Fire Sprinkler Designer

Location: Seattle, WA — in-office, with up to two days per week remote Reports To: Design Manager Employment Type: Full-time, hourly, non-exempt (overtime eligible) Bargaining Unit Status: Non-union Travel: Occasional jobsite visits across Western Washington during working hours About Columbia Fire Columbia Fire has been protecting lives and property in the Seattle market since 2005. We design, install, inspect, and service fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, suppression systems, and portable fire extinguishers across Western Washington. Columbia Fire is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Safety Services, LLC, which also operates Valley Fire Control, LLC in Oregon and Eastern Washington and FFF Protection in Idaho. We are building a formidable fire protection platform rooted in trust, execution, and long-term relationships. Our core values guide how we operate: Customer First, Grit, Effective Communication, Own the Outcome, Take Pride in the Work, and Do the Right Thing. Why This Role Exists Design is the constraint on how much work we can build. Every sprinkler project we sell has to be laid out, calculated, and released before a single pipe gets hung — and when design capacity is tight, everything downstream waits. Permits wait. Material waits. Crews wait. We are adding design capacity and building a bench behind it. That means we hire at every level of this role, including candidates with no design experience at all who have the aptitude to learn it. The Opportunity This role goes beyond drafting. You will translate real field conditions into buildable designs, own your work from concept through material release, and work directly with project managers, sales, and the crews who install what you draw. If you like solving three-dimensional problems, working with technical systems, and walking into a finished building knowing you laid it out, this is a career rather than a job. Fire protection design is also a durable skill — it is code-driven, in demand, and it does not disappear in a slow quarter. Work Location & Schedule Based in our Seattle office, with up to two days per week remote Designers still building independence should expect more in-office time early on — this work is learned fastest sitting next to people who already do it Occasional jobsite visits across Western Washington during working hours Candidates should reside within approximately one hour of our Seattle office What You'll Do Review plans, specifications, and field conditions to define project scope Design complete fire sprinkler systems in compliance with NFPA 13 and applicable local codes Produce detailed layouts using AutoSprink and support 3D coordination when required Perform hydraulic calculations and verify water supply adequacy Develop accurate material stock lists and release material to purchasing Conduct jobsite surveys and create background drawings where none exist Prepare submittal packages for AHJ and customer approval, and respond to review comments Coordinate with project managers, superintendents, foremen, and sales for clean handoffs Answer field questions and revise designs as conditions change on site Manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneouslyMaintain organized design files and documentation Keep building your knowledge of codes, systems, and design practice Who You Are Detail-oriented — a wrong calculation becomes a wrong building Spatially minded — you can hold a building in three dimensions in your head Able to work independently without constant oversight Organized across competing priorities and deadlines A problem solver rather than a drafter Comfortable with field crews — they will tell you when a design does not work, and the good designers listen Aligned with our values: Customer First, Grit, Effective Communication, Own the Outcome, Take Pride in the Work, and Do the Right Thing Who Struggles Here An honest filter: If you want to draw what you are told and not be accountable for whether it works, this is not it If you have never been on a jobsite and have no interest in going, you will design things that cannot be installed If you take correction from the field personally, this will be a hard place to work If deadline pressure pushes you into shortcuts on calculations, this is the wrong trade Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or GED Demonstrated aptitude for spatial reasoning, applied math, and technical drawing Basic computer proficiency and the willingness to learn AutoSprink Ability to work in-office in Seattle and visit jobsites as needed Valid driver’s license Fluent in spoken and written English Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen No prior fire sprinkler design experience is required at the entry level. We hire for aptitude and train the rest. If you have field experience as a sprinkler fitter and want to move into design, we would particularly like to hear from you — you already understand how these systems get built. Preferred Qualifications NICET certification in Water-Based Systems Layout (Level I, II, or III) AutoSprink experience Working knowledge of NFPA 13, 13R, 13D, 14, 20, and 24 Hydraulic calculation proficiency Revit, BIM, or 3D coordination experience Retrofit and tenant improvement design experienceField installation experience as a sprinkler fitter Experience preparing AHJ submittals in Washington jurisdictions Compensation This role follows a structured, development-based pay scale, the same way our field teams do. Compensation is tied to demonstrated capability and certification — not tenure alone. Entry Designer — $26.00 – $32.00 per hour Learning AutoSprink, assisting with layouts and hydraulic calculations Works under close review while building independence Working toward NICET Water-Based Systems Layout certification Designer — $33.00 – $40.00 per hour Independently produces complete, code-compliant designs Manages standard projects with minimal oversight Performs hydraulic calculations and produces accurate material lists without rework Typically holds NICET Level II or is actively progressing toward it Senior Designer — $41.00 – $48.00 per hour NICET Level III in Water-Based Systems Layout Handles complex systems and multi-trade coordination Supports, reviews, and trains junior designers Advancement is based on technical capability and accuracy, your ability to run projects independently, NICET progression, and how well you coordinate with the field. Not tenure. Overtime is paid for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Medical, dental, and vision insurance through Regence BlueShield, Delta Dental of Washington, and VSP — available to employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week, effective the first of the month following or coinciding with your hire date The company pays approximately 90% of the employee premium on the HSA-qualified medical plan, plus a substantial share of dependent premiums Health Savings Account with a $600 annual company contribution 401(k) with Safe Harbor employer match up to 3.5% Paid time off starting at 10 days annually and increasing with length of service Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance Employee Assistance Program, telehealth access, and optional pet insurance Paid training, certifications, and continuing education Company laptop, dual monitors, and design software provided Paid NICET testing, training, and continuing education Full-time, Monday through Friday Primarily desk-based design work with extended computer use Occasional jobsite surveys in occupied buildings and active construction sites, including ladder use and navigating uneven terrain while wearing required PPE Occasional additional hours around submittal and bid deadlines Why This Role Works We hire at every level of this scale, from no experience to NICET III A published progression from $26.00 to $48.00 per hour, with the requirements spelled out We pay for NICET testing and training — the credentials that raise your wage are on us Hybrid flexibility with up to two days per week remote Your designs get built in your own city, and you will see them Long-term paths into senior design, design management, and project management Backed by a growing multi-state fire protection group focused on the long term Columbia Fire, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. Employment with Columbia Fire, LLC is at-will and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause or notice, consistent with applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr