Event Technology Specialist

TECHNICAL EVENT PRODUCER / AV EVENT TECHNICIANChicago, IL | OnsiteReports to: Head of Employee TechnologySchedule: Flexible hours, occasional weekends, travel, and cross-time-zone supportAt-a-Glance SummaryLead end-to-end production for executive, corporate, hybrid, webinar, and live-streamed events. This onsite Chicago role operates the upgraded Auditorium environment, including Ross Ultrix video routing & production switching via the Ross TD2S, Teams Webinars and Live Events, PTZ cameras, digital audio, Q-SYS control, projection, lighting, teleprompting, and assisted listening.Role OverviewOne of Astreya’s key clients is seeking an experienced, service-focused Technical Event Producer / AV Event Technician to lead technical production and support audiovisual, broadcast, and conferencing environments. Based onsite in Chicago, this role is the primary technical contact for advanced events in the Auditorium/Event Space, control rooms, meeting rooms, corporate offices, and external venues.The role supports in-person, virtual, hybrid, and live-streamed programs, including executive and global events. Responsibilities span planning, show production, rehearsals, operation of the upgraded Auditorium system, live troubleshooting, maintenance, stakeholder guidance, vendor coordination, room readiness, documentation, and continuous improvement.Core Scope of WorkOwn end-to-end technical delivery from event intake and design through rehearsal, live execution, recording, debrief, and media handoff.Operate the Chicago Auditorium/Event Space, video control room, and centralized equipment room, including video, audio, projection, cameras, lighting, teleprompting, accessibility, streaming, and room-control systems.Support corporate offices and external venues, including temporary production environments and programs with remote participants across time zones.Maintain room readiness, signal-flow knowledge, system documentation, equipment inventory, standard procedures, backup plans, and escalation paths.Partner with event owners, Corporate Communications, Infrastructure, AV Engineering, venue teams, and external vendors.Key ResponsibilitiesEvent Production and PlanningLead in-person, virtual, hybrid, webinar, and live-streamed events using Microsoft Teams, vMix, Zoom, and related production platforms.Act as producer, show caller, or technical director; call cues for speakers, playback, cameras, lighting, audio, projection, teleprompter content, and transitions.Partner closely with the Event Manager throughout the event lifecycle to gather requirements, align on event objectives, and develop comprehensive production plans, run-of-show documents, cue sheets, presenter instructions, staffing plans, schedules, and contingency plans that support seamless event execution.Lead technical checks, speaker coaching, rehearsals, and dry runs; validate content, routing, streaming, recording, accessibility, and backup systems.Monitor platform health and participant experience, manage live incidents, communicate workarounds, and escalate while protecting event continuity.Pre-Production, Planning, and RehearsalsPartner with stakeholders to define event objectives, audience, format, technical requirements, and success criteria, then develop and manage production plans, run-of-show documents, schedules, staffing, and project deliverables.Lead site assessments, technical rehearsals, system validation, and presenter preparation while ensuring production readiness, redundancy planning, and successful execution of all audio, video, lighting, streaming, accessibility, and presentation systems.Operations, Maintenance, and CoordinationCoordinate crews, vendors, staging, load-in, setup, testing, rehearsal, live operation, teardown, and rental returns.Perform preventive checks, troubleshoot faults, track incidents through resolution, document workarounds, and support-controlled power and maintenance activities.Test, document, and exercise failover paths for redundant audio processing and other critical production systems.Serve as internal system owner for the Auditorium production environment, including receipt of vendor training and ongoing knowledge transfer to backup operators.Lead post-event debriefs and maintain recordings, operating guides, system diagrams, inventories, templates, knowledge articles, and service reports.Read AV schematics, rack elevations, building drawings, signal-flow diagrams, and network requirements; support system commissioning and upgrades.Serve as day-to-day technical liaison to the AV integrator during warranty and service-agreement periods, including fault reporting, RMA coordination, and punch-list tracking.Required Experience and QualificationsMinimum 5 years of experience producing technical elements for corporate events, meetings, remote productions, webinars, and live streams.Demonstrated ownership of AV event production from requirements and rehearsal through live execution and post-event wrap-up.Hands-on experience with Microsoft Teams and Zoom event delivery and with PTZ cameras, audio mixers, production switchers, lighting, wireless microphones, encoders, and projection.Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking, AV-over-IP, Dante and NDI workflows, signal flow, streaming protocols, codecs, and media formats.Ability to read technical drawings and schematics, lead crews, work independently, prioritize under pressure, and troubleshoot during live production.Strong written and verbal communication, production documentation, stakeholder service, recordkeeping, and reporting skills.Flexible availability for early starts, late finishes, occasional weekends, out-of-hours maintenance, travel, and cross-time-zone support.Technical ExperienceEXPERIENCED WITHFAMILIAR WITHRoss Ultrix routing and multiviewer workflowsRoss Video TouchDrive production switchingopenGear-based signal processing, reference/genlock synchronization, and 12G-SDI signal routingMicrosoft Teams Town Halls, Webinars and MeetingsZoom Webinars and MeetingsQ-SYS DSP and control systemsvMix video production softwareSony 4K PTZ cameras and camera controlYamaha DM7-EX digital audio mixing and routing4K projection, confidence monitors, and repeater displaysETC/Chauvet audience lightingShure wireless microphone systems and live sound reinforcementTeleprompter and confidence-monitor workflowsWilliams AV assisted listening equipmentNDI video workflowsShow flows, cue sheets, and run-of-show documentsDante audio over IPBitfocus CompanionDMX lighting and RTMP streamingCommon video, audio, and media formatsCorp conferencing platforms and integrated roomsNote: Experience on comparable broadcast production switchers, routers, digital consoles, and DSP platforms will be considered.Success ProfileWhite-glove service mindset and sound judgment around senior leaders and high-profile events.Calm, decisive, and solutions-focused during time-sensitive production issues.Organized and detail-oriented, with disciplined preparation, documentation, follow-through, and escalation.Able to translate technical detail into clear recommendations for varied audiences.Committed to safe, reliable, accessible operations, repeatable standards, and continuous improvement.