Back to jobs
New

Theater Planner

Los Angeles, California, United States

DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place.

DLR Group's Theater Planning team is growing. We're searching for a Theater Planner to join us in our Los Angeles studio.

About Theater Planning at DLR Group

DLR Group’s Theater Planning team brings together experienced theater practitioners who understand how performance and entertainment venues work from every perspective—patrons, performers, technicians, designers, and arts leaders. In close collaboration with our architecture, interiors, and engineering teams, we create performance spaces and technical systems that support storytelling, enhance the user experience, and adapt to the evolving needs of the performing arts. Our work combines deep industry knowledge, technical expertise, and a shared passion for creating places that inspire connection and creativity.

Position Summary

As a Theater Planner at DLR Group, you will participate in the planning, design, and documentation of performance venues and theatrical systems as part of our integrated design teams. Working alongside architects, engineers, project managers, and experienced theater planners, you will contribute to the development of functional, technically sound spaces that support performance, production, and audience experience. This role is ideal for an emerging theater planning professional who brings technical curiosity, strong communication skills, and an understanding of how performance spaces operate. 

If you are a creative collaborator with a strategic mindset this might be the position for you. DLR Group is 100% employee owned and as such you’ll enjoy the opportunity to have ownership in the Firm. We rely on all our employee-owners to apply their financial acumen to grow the Firm profitably.  

What you will do

  • Participate in the planning and design of performance venues, including performance space typologies, seating layouts, sightlines, stage lighting, rigging, and stage machinery 
  • Prepare detailed drawings, specifications, and other project documentation for theatrical equipment systems 
  • Collaborate with architects, engineers, project managers, and other design disciplines to integrate theater planning requirements into the overall project 
  • Communicate the functional intent and technical requirements of theater planning and equipment system design decisions to project teams 
  • Apply building, fire, electrical, and other applicable codes and standards to performance venues and places of assembly 
  • Develop and coordinate project documentation using Revit, AutoCAD, and other design technologies 
  • Apply BIM standards and participate in project coordination, clash detection, and QA/QC processes 
  • Review construction materials, methods, and building systems as they relate to theater planning and theatrical equipment 
  • Manage assigned tasks across multiple projects and project phases while meeting established schedules and work plans 
  • Participate in design discussions, contribute ideas, and continue developing technical and professional expertise in theater planning and design 

Required Qualifications:

  • Undergraduate degree in Theater, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field 
  • At least 4 years of professional experience in theater planning, theatrical design, architecture, engineering, or a related field 
  • Working knowledge of theater design concepts, including performance space typologies, seating layouts and sightlines, stage lighting, and stage rigging and machinery 
  • Understanding of performance venue operations and the theatrical production process 
  • Proficiency in computer aided drafting and/or modeling; Revit proficiency is highly preferred 
  • Working knowledge of design documentation, technical drawings, and specifications 
  • Working knowledge of building materials, construction methods, and applicable building, fire, and electrical codes 
  • Strong written, verbal, and graphic communication skills 
  • Ability to manage multiple assignments and projects while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail 

Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position, including temporary visas such as E, F-1 (including OPT and CPT), TN, J, H-1B, or those who need employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of Bluebeam and AutoCAD 
  • Experience preparing theatrical equipment system drawings and specifications 
  • Experience working on performing arts centers, theaters, auditoriums, or other assembly and performance venues 
  • Familiarity with BIM coordination and clash detection processes 
  • Knowledge of sustainable design principles and their application to technical design documentation 
  • Experience collaborating within multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, or design teams 
  • Ability to clearly communicate complex theater planning and technical system requirements to team members outside the theater planning discipline 

#LI-MIS

Our comprehensive Benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills. The suggested pay range for this position is:

Pay Range

$65,000 - $87,000 USD

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.

DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.

 

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at DLR Group? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Example: https://www.linkedin.com/in/username

Enter N/A if you do not have a LinkedIn Profile

Portfolio/Work Samples (PDF Preferred)

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Please list your current primary residence 

Please list your current primary residence

Please list your current primary residence

Select...

Please list your current primary residence

Please list your current primary residence

Select...

Please list your current primary residence

Select...

If yes, please list their name and your connection to the employee.

Select...
Select...

Please note that if you have, or will have, an F-1 (CPT, OPT or STEM OPT), H-1B, TN, J1 or E-3 visa, then the answer to this question will likely be "Yes".

Select...

(Note that such restrictions may be found in different types of agreements, including, but not limited to, employment contracts, stock awards, and sales incentive plans. Indicating that you are subject to a restrictive covenant will not disqualify you from consideration for this position. You should disclose any such restrictive covenant and  be prepared to provide a full, signed copy of the restrictive covenant if requested.)

Select...

If yes, please specify in next question

Select...
Select...
Select...

Please note, not every role is available in every office. Revisit the job posting for specific location details.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in DLR Group’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...