The designer maintains significant associations with many distinguished American opera companies. He has worked for more than 25 years at Des Moines Metro Opera, where he frequently collaborates with his Flight colleague, director Kristine McIntyre. Among his recent much-acclaimed productions there are works as varied as Flight, Dead Man Walking, Die Fledermaus, Billy Budd, Manon, Jenůfa, La fanciulla del West, Le comte Ory, Peter Grimes, Elektra, Eugene Onegin, and La rondine. In 2021, Brumley returned to DMMO for Sweeney Todd. He was resident designer for more than 30 years at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, where his work has been seen in La bohème, Carmen, Don Giovanni, and Die Fledermaus. He has also designed for Kentucky Opera (Romeo and Juliet), Seattle Opera (Carmen), Opera Omaha (Don Giovanni), and Opera Carolina (Otello). His designs for Dead Man Walking have also been seen at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv.