Design Manager

At Filmwerks we manufacture, transport, and store custom broadcast sets for the likes of the

NFL, NCAA

Final Four, World Cup Soccer and now Formula 1. Our work can be seen on professional sports broadcasts weekly at professional and collegiate stadiums, racetracks, and concert venues nationwide. We are proud to offer our employees affordable health insurance, 401(K), Vision, Dental and a full offering of voluntary benefits. The Manager of Design serves as the strategic, technical, and operational leader of the Design Department, overseeing design execution, CAD operations, gear list coordination, and cross-departmental collaboration. This role is accountable for maintaining the highest levels of design quality, documentation integrity, and operational alignment across pre-production, fabrication, and field deployment phases.

Design Manager Location:

Rocky Point, NC or Remote The Junior Technical CAD Designer supports the creation of 2D and 3D drawings for temporary structures used in special events. This entry‑level role focuses on developing accurate models, assisting senior team members, and learning fabrication and engineering standards. Working under the guidance of the Design Manager, this position helps translate design intent into clear technical drawings while gaining hands‑on experience with real‑world project requirements.

Key Responsibilities Key Responsibilities:

• Department Leadership & Team Development o Directly supervise and develop a multidisciplinary team of CAD Designers, Technical Coordinators, and Drafting Leads.

o Establish clear performance expectations and provide regular feedback, mentorship, and training pathways to support professional development. o Define and evolve departmental structure, roles, and responsibilities in response to company growth and project demands. o Foster a proactive, solutions-driven culture that values accountability, innovation, and precision. o Develop efficient and quality techniques to ensure highest productivity.

• Creative & Technical Oversight o Research, validate and implement industry leading design techniques, software and ensure that Filmwerks design standards are best-in-class and compatible with partners, clients and vendors.

o Review design packages, drawings, and submittals for constructability, technical feasibility, and alignment with client expectations. o Ensure that design intent and fabrication needs are cohesively translated through CAD, gear lists, and BOM documentation. o Oversee quality control standards across 2D/3D design files, drawing templates, and departmental file protocols. o Approve final drawing sets before release to fabrication or engineering teams.

• Cross-Departmental Collaboration o Act as a primary liaison between Design, Project Management, Technical Services, and Fabrication to ensure seamless project execution.

o Collaborate with Sales, Account Managers, Technical Services, Logistics, and senior leadership on early-phase conceptualization, feasibility vetting, and budget-informed design development. o Support Engineering coordination by ensuring design packages meet structural integrity standards and integrate all technical requirements. o Contribute to business planning, innovation initiatives, and cross-functional project reviews.

• Operational & Workflow Management o Lead initiatives to streamline workflows between Design, Gear List Coordination, Project Management, and Warehouse Operations.

o Manage and evolve documentation systems including server structure, drawing naming conventions, BOM formats, and revision tracking. o Conduct post-project debriefs and feedback loops to implement lessons learned and elevate team performance.

• Business Growth & Strategic Initiatives o Identify opportunities to scale the Design Department through talent development, improved tooling, and process automation.

o Contribute to estimating, resourcing, and project scoping alongside executive leadership. o Participate in R&D efforts for new structural solutions, modular systems, and design methodologies. o Represent the Design Department in executive meetings, vendor discussions, and client presentations when needed.

Required Skills/Abilities:

Experience:

Minimum 8-10 years in scenic or structural design, including 3-5 years in a team leadership capacity.

Technical Expertise:

Strong command of SketchUp, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and technical design documentation standards.

Cross-Functional Fluency:

Proven ability to collaborate with Fabrication, Project Management, Sales, and Engineering departments.

Leadership Style:

Proactive, adaptable, and mentorship-focused with strong delegation and accountability frameworks.

Communication Skills:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to manage up and across the organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in special events, modular construction, set design, or experiential environments.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and visualization platforms (Rhino 3D, V-Ray, Lumion, Enscape).
• Familiarity with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Monday.com, or Flex.
• Experience contributing to or leading continuous improvement efforts (SOPs, R&D, standards development).
• Exposure to structural engineering workflows or permitting processes is a plus.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

From $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Referral program Vision insurance Application Question(s): What is your desired pay for this position? What design programs do you have experience in?

Education:

Associate (Required)

Experience:

management: 3 years (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Rocky Point, NC 28457 (Required)

Work Location:

In person