Creative Tech Lead

Creative Tech Lead

Random Studio is an experience design studio with offices in Amsterdam and Paris. We specialize in creating experiences where the digital and physical seamlessly intertwine. By leveraging technology in a human, tangible manner, we aim to foster meaningful connections between people and the spaces they inhabit.

We are looking for a senior creative technologist to join our team in a lead role to develop the technology layer that brings experiences to life. 

Opportunity:

Creative Technical Direction

• Alongside a multi-disciplinary team, translate brand narratives into dynamic spatial experiences for client projects
• Architect robust interactive systems (including sensors, micro-controllers, show-control, and cloud hosting) that can survive high volume activations, as well as >12-month deployments
• Hands on development of prototypes for clients and partners 
• Research, spec, select and cost hardware solutions
• Own technical budgets, vendor selection, risk logs and technical project management 

People & Culture

• Inspire an internal multi-disciplinary team of strategists, architects and experience designers of what technology can make possible 
• Contribute to internal brainstorms and inspire ways of achieving wow ideas
• Run quarterly knowledge-sharing sessions for the studio
• Build and orchestrate a freelance community: curate a tight roster of creative coders and hardware engineers for current and potential future projects

Strategic R&D

• Identify a diverse array of technology like edge-AI vision, as well as steer a research program and budget

Advocacy

• Champion Random’s tech vision to the outside world by publishing on Random social channels, as well as participating at speaking events 
• Run quarterly dynamic demos so clients feel the tech and not just hear about it

You’ll love this if you…

• Have a high sense of agency. Nobody will micromanage you; you’ll set your own roadmap in dialogue with department leads.
• Being a hands-on maker within a studio environment.
• Crave variety. One week you’re crafting a “light organ” for a Chanel pavilion, the next you’re talking about the ethics of computer vision on stage.
• Enjoy blank pages. You will define tools, standards, and drive tech culture at the studio.

You might struggle if you…

• Prefer rigid hierarchies and neatly scoped tickets
• Need an in-house technical team to direct
• Dislike occasional 12-hour install days or rapid context-switching

Experience:

Required:

• 8 -12 yrs track record delivering physical-digital experiences at agency, museum, luxury retail or scale-ups
• Relevant experience creating creative interactive applications (e.g. installations, visual coding, technology-driven artworks, and multimedia)
• Experience creating experiences that utilize machine learning
• Confidence with hardware orchestration: DMX, OSC, MIDI, PoE, LoRa
• Experience with a variety of audiovisual tech, including but not limited to:
  • Light control over DMX / Art-Net
  • Projectors and other digital displays
  • Video and sound
• Experience with sensor inputs, including: actuators, proximity sensors, cameras (and computer vision based tracking systems), etc. 
• Solid understanding of networking and IT 
• Skilled in C++ (especially using OpenFrameworks and/or Cinder), or the equivalent in some other programming language suitable for interactive projects
• Working knowledge of Rust
• Web development experience, especially frontend technologies, including WebGL/WebGPU, WebAudio, etc.
• Experience programming and interfacing with microcontrollers (e.g. Arduino, Teensy, ESP32) for sensing and/or control
• Maintain existing studio technical systems and infrastructure
• Proficiency in English 

Bonus:

• Experience working with other toolsets (TouchDesigner, VVVV, MaxMSP)
• Experience with 3D printing
• Experience with technical fixture design
• Experience with visualisation using Cinema 4D or similar
• Cross-platform experience (Linux/MacOS/Windows)
• Full-stack web development skills

General Information:

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Employment Status: Full-time

Compensation: Paid position

Duration: Permanent

Start Date: ASAP

Diversity & Inclusion Statement:

At Random Studio, we believe in the power of diversity and inclusivity to create innovative and inspiring work. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, as we believe that a diverse team enriches our culture and challenges the status quo. We foster an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring their authentic selves, and we strive to provide an unbiased and accessible recruitment process. If you require any accommodations due to a disability during the application process, please inform us so that we can accommodate your needs.

If you possess the required skills and experience and are excited to join our dynamic team in creating extraordinary experiences, please send us your resume. We are looking forward to meeting you!