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Lighting Department Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Rogers Electric

Lighting Technician

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$21 - $30/hr

Interact with store/facilities managers and maintenance department personnel What we're looking for: * 5+ years previous service/maintenance experience * 2-5 years previous lighting experience

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Lighting Department Manager information

What does a lighting department manager do?

A Lighting Department Manager oversees the operations of the lighting department in a film, television, theater, or event production. Their responsibilities include managing lighting technicians, coordinating with directors and designers to achieve creative lighting goals, and ensuring all equipment is maintained and safely operated. They are also in charge of budgeting for lighting needs, scheduling staff, and troubleshooting technical issues that arise during production. Their role is vital to creating the desired visual atmosphere and ensuring the safety and efficiency of lighting setups.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lighting department manager?

To thrive as a Lighting Department Manager, you need in-depth knowledge of lighting design, electrical systems, and project management, often backed by a degree in a relevant field and industry experience. Familiarity with lighting control software, CAD programs, and safety regulations is typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and strong communication skills help you manage teams, coordinate with clients, and deliver successful projects. These competencies ensure efficient operations, client satisfaction, and safe, high-quality lighting solutions.

What are some common challenges faced by a lighting department manager, and how can they be effectively addressed?

A Lighting Department Manager often encounters challenges such as balancing creative vision with budget constraints, coordinating schedules among multiple departments, and staying up-to-date with rapidly evolving lighting technologies. Effective communication with directors, production designers, and technical teams is essential to ensure everyone’s needs are met. Proactively planning, maintaining flexibility, and investing in ongoing training can help address these challenges, leading to smoother productions and a stronger team dynamic.

What is the difference between Lighting Department Manager vs Lighting Technician?

AspectLighting Department ManagerLighting Technician
CredentialsRelevant certifications (e.g., ETC, LDI), experience in lighting design and managementTechnical certifications, training in lighting operation and setup
Work EnvironmentOversees entire lighting department, manages teams, plans lighting strategiesOperates lighting equipment, sets up and maintains lighting during productions
Industry UsageUsed in film, theater, live events, and broadcast industries for leadership rolesCommonly employed on set or stage for technical execution

The Lighting Department Manager focuses on overseeing the entire lighting team, planning lighting strategies, and managing projects, while the Lighting Technician handles the hands-on setup, operation, and maintenance of lighting equipment. Both roles are essential in production environments but differ in responsibilities and scope.

Who is the head of the lighting department?

The head of the lighting department is typically the Lighting Department Manager, who oversees lighting design, crew coordination, and equipment management on set or stage. This role often requires knowledge of lighting techniques, industry standards, and leadership skills. The manager reports to the production or technical director and may hold certifications in lighting or related fields.

What are popular job titles related to Lighting Department Manager jobs in California?

For Lighting Department Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lighting Department Manager jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Lighting Department Manager jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Lighting Department Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Lighting Department Manager job openings:

Lighting Department Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lighting Department Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Warehouse Lead - Lighting Department

Live Events

Thousand Oaks, CA • On-site

$25 - $30/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Validate lighting show packages for completeness, compatibility, and show-specific requirements.

  • Support lighting data distribution and network setup and validation, including DMX, sACN, Art-Net, and related control protocols.

  • Provide technical guidance to Warehouse Technicians during lighting equipment return, QC, and prep.

Job description

About Live Events

Live Events is a national live event production company and AV partner with hubs in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Orlando, specializing in concerts, festivals, corporate events, and sports. Our full-service team delivers stage lighting, professional audio, LED video walls, and rigging for live entertainment across the country. Join a crew that powers some of the biggest stages across the country.

Position Summary / Objective

The Warehouse Lead - Lighting Department is the technical subject matter expert responsible for the organization, readiness, and technical accuracy of all lighting equipment within the production warehouse. This role does not have direct reports, but provides technical leadership and guidance to warehouse team members during pulling, staging, QC, and show preparation. The Warehouse Lead - Lighting Department ensures lighting fixtures, consoles, networking equipment, dimming, control systems, power-related components, and accessories are properly configured, tested, addressed, and ready for live event deployment.

Role Responsibilities

The following duties represent the primary responsibilities of the role. This list is not exhaustive. The individual in this position will perform additional tasks as assigned, adhere to all provisions of the Employee Manual, and participate in company initiatives and projects.

Technical Quality Control & Prep

  • Validate lighting show packages for completeness, compatibility, and show-specific requirements.
  • Address, patch, and prepare fixtures or lighting systems as required for show readiness.
  • Support lighting data distribution and network setup and validation, including DMX, sACN, Art-Net, and related control protocols.
  • Identify missing, damaged, incomplete, or incorrectly configured lighting equipment and communicate issues to the Warehouse Manager or Technical Services team.
  • Promote safe equipment handling, proper power/data practices, and careful packing of fixtures and control equipment.

Inventory & Warehouse Management

  • Maintain organization, accuracy, and readiness standards for lighting inventory within the warehouse.
  • Help establish and maintain prep standards, labeling practices, fixture organization and equipment storage methods.
  • Assist with cross-department warehouse work when needed while maintaining primary ownership of lighting readiness.

Leadership & Staff Development

  • Provide technical guidance to Warehouse Technicians during lighting equipment return, QC, and prep.
  • Assist in ongoing training and development of operations staff when necessary.

Process Improvement & Compliance

  • Ensure the organizational QC standards are being met.
  • Monitor recurring equipment issues and recommend repairs, process improvements, or inventory adjustments.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in a warehouse and technical production environment. The environment may include active warehouse movement, technical testing areas, changing priorities, and deadlines tied to show schedules.

Physical Demands

Frequent standing, walking, lifting, bending, reaching, and equipment handling required. Must be able to lift and move equipment up to 50 lbs. safely and consistently. Role may require handling moving lights, conventional fixtures, consoles, networking gear, dimmers, cable, road cases, truss accessories, and related production equipment.

Position Type / Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. The role follows a typical workday schedule; however, evening and weekend work may be required during high-volume sales periods.

Travel

This position does not require travel.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $25.00 – $30.00 per hour.

The final salary offered will be commensurate with the candidate's skills, qualifications, education, and relevant professional experience.

We also offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, which includes:

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • Retirement plan with employer contribution
  • Professional development opportunities

Required 

  • 2+ years of professional lighting, live event production, AV production, or production warehouse experience
  • Strong understanding of lighting systems, fixture types, control protocols, addressing, patching, and signal flow
  • Experience with DMX, sACN, Art-Net, lighting consoles, data distribution, dimming, and fixture configuration
  • Familiarity with lighting networking and troubleshooting
  • Basic understanding of power distribution and safe electrical practices
  • Ability to troubleshoot lighting systems and identify technical issues quickly
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain department-specific equipment standards
  • Ability to communicate clearly with warehouse, production, and technical team members
  • Comfortable serving as a technical lead without direct people management responsibilities
  • Experience in a fast-paced live event production environment

Apply