Operations Manager - Technical and SFX

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. Our classic Mission experience lets teams in hazmat suits navigate interactive game rooms—including a laser maze—before facing the World’s Largest Paint, Slime, and Foam Bomb! Since opening our original Brooklyn location in 2018, we’ve expanded to Atlanta, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Charlotte, Houston, and Denver, hosting over 500,000 players for corporate team-building, school groups, and non-profits. We’re one of the highest-rated experiences in every market and offer STEM camps, birthday parties, corporate tournaments, bachelorette parties, and Beat The Bomb Virtual for remote teams.

About the location

The Charlotte location sits on the border of South End and LoSo, spanning 10,000+ square feet. It features our classic Mission experiences with glass-walled bomb rooms that blast teams with paint, foam, and slime; four immersive arcade lounges (“Game Bays”); street food and a full bar with beer, wine, cocktails, and signature slushies; a beer garden with sports viewing; and dedicated private event spaces for large groups.

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

Responsibilities

• 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).
• 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!

Requirements

• 3+ years of IT and/or AV support experience for a venue-based operation (e.g., offices, schools, churches, arcades, or family-entertainment centers).
• 1+ years of experience working with or in interactive/activated venues (e.g., laser-tag arenas, arcades, go-karts, 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.
• Available nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Lift 50 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Managing venue-based entertainment or food & beverage.
• Remote desktop tools, especially RustDesk.
• NDI systems.
• VLANs.
• Slack and 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.

Skills

• Strong aptitude for and curiosity about technology.
• Clear communication, calm under pressure, and on-the-fly problem-solving.
• Genuine enjoyment of people—teammates and guests alike.
• Hands-on teammate, ready to jump in wherever needed.
• Comfortable getting messy—it’s a paint-blast facility, after all.
• Track record of motivating talent and leading a team through a fast-paced environment.