Home Pyrotechnician Resume template
Pyrotechnician resume template
A clean starting structure with example content grounded in what pyrotechnicians actually do day to day, not generic filler. Download and replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details.
Which resume format should you use?
Reverse chronological
You have a steady work history. This is the format almost every recruiter and ATS expects by default.
Functional
You're changing fields or have gaps in your employment. Leads with skills rather than a job-by-job timeline.
Combination
You're early career or have worked consistently but for only a few employers. Blends a skills summary with a shorter chronological history.
This template uses the reverse chronological format: the one most pyrotechnicians should default to, since most Australian recruiters and ATS software expect it.
Professional summary
Pyrotechnician with hands-on experience designing, setting up and firing fireworks and special effects for live events, film and television. Skilled in permit applications, explosives storage and transport, and coordinating safe firing zones with emergency services. Known for calm operation under time pressure and meticulous compliance with Australian explosives and work health and safety requirements.
Key skills
- Worksite safety management
- Plant and equipment operation
- FireOne
- Finale 3D
- Cobra firing system
- AutoCAD
- Safety and compliance awareness
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
- Time and deadline management
- Written communication
Experience: example bullet points
- Designed and sequenced fireworks displays for outdoor festivals and concert tours, syncing cues to music and lighting using Finale 3D and FireOne.
- Set up and tested firing systems and electrical circuits across multiple positions, reducing setup time from six hours to four on complex outdoor sites.
- Prepared and submitted permit applications and site plans, liaising with police, fire services and local councils to secure approvals ahead of event deadlines.
- Managed explosives storage and transport according to Australian dangerous goods and explosives regulations, maintaining accurate inventory records and security controls.
- Operated firing systems during live performances, monitoring crowd clearance zones and weather conditions to maintain safe outcomes.
- Trained casual crew in safe handling, firing panel operation and emergency shutdown procedures, improving team readiness for night shows.
Education
Typical background: Certificate III or IV in explosives, pyrotechnics or live production, a diploma in live production and technical services, or a bachelor degree in a related field, plus state or territory explosives licensing and regular competency updates.
Keywords an ATS is likely to scan for
Applicant tracking systems match your resume against terms in the job ad before a person ever sees it. Only include the ones that actually apply to your experience, but if a term below matches something you've done, use the same wording the job ad uses.
- SafeWork NSW pyrotechnician licence
- WorkSafe Victoria explosives licence
- Resources Safety and Health Queensland
- Australian Dangerous Goods Code
- AS 2187
- WHS Act
- explosives magazine
- shot firing
- clearance zone
- emergency services liaison
- permit to work
- FireOne
- Finale 3D
- Cobra firing system
- AutoCAD
- special effects
Getting past ATS screening
- Match the specific skills, certifications and terms used in the job ad, not just your own wording for the same thing.
- Keep formatting simple: no tables, text boxes, columns, headers/footers or graphics. Parsers frequently drop content placed in these.
- Submit as .docx or PDF unless the job ad specifies otherwise.
- Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) rather than creative alternatives.
- List your core skills and technical competencies in their own section so a keyword scan can find them instantly.
This is a starting point, not a guarantee of interviews. Tailor every bullet point to your own real experience and the specific job ad.