The School of Drama within the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track position in the Lighting Design Program.

The Lighting Design Program prepares students for careers in theater, opera, dance, television and film, and emerging forms of entertainment. Under the mentorship of world-class faculty, emphasis is placed on developing individual artists with active voices in collaborative creation.

We combine established practice and innovative pedagogical and technological advancement across all subject areas with an intensive student-centered school production season. Our conservatory program prepares its students to be committed to the enrichment of multi-faceted art practices, and to champion interdisciplinary collaboration, to explore new forms of creative expression. As the first established degree-granting Drama program in the US, Carnegie Mellon has a long, rich history of preparing theater artists to be at the forefront of the entertainment industry.

Location: This position requires being physically based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania throughout the academic year.

Position Type: This position carries the academic rank of Assistant Professor in Lighting Design (Tenure-Track). The position begins academic year 2027-28, with a commitment of nine months per year and an initial appointment of three years.

Position Description: The person hired for this position will become an integral part of the dynamic, drama conservatory at the School of Drama in the College of Fine Arts, working closely with a two-person lighting design and lighting technology faculty team. This position is a tenure-track senior level role within the lighting area and the person will quickly assume a major part in a collaborative, active, forward-focused program.

The successful candidate will teach specific courses determined in collaboration with other area faculty and School of Drama leadership, based on the candidate’s expertise and interest. These courses will be taught to graduate and undergraduate students and will constitute foundational studies for both those populations.

Production is a registered course, and active mentorship through this process distinguishes the School of Drama at CMU. With few exceptions, the work on our productions is organized, managed and created by our students, augmented by individual faculty advisement within and outside of group meetings. Part of curricular expectation is mentoring and active advising of student designers on their production responsibilities.

We are looking to hire a vital partner in building the next generation of the program. This person will have an instrumental voice in an ongoing forward-facing curricular review and be an essential contributor to the future of conservatory education at CMU.

It is understood that ongoing professional engagement is expected, encouraged and supported.

Base salary is $80,000 plus benefits, with negotiation based on qualifications and commensurate with experience.

Qualifications:

An open and collaborative individual engaged with creating collegial teams within and across disciplines
An MFA or relevant terminal degree is desired. Candidates without a terminal degree are encouraged to apply if they have equivalent professional and demonstrated teaching experience (even in non-traditional settings) that prepares them for the responsibilities of a tenure-track position
Ongoing professional practice
National and International presence
Teaching and mentoring experience
Portfolio exhibiting wide-ranging practices (both traditional and non-traditional), genres, and work in analogous fields representing the candidate as an engaged artist and educator

Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.gous fields representing the candidate as an engaged artist and educator

Application Instructions:

To apply, please submit the following:

A Cover Letter describing your qualifications and interest in the position; summarizing your experience, what you might bring to the program and how your growth as an artist and educator can continue to evolve as part of our community. A comprehensive Digital Portfolio or Website link.
A detailed Curriculum Vitae
A list of at least three current References with contact information.

The Application Review Process:

Review of applications will begin immediately. The application process will close on November 15, 2026. Early application is encouraged.

The search committee is interested in attracting a varied pool of applicants; we encourage those that consider their qualifications to be unique and who can contribute to the Lighting Design team to apply. Please ask additional questions via email, subject line “LIGHTING DESIGN SEARCH”, to administrative assistant Joyce Dellovade at joyced@andrew.cmu.edu

Are you interested in this exciting opportunity? Please apply!

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Carnegie Mellon University shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama

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Assistant Professor of Lighting Design (Tenure Track)