Assistant Production Designer Jobs in California

We're Looking For A: Production Designer

Location: Hybrid (Burbank/North Hollywood, CA)

What You'll Be Doing: The Production Designer is a key contributor to the Golden Pet production team, responsible for executing the visual environment of every shoot, from concept through completion, across set decoration, props, wardrobe, and all physical elements that appear on camera.

This role works closely with the Associate Director of Production, Cinematographers, and Creative leadership, executing on creative direction and bringing strong craft and organizational skills to every production. As Golden Pet grows, including the buildout of a dedicated production studio, this person will play an important role in helping establish the art department systems and visual standards that elevate the quality and consistency of our content.

Art Direction & Visual Design

• Contribute to the visual look of productions, including set environments, color palette, texture, and physical composition, translating creative briefs and brand guidelines into production design concepts for each shoot.
• Develop mood boards, set renderings, and reference materials to align creative stakeholders before production begins, while helping maintain visual consistency across productions.
• Collaborate with Cinematographers, DPs, Creative Directors, and Producers to ensure lighting, framing, and production design work together to achieve the intended on-camera look.

Set Decoration & Construction

• Design, source, build, and dress sets for studio and on-location productions, supporting setup and strike while coordinating with crew members as needed.
• Maintain and develop the set inventory, including furniture, backgrounds, modular pieces, and decorative elements, while recommending custom fabrication or rental solutions when appropriate.
• Assist with the development and organization of the art department within the new production studio, including set zones, storage infrastructure, and workflow systems.
• Partner with the Locations team during scouting, providing input on the creative and logistical suitability of potential locations.

Props

• Source, organize, and track props across productions, including purchase, rental, and return workflows, while maintaining a well-organized prop inventory.
• Anticipate prop needs during pre-production based on scripts and creative briefs, and assist with tracking prop-related expenses and budgets.

Wardrobe

• Coordinate wardrobe needs for productions, including sourcing, fittings, and on-set support.
• Collaborate with Story Producers, Creative Directors, and Production leadership to ensure wardrobe selections align with creative objectives and brand standards.
• Maintain and organize a wardrobe inventory to support recurring production needs.

Budget Management

• Assist with managing art department budgets across productions, including set builds, props, wardrobe, and fabrication expenses.
• Track and reconcile art department spending and provide cost information to Production leadership.
• Contribute to the development of purchasing and sourcing processes that support increasing production volume efficiently.
• Identify opportunities to improve art department workflows and operational processes while maintaining creative quality.

Qualifications (Note: We strongly encourage you to apply even if you don't tick ALL of these boxes.):

• Strong visual and creative sensibility with the ability to translate creative direction and brand guidelines into compelling physical environments.
• Knowledge of set decoration, prop sourcing, inventory organization, and wardrobe coordination for commercial, branded, or advertising productions.
• Highly organized with the ability to support multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and production quality.
• Experience assisting with budget tracking, purchasing, and expense reconciliation within an art department or production environment.
• Resourceful problem-solver who can adapt to changing priorities, timelines, and production needs.
• Experience working with vendors, rental houses, and freelance crew to support production design needs.
• Comfortable receiving creative direction and feedback while contributing ideas and recommendations throughout the production process.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across Creative, Production, Camera, and Location teams.
• Proactive and dependable team player who thrives in a fast-paced production environment.
• Interest in helping build and improve art department systems, workflows, and inventory processes as the production studio continues to grow.
• Required Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent professional experience
• Required Experience: 3-5 years of experience in production design, art direction, or art department on commercial, advertising, or branded content productions
• Preferred Education: Bachelor's Degree in Production Design, Scenic Design, Fine Arts, Film Production, or related field
• Preferred Experience: 5+ years with demonstrated ownership of full art department across multi-brand or high-volume production environments

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage - We cover 100% of premiums for medical, dental, and vision plans for employee-only plans.
• Annual bonus
• We match up to 3.5% of your 401k contributions, ensuring your retirement savings grow alongside your career.
• 6 paid sick and mental health days, an Employee Assistance Program, free weekly yoga and meditation classes, and additional mental health benefits, because we take a holistic approach to your well-being.
• Invest in your future with our Employee Stock Ownership Plan, where company contributions fund your retirement plan with company stock. Learn more.
• Reimbursements for a portion of personal cell phone and internet usage for eligible employees.
• Professional development opportunities with mentorship, continuous learning programs, and performance-based pay increases, empowering you to progress and excel in your career.
• Through our charity sponsorships, you can make a positive impact on communities worldwide. We've donated over $9 million to date.
• Potential for quarterly KPI bonuses.

The base salary range is $64,500-$86,000, plus bonus potential.

The posted salary range in this job posting reflects data based on California's cost of labor analysis. This salary range is subject to change per state; please click here to find the pay differential in your state of residence if the role is remote. 

Salary is based on a wide range of factors that include relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job-related qualifications, and geographical location.