Job Details

Senior Media Equipment Technician

Position Number: 7318691
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Communications - Film and Video

Senior Media Equipment Technician

Hourly Range:

$29.68 per hour - $33.72 per hour

About SMU:

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

The Media Equipment Technician maintains and oversees work spaces associated with the Film and Media Arts and Journalism and Fashion Media Divisions, including an equipment cage, video editing labs, and audio booth.

The position hires, trains, and supervises student workers to assist in the equipment cage, and actively supports students and faculty in production and study courses and projects.

Essential Functions:

Responsible for overseeing the use of equipment by faculty and students in the divisions. Ensuring policies and procedures are followed, including ensuring all equipment is checked out and checked back in, and checked for functionality. This includes maintaining inventory and checkouts in our available software solution and ensuring all equipment and materials are properly stored.
Learning new applications, technologies, skill, hardware, and equipment through hands-on experimentation and direct application and provides training, coaching and assistance to faculty members and students within the academic unit. This is done through appointment based and scheduled in-class equipment and film technique training sessions as well as the creation of video tutorials.
Managing the department's stockroom, production spaces, video editing labs and sound lab. This includes software updates on computers in our video and sound editing labs.
Overseeing maintenance, repair, and of acquisition of checkout equipment (as needed). Actively supports the changing curricular needs of the faculty. Works closely with the chair of the divisions, production faculty, and colleagues to recommend software and hardware purchases based on budgets and department needs.
Managing student workers including their keeping track of their schedules, official time approval, filling open positions and scheduling workers according to equipment checkout needs.
Responsible for purchasing for Cage and lab related needs and repairs.
Enhancing professional knowledge/skills by attending seminars, workshops and reviewing published literature in additional to establishing relationships with others at SMU and with other leading higher education institutions.
Serving the entire University community as part of OIT's Academic Technology team. Assists Academic Technology team members by being a cross-functional shared resource that can partner with or backup other academic team members as required. Collaborates and leads projects in the Academic Technology team as assigned by the Associate CIO and Director in conjunction with the Meadows Chair and/or Dean.
Collaborate and cross-train with colleagues in Meadows Digital Arts and Services to fully support all equipment checkout and lab/production spaces in Film & Journalism and provide backup assistance for recording and streaming of live Meadows events as needed.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Associate's degree is required. Bachelor's preferred. A degree in Film and Media Arts, production, videography, or event management desired.

A minimum of two years of work experience with video, audio, and lighting (e.g. digital cameras, light kits, digital audio recorders, and microphones) is required. Hands-on experience as a filmmaker, DP, or related roles, desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills for interacting with students, faculty, vendors, and equipment technicians. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills. Strong project management skills are essential.

Candidate must have basic computer and software fluency in Apple products and Mac OS X. A strong working knowledge of video editing and media arts software, including but not limited to the Adobe Creative Suite and Pro Tools, required. The ability to master new software and skills quickly to keep current with ever-changing technological and curricular needs of the department is essential.

A working knowledge and or experience with 16mm cameras preferred. Experience with editing software (Adobe Premiere and/or AVID) desired.

Candidate must have a strong working of video and audio workflows from development to final delivery. This position calls for someone who is able to take the lead on implementing relevant production equipment and software in ways that serve the evolving needs of Film and Journalism.

The ability to stay engaged with technological developments in digital filmmaking and media arts is essential. Interest in the pedagogy of filmmaking and in working with students preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time
Bend, squat, stand, kneel
Reach above shoulders
Handle objects (dexterity)
Push/pull
Carry/lift over 50lbs

Deadline to Apply:

August 5, 2026

Priority consideration may be given to submission received by July 24, 2026.

EEO Statement:

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas

Job: Arts/Theaters

Organization: Meadows School of the Arts

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Staff

Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Type: Full-time

Job Level: Day Job

Travel: No

Job Posting: Jul 10, 2026, 3:30:12 PM

To apply, visit https://smu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=MEA00000161&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC