Junior AV Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

About Canyon

Canyon is a new media art institution opening on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in fall 2026. Spanning approximately 40,000 square feet, the venue encompasses exhibition galleries, a 120-seat performance space, an 800-person event hall, a restaurant, bar, mezzanine café, and theater. Canyon presents two major exhibitions per year alongside a year-round program of live events, performances, screenings, and community programming.

Canyon's AV infrastructure is among the most technically sophisticated of any cultural institution of its scale, including a Pixera media server array, 70+ Genelec Smart IP speakers on a Dante network, permanent direct-view LED installations, and substantial portable AV and lighting inventory.

The Junior AV Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for the physical installation, operation, and day-to-day support of Canyon's audiovisual and theatrical systems across exhibitions, live events, and performances. This role places particular emphasis on theatrical production skills-hanging and focusing lights, rigging and installing speakers, running sound and lighting consoles-alongside broader AV support across Canyon's exhibition and event spaces.

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded technician with a strong foundation in live event production and a particular depth in sound. They should be equally at home running front of house for a live performance as they are carefully tuning the acoustic properties of a media art installation. This position reports to the Senior AV Engineer. This role's standard working hours are 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM, aligned with Canyon's public operating hours.

• Install, hang, focus, and strike theatrical lighting and speaker systems across Canyon's performance and event spaces
• Operate sound and lighting consoles for live events, performances, screenings, and programs in the 120-seat theater and 800-person event hall
• Mix front-of-house and monitor sound for live events, with a focus on achieving excellent audio quality across a range of programming
• Support the installation and maintenance of multichannel audio systems for media art exhibitions, including speaker placement, tuning, and acoustic calibration
• Assist the Senior AV Engineer with installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Canyon's AV infrastructure, including Dante audio network, LED systems, projection, and media servers
• Load in and load out portable AV, lighting, and staging equipment for events
• Perform routine maintenance and inventory management of portable AV and lighting equipment
• Collaborate with artists, curators, and production teams during exhibition installations and technical rehearsals
• Support the safe rigging and installation of exhibition and event elements in accordance with institutional safety standards
• Maintain clean, organized, and well-documented technical spaces, equipment storage, and cabling infrastructure

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in theatrical production, live event technical production, or a closely related field
• Strong proficiency in live sound mixing, including front-of-house and monitor engineering
• Hands-on experience operating professional lighting consoles (ETC Eos family, grandMA, or comparable)
• Experience hanging, focusing, and maintaining theatrical lighting fixtures and speaker systems
• Familiarity with audio signal flow, microphone techniques, and sound system tuning
• Comfort working at height on ladders, lifts, and rigging systems
• Experience with load-in/load-out workflows and live event turnarounds
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work calmly under time pressure
• Collaborative working style and excellent communication skills

• Experience with Dante audio networking and networked audio systems
• Familiarity with media art installation practices, multichannel audio, and immersive exhibition environments
• Experience in a museum, gallery, or cultural institution setting
• Knowledge of Q-SYS, Pixera, or other media server and DSP platforms
• Experience with DMX/sACN lighting control and basic show programming
• ETCP rigging certification or equivalent safety training
• Interest in or exposure to time-based media art and conservation

Salary: $55,000–$70,000, commensurate with experience.

Canyon offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Generous paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development opportunities

This is a full-time position. The 40-hour standard work week aligns with the museum's visitor hours. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain the following typical weekly schedule: Thursday through Monday, 2pm to 11pm. During non-public periods, -including exhibition turnovers, installation builds, and maintenance windows, anticipated to take place twice annually-the schedule will shift to conventional weekday hours. Some flexibility is expected based on programming needs.

This is a full-time position. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance; a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account; a 401(k) retirement account with a matching contribution; and tuition reimbursement.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.