Fire Alarm Designer

Who We Are:

Symons Fire Protection, Inc. is a premier, full-service fire-life safety contractor based in San Diego, CA. For over 30 years, we have specialized in the design, installation, inspection, and maintenance of residential and commercial fire sprinkler and alarm systems across Southern California. We pride ourselves on operational excellence, high-quality craftsmanship, and unwavering safety standards.

How We’ll Take Care of You:

• 401(k) + Company Matching
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and AD&D Insurance
• Vacation, Paid Holidays, Birthday Holiday, and Sick Pay
• Discretionary Bonus Program
• FREE Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
• FREE Onsite Gym
• FREE premium coffee and snacks
• Company Celebrations (i.e., summer picnic, holiday event)
• Employee Referral Program
• A management team that actively cares about your professional development

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Fire Alarm and Low Voltage Systems Designer to join our design team. In this role, you will be responsible for creating code-compliant, high-quality engineering drawings, shop drawings, and technical submittals for complex commercial, multi-family residential, and high-rise developments. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of fire-life safety codes and electrical design fundamentals, operating with minimal supervision to deliver precise layouts from initial concept through permitting and final build.

Core Responsibilities

• Collaboration & Coordination: Interface directly with Project Managers, estimators, field installation technicians, general contractors, and clients to ensure designs align with physical site conditions and project scopes.
• System Design & Drafting: Prepare complete and accurate shop drawings, permit layouts, and as-built documentation for fire alarm and life safety systems, voice evacuation, mass notification, and related low-voltage integrated networks (e.g., access control, CCTV, and structured cabling).
• Engineering Calculations: Perform critical system engineering calculations, including battery backup load requirements, voltage drops, and circuit loading parameters.
• Technical Submittals & RFIs: Assemble submittal packages for code enforcement and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Generate and track Requests for Information (RFIs) to resolve design conflicts proactively.
• Standardization Maintenance: Ensure all layouts strictly adhere to company guidelines and National CAD standards while maintaining an up-to-date engineering library of product cut sheets and technical equipment data.

Productivity Expectations

• Project Throughput: Manage and deliver multiple design projects simultaneously, maintaining an active pipeline of 3 to 5 concurrent projects varying in size and scope.
• Turnaround Efficiency: Complete standard shop drawing sets, floor layouts, and technical submittals within established project milestones and internal 72-hour turnaround windows for critical revisions.
• Quality Assurance & Accuracy: Maintain a 95% or higher first-time approval rate from local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), minimizing project delays caused by plan-check corrections.
• Time Tracking & Billing: Accurately log and allocate design hours daily by project and task, consistently maintaining a 90% billable utilization rate on designated commercial contracts.
• Proactive Status Reporting: Provide weekly progress updates to project management on layout timelines, physical space conflicts, and outstanding material data requests.

Qualifications

• Education: A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: At least 5 years of dedicated professional design experience handling design-build fire alarm and low-voltage systems.
• Software Proficiency: Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit and building information modeling (BIM) workflows is required.
• Certifications: NICET Level II Certification in Fire Alarm Systems is required.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Authoritative understanding of national, state, and local building codes, including NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code), the National Electrical Code (NEC), International Building Code (IBC), and International Fire Code (IFC).
• Core Competencies: Superior spatial problem-solving skills, strong attention to detail, clear written and verbal communication, and the ability to interpret intricate architectural and electrical blueprints.

Other

• No Third-Party Agency Solicitation.
• Location Requirement: This position is open only to candidates currently residing in the Southern California area. Remote candidates will not be considered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Symons Fire Protection, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability, medical condition, genetic info, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, we consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application or any part of the hiring process, please let us know.