ordering and logistics of general project materials Assist the Production Facilities, Warehouse, and Store Support as needed while off the road

Job Requirements:

A love for escape rooms and interactive media [2+] years of experience in scenic painting, themed construction, set/theatre production, or a related trade Portfolio or demonstrated skill in faux finishing, aging/distressing, color matching, and HVLP spray work Experience with sculpting/texturing materials (foams, caulks, fillers, Dryvit or similar) preferred Experience training or leading others in an informal structure Strong organizational and interpersonal skills Contagiously positive, can-do attitude Loves to "win." Strong communication skills

• written, on the phone, in-person Proficient at spreadsheets & document creation (Google Workspace); comfortable writing step-by-step guides with photos Comfortable with travel booking, ordering, and administrative tasks Willingness to learn and grow skills General business acumen Ability to read and interpret floor plans, elevations, and installation/scenic guides Comfortable with power tools (drills, impact drivers, hammer drills, multitools, circular saws) Ability to work safely with paints, solvents, and spray equipment, including wearing a respirator Ability to lift/carry up to 75 pounds individually Able to stand, walk, climb ladders, and navigate tight spaces for extended periods of time