Experience Specialist, Technology

ABOUT US

Discovery Place (DP) brings science, nature, and design together to create transformative experiences that enable our community to understand, enjoy and apply science to their lives. Operating four museums in the greater Charlotte, NC metropolitan area, serving more than 700,000 people a year through Museum visits, interactive in-school educational programming and community outreach initiatives. Founded in 1946, Discovery Place is shaping a future where people embrace science to create opportunities, build hope, solve problems and bring positive change for our world. Come science with us!

Summary

The Science Content & Experience Specialist, Technology serves as Discovery Place’s subject-matter expert in emerging and applied technologies and their role in science, society, and everyday life. This position brings education, innovation, creativity, and technical expertise to Discovery Place by developing scientifically accurate, engaging, and participatory education experiences that help visitors understand, explore, and question the technologies shaping our world.

The Specialist identifies emerging technologies and translates them into compelling educational content and curriculum, exhibits, programs, demonstrations, digital experiences, and hands-on activities across Discovery Place Science, Charlotte Museum of Nature, Discovery Place Kids, and Youth Development programming.

Technology areas may include, but are not limited to, robotics, artificial intelligence, computer science, automation, data science, digital fabrication, electronics, sensors, immersive technologies, computational tools, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies. The Specialist is not expected to be an expert in every technology area but serves as a technology generalist who understands fundamental principles, identified meaningful applications, and can rapidly learn and collaborate with other experts as technologies evolve.

The role goes beyond teaching visitors how to use technology. The Specialist helps visitors understand how technologies work, how they are used to solve problems and advance science, what they can and cannot do, and how they are changing the way we live and understand the world.

As an educational institution committed to advancing its mission through exceptional learning experiences and meaningful guest engagement, Discovery Place values experiences that inspire curiosity, foster connection, and empower people to think critically and create confidently. The Specialist will collaborate within the Science and Nature Division and across Early Learning, Youth Development, Exhibits, Research and Evaluation and other teams to create meaningful technology experiences throughout the Discovery Place network.

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Technology Content Expertise

This position serves as Discovery Place’s technology content expert with responsibility for identifying, understanding, and translating technologies that have the potential to advance science, change society, or transform how people interact with the world. Areas of expertise may include: artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science and computational thinking, robotics and autonomous systems, data science, data visualization and digital information, electronics, sensors, and physical computing, human-computer interaction, environmental monitoring technologies, simulation and modeling, coding and programming or other emerging technologies.

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Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Content Development

· Serve as subject-matter expert and internal resource on emerging and applied technologies.

· Research, synthesize, and translate current developments in technology for use in exhibits, programs, digital content, demonstrations, and public experiences for audiences from early learners to adults.

· Identify technologies with strong potential for science learning, visitor engagement, and interdisciplinary exploration.

· Develop content that helps visitors understand how technologies work, why they matter, and how they are changing science and society.

· Incorporate authentic examples of technologies used in scientific research, medicine, environmental science, engineering, space science, biology, or other fields.

· Help visitors understand both the capabilities and limitations of emerging technologies.

· Create content that moves beyond passive demonstrations toward active exploration and discovery.

· Develop experiences that allow visitors to act as inventors, engineers, scientists, designers, programmers, and/or technology innovators.

Teaching

· Develop and teach experiences for audiences from Pre-K through adult learners, including camps, classes, workshops, demonstrations, museum-floor experiences, special events, and fee-based programs.

· Adapt teaching strategies for different ages, backgrounds, interests, and levels of technical expertise.

· Support after-hours programs, adult learning, special events, and other public-facing opportunities, as needed.

Exhibit and Project Design

· Explore and prototype emerging technologies for potential applications in Discovery Place experiences.

· Contribute technology expertise to the development, renovation, refresh, and evaluation of exhibits across Discovery Place by collaborating with designers and fabricators from Exhibits team.

· Identify opportunities to replace static interpretation with experiences that allow visitors to interact with, experiment with, and questions technology

Collaboration and Mentorship

· Work closely with the Content and Experience, Early Learning, Exhibit, Research and Evaluation, Youth Development, and other teams toward shared goals.

· Mentor colleagues and volunteers on safe, effective facilitation, tool use, and creative engagement strategies.

· Collaborate with schools, community organizations, STEM partners, and technology educators to extend the reach and relevance of programming

· Support the creation of contracted projects, including curriculum or learning materials for schools, museums, and educational media partners.

Mission + Sustainability

· Understand and communicate the connection between Discovery Place’s mission, visitor experience, and financial sustainability.

· Develop programs and experiences that simultaneously advance learning, engagement, participation, and earned revenue goals.

· Identify opportunities for innovative technology experiences that support Discovery Place’s long-term sustainability.

· Contribute to a culture of innovation, experimentation, accountability, and operational excellence.

· Serve as an internal resource and advocate for thoughtful incorporation of technology in storytelling, exhibit design, programming, and visitor experience.

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Competencies

· Technology Expertise Understand broad knowledge of emerging and applied technologies and maintains awareness of rapidly evolving technological developments.

· Scientific and Technical Curiosity Seeks to understand how technologies work, why they matter, and how they are being applied to real-world problems.

· Innovation and Creativity Displays creativity, resourcefulness, and design thinking with cutting-edge technology.

· Problem Solving and Critical Thinking – Identifies challenges and addresses responsible use of technological tools, develops effective, safe, and creative solutions.

· Customer Service – Provides exceptional, inclusive, and welcoming guest experiences for museum visitors.

· Adaptability – Adjusts to shifting project needs and embraces emerging technologies to ensure programming reflects the rapidly changing technology landscape.

· Collaboration – Works cross-departmentally and with external scientific and technology partners.

· Quality & Safety – Maintains high standards for scientific accuracy, technology implementation, equipment uses, and public safety.

· Mission & Sustainability Awareness – Understands how exceptional technology experiences contribute to Discovery Place’s mission, community impact, attendance, participation, and financial sustainability.

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Qualifications

Required

· Bachelor’s degree in a technology, STEM, engineering, science education, or related field; master’s degree preferred.

· Demonstrated knowledge of one or more technology domains and the ability to learn and work across multiple technology areas.

· Experience developing or delivering technology, STEM, maker, engineering, or informal learning experiences.

· Demonstrated ability to explain complex technological concepts to nontechnical audiences.

· Knowledge of coding platforms, digital tools, fabrication technologies, computing hardware, and safe operation of maker equipment.

· Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred

· Experience in a science museum, technology museum, natural history museum, informal learning environment, or related setting.

· Experience communicating science, technology engineering to public audiences.

· Experience with platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, LEGO SPIKE, microcontrollers, sensors, electronics, 3D printing, digital fabrication, or comparable technologies.

· North Carolina teaching certificate or equivalent.

· Bilingual ability

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Schedule and Expectations

· Schedule may include weekends, evenings, holidays, school breaks, and special events.

· The position includes a combination of direct visitor engagement, content development, experience prototyping, project collaboration, and program delivery.

· The Specialist is expected to think boldly, experiment fearlessly, and advance the culture of science and innovation throughout Discovery Place’s network.

Work Environment

While performing duties, the employee regularly works in a dynamic museum environment that may include exposure to saws, drills, soldering equipment, and other maker tools. The employee may also work in outdoor or public event settings. The noise level is typically loud and high-energy.

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Physical Demands

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The position requires regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, and tool use. Clear communication, attention to safety, and responsive guest interaction are essential.

Discovery Place Core Values

Discovery Place employees uphold the mission, vision, and values of the organization. We strive to provide exceptional service through four core values: uncommon courtesy, pursuit of personal excellence, teamwork, and inclusion. We value diversity of thought and create spaces where employees and guests alike feel a sense of belonging.

Employees of Discovery Place should uphold the mission, vision and values of the organization. We create positive change in our communities through our four core values: (1) science leads us, (2) equity drives us, (3) integrity guides us, and (4) innovation energizes us. We value the diversity of opinions and intellectual thought and encourage an environment where employees can share ideas openly.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities of this job. Other duties may be assigned. This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks or change existing ones as management deems necessary.