System Designer

Systems Designer – Custom Av & Smart Home Integration

Hive Home Intelligence designs and installs high-end home automation systems for some of Tampa's most beautiful homes. We're growing fast and looking for a highly technical Pre-Sales Systems Designer to be the engineering backbone of our sales team. This is not a general IT, mechanical drafting, or basic CAD role. This position requires deep, hands-on experience specifically in the Custom Integration (CI) and low-voltage AV industry. If you do not know how to design a distributed audio system, calculate power/thermal requirements for an AV rack, or spec out a Control4/Savant/Crestron system, this role is not for you. This is a crucial technical pre-sales/support role. We're looking for someone who can translate client needs into technically sound, profitable, and buildable AV and smart home systems. You will work directly with our sales team to ensure estimates are accurate, designs are flawless, and proposals reflect the premium quality of our work.

What You'll Be Doing You'll be trusted to own the technical design and estimating process, including:

• System Design & Engineering: Creating comprehensive system designs, floor plans, line drawings, and rack elevations for high-end residential AV, networking, lighting control, and automation projects.
• Estimating & Proposal Generation: Translating project requirements into accurate bills of materials (BOMs), labor estimates, and polished proposals that the sales team can confidently present.
• Technical Sales Support: Collaborating with the sales team during client meetings to capture technical scope, cast vision, and answer complex technical questions regarding signal flow, hardware compatibility, and network architecture.
• Design Validation: Reviewing and approving system designs to ensure product compatibility, technical efficacy, and alignment with our installation standards.
• Technical Standards Ownership: Establishing, maintaining, and enforcing the company's technical standards — from preferred product sets and wiring practices to documentation templates and system architecture guidelines — ensuring consistency and quality across every project.
• Team Training & Development: Serving as the internal technical authority for the organization, conducting training sessions to keep the installation and sales teams current on new products, platforms, and best practices.
• Pre-to-Post Sales Handoff: Ensuring a seamless transition from the sales phase to the operations and installation teams by providing clear, detailed technical documentation.

What We're Looking For This role is a great fit if you:

• Have 4+ years of technical experience specifically in the Custom Integration (CI), residential AV, or low-voltage automation industry.
• Possess a masterful grasp of fundamentals in AV signal flow, enterprise-grade networking (VLANs, WAPs, router config), low-voltage wiring, distributed audio/video, and lighting control (e.g., Lutron).
• Have in-depth, hands-on product knowledge of major control systems and platforms (e.g., Control4, Josh.ai, Crestron, Savant).
• Are proficient with industry-specific design and estimating software (e.g., D-Tools, AutoCAD, Visio, Bluebeam).
• Understand the physical hardware: AVRs, DSPs, matrix switchers, amplifiers, architectural speakers, and displays.
• Are highly detailed, organized, and capable of managing multiple project designs simultaneously.
• Can effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both technical teams and non-technical clients.
• Familiarity with AI tools and how to apply them to design, estimating, or workflow optimization is a strong plus.
• CEDIA, AVIXA, Control4, etc. certifications are highly desirable.

Not a fit if:

• Your background is strictly in mechanical drafting, HVAC, civil engineering, or general IT support.
• You do not have direct experience designing or installing low-voltage AV and smart home systems.
• You prefer turning wrenches in the field and don't want to spend time at a desk designing and estimating.
• You struggle with details and frequently miss missing parts or labor hours in your estimates.

Pay & Benefits

Base Salary: $70,000 – $85,000, commensurate with experience, certifications, and platform proficiency

Performance Bonus: Up to $10,000/year, structured around estimate accuracy, quarterly revenue targets, and annual performance review

Full-time, steady work in a collaborative environment

401K, Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Opportunity to shape the technical direction of a rapidly growing company

Why Hive Home Intelligence

Work with the latest smart home and AV technology in luxury environments.

A pivotal engineering role where your designs directly impact the company's profitability and reputation.

A team that values craftsmanship, professionalism, and premium client experiences.

Clear expectations, solid communication, and respect for your technical expertise.

Room to grow as we scale.

If you're a meticulous technical expert who wants to engineer incredible smart home systems and drive sales success, we'd love to talk.