Operations Manager - Technical and SFX

The Company

BEAT THE BOMB is the next generation of immersive group entertainment, where customers step into real-life video games. We use an innovative digital, interactive game system to reimagine the intersection of technology and human social connection. In our classic Mission experience, teams wearing hazmat suits go through a series of interactive game rooms, including a laser maze, before facing the World's Largest Paint, Slime, and Foam Bomb! Our original Brooklyn location opened in 2018. We now have locations in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Charlotte, Houston, and Denver. We've hosted over 500,000 players including hundreds of corporate team building outings, school groups, and non-profit organizations. Beat The Bomb is one of the highest rated experiences in all 5 markets. We offer a full range of special event services including STEM Camps, Kid and Adult Birthday parties, Corporate Tournaments, and Bachelorette parties. We also have a virtual team building platform called Beat The Bomb Virtual, serving remote teams across the globe. Our #1 goal is to ensure every player has a BLAST!

The Charlotte Location

Located on the border of the South End and LoSo neighborhoods of Charlotte, this is our Company's 5th location. The 10,000+ square foot location offers our classic Mission experiences with glass-walled bomb rooms blasting teams with Paint, Foam and Slime; 4 immersive arcade lounges ('Game Bays'); street food and a full selection of beer, wine, cocktails & signature slushies @ The Bomb Bar; a beer garden with sports viewing; and dedicated private event spaces for large groups.

The Role

This role is the go-to point of contact responsible for keeping our bomb room special effects and game technology running. You'll oversee the interactive game rooms, laser mazes, projectors, RFID technology, the venue's network stack, and, most importantly, the foam/paint/slime cannons in the bomb rooms.

You'll manage and mentor a team of junior staff, act as onsite tech/SFX lead during peak shifts, and serve as the primary link between the Charlotte location and Beat The Bomb HQ's CTO and Technology Manager. Alongside the Charlotte leadership team (GM, AGM, and Shift Supervisors), you'll also share in the broader hands-on responsibilities of running a great shift and a great guest experience.

Night, weekend, and holiday availability is required, along with willingness to respond to occasional after-hours emergencies.

What You'll Do

Technology & SFX

• Own the day-to-day reliability of all tech and SFX systems, maintaining and repairing hardware and equipment (computers, cabling, laser mazes, compressors, HVAC filters, bomb room effects, photo bomb systems)
• Serve as onsite tech/SFX lead during key shifts and respond to urgent issues under pressure, including occasional off-hours emergencies
• Track and report tech/SFX issues via End-of-Day reports
• Manage technology inventory and spare parts stock
• Maintain the server room and location network
• Support HQ's Tech team on software updates, debugging, testing new games/features, and keeping SOPs current
• Lead technology training for managers and staff
• Manage key facility vendors (pest control, repair services, etc.) and oversee in-house laundry (hazmat suits)

Team & Operations

• Recruit, train, schedule, and coach the tech and SFX team; run 1-on-1s, performance reviews, and conflict resolution
• Act as a generalist Operations Manager: open/close the location, work any role as needed, and support guest reservations, check-in, and onboarding
• Communicate regularly with HQ's CTO and Technology Manager
• Uphold service quality, safety, and guest satisfaction standards across the location
• Pitch in wherever needed - including blasting guests with paint, foam, and slime!

Qualifications

• 3+ years of IT and/or AV support experience for a venue-based operation - e.g. offices, schools, churches, arcades, or family-entertainment centers (FECs)
• 1+ years of experience working with or in interactive/activated venues – e.g. laser tag arenas, arcades, go-carts, golf/driving ranges, airsoft/paintball, modern bowling alleys, museums
• Working knowledge of Windows systems, PC hardware, and OS configuration
• Basic networking literacy – modems, routers, switches, IPv4
• Comfort debugging and testing AV and mechanical issues
• Generally handy - mechanical, electrical, or plumbing fixes don't intimidate you
• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Available nights, weekends, and holidays
• Lift 50lbs
• References available on request

Preferred experience

• Managing venue-based entertainment or food & beverage
• Remote desktop tools, especially RustDesk
• NDI systems
• VLANs
• Slack
• Google suite of tools (Drive, Docs, Slides)
• Assembling tower PCs and NUCs
• Networked CCTV cameras and/or Reolink
• Basic "maker" skills with LED strips, electronics, and audio systems – soldering

What We're Looking For

• Has a strong aptitude for and curiosity about technology
• Communicates clearly, stays calm under pressure, and solves problems on the fly
• Genuinely enjoys people - teammates and guests alike
• Is a hands-on teammate, ready to jump in wherever needed
• Isn't afraid to get messy – it's a paint blast facility, after all
• Has a track record of motivating talent and leading a team through a fast-paced environment