Position Title: Senior AV/Technology Consultant
Company Overview:
At Salas O'Brien, we're dedicated to engineering for impact. Our mission to make a difference is at the core of everything we do, from our projects to our team culture. We strive to embody values of inspiration, achievement, and connection, fostering collective ownership and a sustainable future.
Established in 1975, Salas O'Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on creating impact for our clients, team members, and the world. We know that today’s challenges bring tomorrow’s opportunities, and we’re here to design innovative, lasting solutions.
We specialize in creating environments where people connect, perform, and thrive. Our team consults on projects ranging from performing arts centers and universities to corporate campuses, cultural venues, and entertainment destinations. By integrating technology, acoustics, lighting and theatre systems, we help clients deliver experiences that inspire and engage.
Responsibilities:
As a Senior AV Design Consultant, you will lead client strategy, interdisciplinary coordination, and design quality for performing arts, corporate, educational, sports, faith-based, and community venue projects. This role guides clients and design teams from early visioning through construction administration, helping deliver integrated AV, theatrical lighting, rigging, stage systems, acoustics, and technology solutions that support memorable audience, worship, learning, and performance experiences. Responsibilities include developing preliminary designs, design drawings, and technical documentation; collaborating with architects, engineers, clients, and internal design team members; preparing presentation materials; guiding architectural integration of systems and equipment; and coordinating technical requirements across disciplines. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, collaborative, and effective in a professional design environment.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of audiovisual systems.
- Experience with related systems such as theatrical lighting, stage rigging, and acoustics desirable to lead efforts and coordination.
- Lead clients and design teams through the design process.
- Possess a thorough understanding of the design and construction process.
- Coordinate system requirements with architects, mechanical, electrical and structural engineers.
- Prepare design drawings and specification packages.
- Conduct site surveys and document existing technical systems.
- Provide construction administration support, including review of submittals and RFIs.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, physics, theatre, architecture, or a related field.
- A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in either design consulting or systems integration.
- Strong work ethic and collaborative mindset.
- Clear communication skills with strong organization and time-management abilities.
- Ability to lead and work effectively both independently and within a team environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Revit and AutoCAD
- Experience with audio and acoustic testing or modeling software (Smaart, EASE, Treble, etc).
- Experience with performing arts, entertainment, faith-based, corporate or higher education project types.
- Experience with speaker modeling, AV system commissioning, or construction administration for complex technical systems.
- Ability to translate client goals into coordinated design solutions across architecture, engineering, and specialty technology disciplines.
Location: Dan Diego or Southern California.
Work Model: Hybrid.
Travel: As needed for project work (typically up to 10%)
Compensation & Benefits
The expected base salary range for this role is $95,000 - $120,000 USD per year depending on experience. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.
This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
- Professional development support
For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement:
Salas O'Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Salas O'Brien will accommodate disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.
Education:
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, physics, theatre, architecture, or a related field.
Qualifications Education Preferred Bachelors or better. Experience Preferred A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in either design consulting or systems integration. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, physics, theatre, architecture, or a related field
- 5-10 years of experience in design consulting or systems integration
- Thorough understanding of audiovisual systems
- Understanding of the design and construction process
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Revit, and AutoCAD
- Experience with audio and acoustic testing or modeling software such as Smaart, EASE, or Treble
- Experience with performing arts, entertainment, faith-based, corporate, or higher education projects
- Experience with speaker modeling, AV system commissioning, or construction administration for complex technical systems
- Strong communication, organization, time-management, collaboration, and leadership skills
- Experience with theatrical lighting, stage rigging, and acoustics
Salas O'Brien Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Salas O'Brien and has not been reviewed or approved by Salas O'Brien.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare options include multiple medical, dental, and vision plans with an individual medical option at no premium, plus no‑cost preventive medications and mental‑health resources. Employer‑paid disability and life coverage further strengthen the safety net.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes a base PTO allotment plus company office‑closure days and paid parental leave for births, adoptions, and foster placements. Feedback suggests the breadth of leave is a standout component of the package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits include a 401(k) employer match with a potential additional company stock contribution, along with RRSP support in Canada and a student‑loan payment 401(k) match in the U.S. These features provide structured long‑term savings support beyond base pay.
Salas O'Brien Insights
What We Do
Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact™, helping clients achieve critical goals, advancing our team members through growth and opportunity, and operating at the center of important global issues, including sustainability and decarbonization. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.
