WHAT YOU WILL DO
The successful candidate will play a key role in developing lighting concepts, coordinating with architectural and engineering teams, and advancing projects through documentation and construction. Designers in our Melbourne studio are actively involved in shaping the lighting strategy for projects and working directly with architects and clients.
Much of our work involves performing arts venues and cultural buildings where lighting, both in the auditorium and the spaces beyond it, plays an important role in shaping the visitor experience. Experience with stage lighting is advantageous but not essential. Designers with an interest in how lighting supports performance, architecture, and audience experience will be well suited to this work. Our projects often involve fast-moving design conversations and close collaboration with theatre practitioners, so designers who are comfortable working iteratively and responding to evolving ideas will thrive in this environment.
The role will be based in Melbourne and will involve collaboration with our lighting designers in our Chicago office. The role is well suited to designers currently working within a lighting design consultancy or multidisciplinary engineering firm.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING
The Senior Lighting Designer will contribute to projects from early concept through construction and commissioning. Working closely with architects, theatre planners, and engineering consultants, the role requires both creative design input and strong technical delivery.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Development of lighting concepts and design strategies for architectural and cultural projects
- Collaboration with architects, interior designers, and engineering teams to integrate lighting within the broader project design
- Preparation of lighting calculations, layouts, specifications, and equipment schedules
- Development of detailed documentation packages suitable for tender and construction
- Coordination of lighting controls, infrastructure, and integration with AV and theatrical systems where required
- Participation in design workshops and presentations with clients and project teams
- Collaboration with Schuler Shook designers in Melbourne and Chicago across shared projects
- Support during construction, including shop drawing review, site visits, and commissioning.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Degree in lighting design, architecture, theatre design, engineering, or a related discipline
- Typically, a minimum of 6 years of professional experience in lighting design
- Experience working within architectural project teams and coordinating with architects, engineers, and other consultants
- Demonstrated ability to develop lighting concepts and carry projects through documentation and construction
- Strong technical knowledge of lighting systems, controls, and fitting technologies
- Experience preparing drawings, specifications, and equipment schedules for tender and construction
- Proficiency in design and documentation software such as Revit and AutoCAD
- Experience with lighting calculation and visualisation tools such as Dialux, AGi32, or similar
- Experience with stage lighting or performance environments is advantageous but not essential
- Good time management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
WHAT WE’RE OFFERING
Our CBD studio is a collaborative and congenial environment where ideas are shared openly and projects are approached as a team effort. Working closely with architects, theatre practitioners, and cultural clients, designers have the opportunity to influence both the technical and experiential aspects of a project.
The Melbourne team is small, allowing designers to take meaningful responsibility within projects while continuing to learn from experienced colleagues across the practice. The role also offers the flexibility to work from home two days per week.
This is an opportunity to work on complex cultural projects, develop your design leadership, and contribute to venues that support artists, audiences, and communities.
Salary
Salary is expected to be in the range of AUD $110,000 to $135,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus superannuation at the applicable rate.
How to Apply
Please submit a CV and portfolio demonstrating relevant lighting design experience. Portfolios should include examples of built or realised projects and clearly indicate your role in each project. Applications can be sent to melbourneadmin@schulershook.com
ABOUT SCHULER SHOOK
Schuler Shook is an international theatre planning, lighting design, and AV consultancy with offices in Melbourne, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, San Francisco Bay, and New York. Across the practice we work on a wide range of building types, with an emphasis on cultural and performing arts projects.
From Melbourne we deliver theatre and cultural projects throughout Australia and New Zealand, working closely with architects, cultural institutions, and venue operators. Our work often brings together theatre planning, AV design, and architectural lighting to create venues that support both performance and audience experience.
Recent and ongoing projects include the QPAC Glasshouse Theatre at QPAC in Brisbane and the redevelopment of the State Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne along with a range of performing arts venues and cultural facilities across the region.
The Melbourne studio operates independently while remaining part of a broader international practice, with occasional collaboration with colleagues in our US offices. Our studio culture is collaborative and congenial. We work hard and take our work seriously, but we also enjoy the process and the people we work with.