Job Title: Equipment Lead
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Duration: 9+Months Contract with Strong Likelihood of Extension
About The Role:
We're looking for an Equipment Lead to join the Equipment team at a leading global consumer brand's Los Angeles photo and film studio. We seek someone with experience in a fast-paced environment who knows how to proactively manage and track equipment both in-house and sub-rented. In addition to equipment knowledge, this person should be well versed in digital and motion equipment digi-carts, monitors, cable management, RED cameras, cinema lenses, and camera support. This person should have solid proficiency working cross-functionally with production and digital teams.
We seek a leader who can grow a team of players with clear direction, collaboration, and an ability to run point. This leader will explore new ways of thinking and problem solving, while managing multiple projects in a time-sensitive environment and keeping production moving forward.
What You Will Work On:
Lead a shift of 3 to 4 team members in daily support of 5+ working photo sets
Schedule and direct the flow of an 8-bay editorial floor ensuring bays are built, lit, and metered before shooting begins each morning
Oversee daily inventory tracking for in-house and sub-rented equipment
Input equipment lists into the studio tracking system to support e-commerce, editorial, and motion sets
Read, follow, and measure out detailed lighting diagrams as part of the weekly set-flip cadence
Guide your peers day to day in building sets to spec using lighting diagram SOPs
Adapt on the fly to lighting changes, set flips, and shoot schedule changes
Quality control, troubleshoot, and log malfunctioning equipment to send out for repair
Participate in production planning and future planning meetings
Get to know the broader 30-person roster in order to schedule the right people to the right roles
Who You Will Work With:
Stage hands, grips, gaffers, camera operators and set-up staff, plus cross-functional partners across production and digital teams.
Must Have:
5 years of direct studio managing experience
Experience leading a small team
Experience working on film and photo sets
In-depth understanding of lighting and grip, with safety as a priority
Experience creating and replicating detailed lighting diagrams; firm knowledge of measuring and rigging to scale multiple identical photo and video sets
Proven ability to support and lead peers through new workflows and processes
Ability to balance multiple time-sensitive projects alongside daily responsibilities
Expert-level communication, listening, and organization skills
A keen eye for detail, cleanliness, and organization
Strong ability to problem solve camera and lighting malfunctions in real time
Ability to be on your feet and moving throughout the day (no heavy lifting required)
Nice To Have:
Experience with cinema cameras, particularly RED Komodo X
Experience with Blue Circle or TrakIt equipment tracking software
Proficiency with Airtable and Figma
Proficiency with Microsoft Suite
Education:
No education requirements this is an experience-based role.