Scenic Painter/Prop Carpenter

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values:

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

The School of Theatre, Television, and Film provides a high-quality education for undergraduate and graduate students that emphasizes excellence in the arts and technology, grounded in conceptual and historical foundations.

This position assists the Scenic Charge Artist/Prop Master with the preparation, construction, maintenance, and operation of props for rehearsals and performances. Painting scenery pieces and stage properties as described by the designer and directed by the Scenic Charge Artist/Prop Master, helping to maintain cleanliness of tools and shop areas, upholding all OSHA and campus EH&S laws and regulations.  

• →Assist with the construction, modification, painting, and repair of props and hand props
• →Pull, organize, transport, and maintain props for rehearsals and performances
• →Prepare rehearsal props and ensure performance props are properly preset and maintained
• →Support load-ins, strikes, inventory management, and storage organization
• →Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment
• →Collaborate effectively with faculty, students, designers, stage managers, and production staff
• →Perform other duties as assigned by the Scenic Charge Artist/Prop Master
• →Assimilate and execute scenic paint work skills taught on the job.
• →Paint scenery according to demonstrated techniques.
• →Help move, arrange, set up scenery, and assist in the preparation of surfaces for painting.
• →Instruct other shop employees on the proper application of scenic techniques.
• →Touch up scenery after load-in.
• →Assist in maintenance of the Paint Shop and mixing area.

• Previous experience in theatre, opera, dance, or live event production preferred
• Familiarity with backstage operations and theatrical production processes
• Experience with prop construction, carpentry, painting, crafts, upholstery, sewing, or related skills is highly desirable
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Ability to lift and move production materials and work safely in a shop and performance environment
• Availability to work evenings and weekends as required by production schedules
• A willingness to learn and follow established safety procedures.
• Comfort working at heights, including on ladders, personnel lifts, catwalks, and a tension grid.
• Comfort working around moving scenery, heavy machinery, and theatrical rigging systems while following established shop safety procedures.
• The ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced production environment and adapt to changing production priorities.

The successful candidate must be able to:

• Lift and carry equipment and scenic materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Push and pull loaded road cases, material carts, and other production equipment.
• Stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, crawl, reach overhead, and work in confined spaces for extended periods.
• Work from ladders, personnel lifts, catwalks, and elevated work platforms.
• Work occasional evenings and weekends during production periods as required.

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.