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Freelance Lighting Programmer Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Partner with the Live Event Producer, video and lighting technicians, and freelance crew to deliver ... Bachelor's degree in audio engineering, music production, media production, or a related field, or ...

Partner with the Live Event Producer, video and lighting technicians, and freelance crew to deliver ... Bachelor's degree in audio engineering, music production, media production, or a related field, or ...

Freelance Lighting Programmer information

What does a freelance lighting programmer do?

A Freelance Lighting Programmer is responsible for designing, programming, and operating lighting systems for events, concerts, theater productions, or film and television shoots. They use specialized software and lighting consoles to create lighting cues, effects, and transitions that enhance the visual experience. Freelance Lighting Programmers work on a project-by-project basis, collaborating closely with lighting designers, directors, and production teams to achieve the desired artistic vision. Their work often involves troubleshooting technical issues and adapting quickly to different venues or equipment. They must have a deep understanding of lighting technology, control systems, and creative design.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance lighting programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Lighting Programmer, you need a solid understanding of lighting design, programming principles, and technical expertise in stage or event lighting, often supported by a background in theatre, live events, or technical production. Familiarity with industry-standard lighting consoles (such as MA Lighting grandMA or ETC Eos), DMX protocols, and relevant programming software is crucial. Strong problem-solving, communication, and time management skills help you collaborate with creative teams and adapt quickly to changing requirements. These abilities ensure precise, creative, and reliable lighting solutions that meet client expectations in dynamic production environments.

How do freelance lighting programmers typically collaborate with production teams during live events?

Freelance Lighting Programmers work closely with lighting designers, directors, and other technical crew members to translate creative vision into technical reality. Collaboration often starts with pre-production meetings to understand the artistic goals and continues through technical rehearsals where cues and effects are programmed. During live events, programmers must communicate clearly and respond quickly to last-minute changes, ensuring seamless integration of lighting with other production elements like sound and staging. Building strong relationships and maintaining flexibility are key to succeeding in these dynamic, team-oriented environments.

What is the difference between Freelance Lighting Programmer vs Lighting Technician?

AspectFreelance Lighting ProgrammerLighting Technician
CredentialsExperience with lighting control software, industry certifications optionalTechnical training or certifications often required
Work EnvironmentProject-based, remote or on-site for events or productionsOn-site, hands-on with lighting equipment during events or shows
Employer & IndustryFreelance, event production, theater, concertsProduction companies, theaters, live events

Freelance Lighting Programmers focus on programming lighting control systems for various productions, often working remotely or on a project basis. Lighting Technicians handle the setup, operation, and maintenance of lighting equipment on-site. While both roles require technical knowledge, Freelance Lighting Programmers typically have more software expertise, whereas Lighting Technicians focus on hardware and installation tasks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Lighting Programmer jobs in Arizona?

The most popular types of Lighting Programmer jobs in Arizona are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Lighting Programmer jobs in Arizona?

For Freelance Lighting Programmer jobs in Arizona, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Lighting Programmer jobs in Arizona look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Lighting Programmer jobs in Arizona are:

What cities in Arizona are hiring for Freelance Lighting Programmer jobs?

Cities in Arizona with the most Freelance Lighting Programmer job openings:

$55 - $75/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New


Key responsibilities

  • Serve as the lead audio engineer for live and virtual events, designing, operating, and troubleshooting audio systems to ensure clear sound for speakers and program elements.

  • Prepare and manage audio equipment, input lists, patch sheets, and stage plots, and coordinate with production teams to support event setup and execution.

  • Record, edit, mix, and deliver audio content for studio productions, podcasts, and media appearances, maintaining quality standards and technical specifications.


Job description

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Locations: Scottdale, AZ

Team Overview

As the Audio Engineer, you will serve as the lead audio engineer for ADF's live and virtual events—conferences, seminars, galas, and webinars—owning front-of-house, monitor, and broadcast mixes so that every speaker and program element is heard clearly. Between events, you serve as the primary audio engineer for ADF's Arizona studio and media hit studio, capturing and mixing audio for video productions, podcasts, and live national media appearances.

Key Responsibilities Live Event Audio
  • Serve as the A1 for assigned ADF events, designing and operating the audio system - front of house, monitors, and broadcast/stream mixes to a high standard of clarity, intelligibility, and consistency.
  • Design system and loudspeaker configurations for each room, tune and align systems to the space, and adapt to venue acoustics and house infrastructure.
  • Coordinate and manage wireless microphone and in-ear monitor systems, including frequency coordination, RF scanning, antenna distribution, and battery management, to keep channels clean in congested environments.
  • Prepare input lists, patch sheets, stage plots, and console show files in advance of load-in, and communicate audio requirements to the producer, venue, and crew.
  • Mic, sound check, and support presenters, panelists, and musicians, briefing them on microphone technique and monitoring so they are comfortable on stage.
  • Load in, set up, operate, strike, and load out audio systems, including consoles, amplification, loudspeakers, cabling, playback, and production intercom.
  • Coordinate audio with video switching, lighting, and show control cues so that the program runs as a single, rehearsed production.
  • Diagnose and resolve audio problems in real time during live events, applying redundancy and backup plans to minimize disruption to attendees and stream audiences.
  • Serve as the primary audio engineer for ADF's Arizona studio and media hit studio, setting up and operating microphones, mixers, and monitoring for video shoots, podcasts, and interviews.
  • Provide audio for live media hits with national broadcast outlets, including IFB, mix-minus, and clean feeds to remote networks, and confirm signal quality and levels before air.
  • Record, edit, mix, and master audio for produced content, including dialogue cleanup, noise reduction, loudness normalization, and delivery to broadcast and web specifications.
  • Maintain and improve studio acoustics, signal flow, and routing, including audio-over-IP networks (e.g., Dante) where deployed.
  • Deliver finished audio assets to the standards required by ADF's post-production and communications teams, and archive session files and raw audio for reuse.
Systems, Maintenance & Readiness
  • Maintain, test, and repair audio equipment and inventory, including consoles, wireless systems, microphones, and cabling, and keep firmware and show files current.
  • Prepare and pack audio packages for travel, tracking equipment out and back and confirming everything returns in working order.
  • Recommend equipment purchases, upgrades, and standardization to the Production Manager, Arizona, including specifications and cost estimates.
  • Maintain safe working conditions during load-in, show, and load-out, including safe electrical loading, rigging of loudspeaker arrays where applicable, and cable management.
  • Observe hearing conservation and sound level practices appropriate to each venue, program, and audience.
  • Partner with the Live Event Producer, video and lighting technicians, and freelance crew to deliver a unified production, and serve as the audio point of contact for presenters, communications staff, and event owners.
  • Train and support other AV team members on basic audio operation so that events the A1 cannot cover are still well served.
  • Conduct post-event review of audio performance and apply lessons learned to future events and studio work.
  • Research developments in audio technology and recommend adoption where they would strengthen ADF’s events and studio capabilities.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in audio engineering, music production, media production, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 3+ years of professional audio experience in live event production, studio recording, and post-production audio settings, including primary A1 responsibility for events using professional-grade systems.
  • Demonstrated experience with mixing front of house and monitors live, for spoken word and music, in rooms of varying size and acoustics.
  • Ability to manage multiple events, studio sessions, and competing deadlines simultaneously, delivering consistent audio quality with sometimes limited crew, taking a show from load-in through load-out independently when required.
  • Knowledge of live sound reinforcement principles, digital audio consoles and the workflow of building, saving, and recalling show files (Yamaha, DiGiCo, Allen & Heath, Avid).
  • Knowledge of RF and wireless microphone systems, audio-over-IP and digital audio networking as applied to production (Dante, AES67), and the networking fundamentals that support it.
  • Knowledge of broadcast and steaming audio requirements, studio recording and post-production practices.
  • Ability to lift, carry, and set up audio equipment and road cases, and work from ladders or lifts where loudspeaker deployment requires it.
  • Ability to travel to and work on-site at event venues, including some evenings and weekends as events require—approximately 20% travel (85% domestic, 15% international; the ability to obtain a valid passport is required for international travel).
Preferred Qualifications
  • Dante certification, AVIXA CTS (Certified Technology Specialist) or similar industry certifications.

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

Want to Know More About ADF? Statement of Faith

Based on our adherence to the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess with the Christian Church throughout time and around the world the faith expressed in the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Doctrinal Distinctives
  • We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • We believe that the Lordship of Christ requires us as disciples to seek to conform our actions, thoughts, and desires in obedience to Him.
  • We believe God creates each person with an immutable biological sex — male or female — that reflects the image and likeness of God.
  • We believe God designed marriage as a unique conjugal relationship joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, life-long union, and God intends sexual intimacy only to occur within that relationship.
  • We believe God endows all human life with inherent dignity, and it must be respected and protected from conception to natural death.
  • We believe that God has endowed all humans with the natural, and inalienable right of religious freedom to believe, pursue truth, and live within ordered liberty such that no civil government may justly infringe upon it.
  • We believe that God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, calls all of us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, knowing that He promises us abundant and eternal life.
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