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Professor Lighting Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... lighting equipment, with more than 290+ stores across the United States.  2014 marked the ... Knowledge in Crestron Toolbox, biamp and Q-Sys Designer suites * Ability to communicate with ...

... lighting equipment, with more than 290+ stores across the United States.  2014 marked the ... Knowledge in Crestron Toolbox, biamp and Q-Sys Designer suites * Ability to communicate with ...

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Professor Lighting Designer information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Professor Lighting Designer, and why are they important?

To succeed as a Professor Lighting Designer, you need a strong background in lighting design, theater production, and an advanced degree (often MFA or PhD) in a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard lighting control systems (such as ETC or GrandMA), design software like Vectorworks, and teaching platforms is essential. Exceptional communication, creativity, mentorship abilities, and organizational skills distinguish outstanding professionals in this role. These competencies ensure effective teaching, innovative design work, and the ability to guide and inspire students in both academic and practical environments.

What are Professor Lighting Designers?

Professor Lighting Designers are professionals who teach lighting design at the college or university level, while also often working as lighting designers for theater, film, television, or live events. They combine academic responsibilities—such as lecturing, mentoring students, and conducting research—with practical experience in designing lighting setups for productions. Their role is to educate future lighting designers by sharing industry knowledge, overseeing student projects, and sometimes managing campus productions. Additionally, they may contribute to scholarly work in the field of lighting design.

How does a Professor Lighting Designer typically collaborate with other faculty and students on theatrical productions?

A Professor Lighting Designer often works closely with directors, set designers, technical staff, and students to create cohesive lighting plans for university productions. They mentor student designers, supervise lighting crews, and lead workshops or courses on lighting techniques. Collaboration is key, as professors must balance their creative vision with educational objectives, ensuring students gain hands-on experience while meeting the artistic needs of each show. This teamwork fosters a supportive learning environment and helps prepare students for professional work in the field.

What is the difference between Professor Lighting Designer vs Lighting Designer?

AspectProfessor Lighting DesignerLighting Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in theater, lighting design, or related field; often with teaching credentialsRequires a degree or certification in lighting design or related discipline
Work EnvironmentAcademic settings, theaters, universities, and training programsPerformance venues, film, television, events, and architectural projects
Employer & IndustryUniversities, colleges, and educational institutionsProduction companies, theaters, event organizers, architectural firms

While both roles involve lighting design expertise, Professor Lighting Designer primarily works in educational and academic settings, focusing on teaching and research, whereas Lighting Designer works in live productions, events, and commercial projects. The roles share foundational skills but differ in environment and focus.

More about Professor Lighting Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Professor Lighting Designer jobs? Cities with the most Professor Lighting Designer job openings:
What states have the most Professor Lighting Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Professor Lighting Designer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Professor Lighting Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Professional Track Teaching Faculty Positions in Architectural Engineering

Penn State University

University Park, PA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 7 days ago


Penn State University rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 100 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

173rd of 536 rated colleges and universities


Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Department of Architectural Engineering (AE) at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for one or more full-time, professional-track (non-tenure-line) teaching faculty or Professor of Practice positions in architectural engineering. Priority will be given to faculty candidate(s) in the building construction, mechanical, and/or structural disciplines, with preference for integrative experience. Successful candidate(s) will teach undergraduate courses and, if qualified, graduate courses, advise students, and contribute to the department through service and committee work.
Preference will be given to applicants with significant construction industry- and/or design-related U.S. experience, and to those who hold, or are expected to hold by the time of the appointment, a doctoral degree in architectural engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field. Engineers with a master's degree and significant relevant industry experience are also invited to apply and will be considered for a Professor of Practice position. Candidates should be, or intend to be, licensed as a professional engineer (P.E.) or a certified construction manager (CCM), or similar qualification, and have demonstrated teaching experience through academic courses, professional conference presentations, or related activities. Please see https://policy.psu.edu/policies/ac21 for the definitions of academic ranks and promotion opportunities for non-tenure-line faculty at Penn State. Title and rank will be determined by education, experience, and other qualifications.
To apply, please submit a single PDF file (5 MB max) that includes:
  • a one-page cover letter,
  • a curriculum vitae,
  • a two-page statement of teaching, highlighting teaching philosophy, experience, and courses or topics they are interested in teaching,
  • an executive summary of industry work performed, highlighting their roles, responsibilities, and contributions to the projects, or one technical publication, and
  • contact information for three references.

System limitations allow for a total of 5 documents (5mb per document) as part of your application. Please combine materials to meet the 5-document limit.
Application reviews will begin on April 30th, 2026, and continue until filled, with a preferred start date before fall 2026 classes.
The position is housed within the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State. Widely acknowledged as one of the top architectural engineering programs in the world, the department's primary mission is to advance the built environment through the development of world-class architectural engineers and research. The vision of the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State is to lead the world in innovative education and research to achieve high-performing built environments. Our program emphasizes the scientific and engineering aspects of planning, designing, and constructing buildings, providing our architectural engineering graduates with outstanding education and research opportunities.
The AE Department has a tradition of excellence in teaching and education for the built environment, integrating scholarly work with leading industry practice and a distinctive emphasis on systems integration. The AE Department has 19 full-time faculty, including three current professional-track faculty and three with joint appointments with other departments. The faculty span four major instructional areas: construction, lighting/electrical, mechanical, and structures, while emphasizing the systems-engineering integration of these technologies to achieve optimal building performance. The department is active in research and confers a full range of degrees, including the Ph.D. and M.S./M.Eng./M.A.E. at the graduate level and the 5-year ABET-accredited degree at the undergraduate level. We currently enroll 66 graduate students, 408 B.A.E. undergraduate students, including 109 integrated B.A.E./M.A.E. students (all included in the B.A.E. count).
The Architectural Engineering Department has recently moved to a new facility, the Engineering Collaborative Research and Education Building (ECoRE), which opened in the fall of 2024. The building features cutting-edge teaching facilities and unique research laboratories, offering revolutionary opportunities for the AE Department, including laboratories focused on building materials science and the synthesis of novel, high-performance, and carbon-negative building components; indoor air quality and aerobiology; full-scale facade component testing under simulated thermal and solar conditions; construction robotics, automation, and virtual workforce training; immersive 3D building visualization and BIM and virtual twin innovation; multi-modal (HVAC, IAQ lighting/daylighting, acoustic) occupant-built environment interaction human factors research; building controls and simulation optimization; and lighting and illumination perception research and photometric testing, along with innovative teaching demonstrations and student studios and instructional venues. These are complemented by the shared resources offered in the adjacent Engineering Design and Innovation Building, opened in the summer of 2023, including a world-class strong wall/strong floor large-scale structural testing laboratory and first-rate student maker spaces. Penn State also benefits from a shared 40,000-core supercomputing cluster, a sophisticated and comprehensive instrumentation suite in the Materials Characterization Laboratory, and other university-wide institutes and laboratories.
This position is for resident teaching, located in State College, Pennsylvania, which has been repeatedly voted as one of the most desirable and safest places to live in the United States. State College fosters a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable community. The region offers outstanding public schools, reasonable housing costs, a calendar of social and cultural events, and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. State College is served by a regional airport and is within driving distance to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Baltimore, and New York City. Please see https://happyvalley.com and https://www.statecollegepa.us for more information about State College and its surroundings.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
BENEFITS
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.
For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.
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