Head of Design and Production: Gallery Scale Works

POSITION TYPE: Full time, Salaried Employee-at-Will
BENEFITS: Health Insurance, PTO FLSA
NY WAGE & HOUR LAWS STATUS: Exempt
SALARY RANGE: $110–$115K

Leo Villareal Studio is a fine art studio located in Brooklyn, NY specializing in the creation of sequenced light artworks. We are looking for a new Head of Design and Production of Gallery Scale Artworks who will work in person in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Reporting to the Studio Director, this role will design and fabricate light sculptures and manage exhibition projects.

Leo Villareal Studio seeks a product design professional to lead the development of impeccably finished, high-performance custom LED light sculptures. The ideal candidate possesses ten years of expertise in bespoke product design and the cultivation of sophisticated vendor partnerships and fabrication systems necessary for precise artistic construction. This role demands a proactive leader to oversee the entire lifecycle, from initial R&D and rapid prototyping through complex fabrication and final onsite installation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

DESIGN STRATEGY
1. Lead the design and production of gallery artworks to maximize artistic quality while maintaining efficiency and scalability of systems.
2. Cultivate a vendor roster for design, fabrication, and contract assembly.
3. Balance in-house vs. outsourced design and optimize studio space use.
4. Define the guidelines for the use of off-the-shelf products versus custom components, setting guideposts for how to document and store each type.

DESIGN EXECUTION
1. Collaborate with the artist on R&D priorities and perform rapid prototyping.
2. Generate photorealistic visualizations of nascent concepts to facilitate high-level presentations and iterative artist reviews.
3. Develop holistic artwork systems including specifying LED components, specifying all other components, creating CAD models to communicate design requirements to vendors, determining production strategy for entire artwork.

PRODUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1. Deliver simultaneous projects on-budget and on-schedule.
2. Vet vendors, write technical specs, and manage RFPs/work orders.
3. Oversee production budgets and bi-weekly variance reporting.
4. Guide the budgeting for material and labor for multiple simultaneous projects.

EXHIBITION DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1. Design artworks for inclusion in exhibitions.
2. Design exhibitions in partnership with the artist.
3. Coordinate venue site preparation and supervise onsite installations.

DOCUMENTATION:
1. Record each step in the creation of an artwork, ensuring that a design is properly documented in the studio’s archive.
2. Create and maintain Bills of Materials for active projects.
3. Create artwork manuals and system diagrams.

QUALIFICATIONS
1. This position requires excellent attention to detail, including the ability to inspect artworks and artwork components with an exacting microvision.
2. This position requires experience specifying, designing, and fabricating electronic artwork, including the ability to draw complex metalwork in 2D and 3D and to specify build parameters for fabricators while overseeing a given fabricator's execution of the design.
3. This position requires experience in mechanical and electrical assembly, including crimping, wiring, and soldering.
4. This job requires proficiency with modern CAD, rendering, and creative tools.
5. Additionally, the following education and/or prior job experience is required: A college degree and at least five years of related experience in product design. The ideal candidate has 10 years of experience in product design or related pursuit.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please submit a portfolio, resume, and cover letter, along with three references. Only complete applications will be considered. Email applications to: [email protected].