Fire Alarm and Low Voltage Designer

We are seeking an experienced Fire Alarm and Low Voltage Designer to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for preparing accurate, code-compliant fire alarm and low-voltage system designs, shop drawings, permit drawings, as-built drawings, calculations, reports, and related project documentation. This position requires advanced knowledge of fire alarm and life safety system design, including high-rise systems, smoke control interface, voice evacuation, emergency communication systems, monitoring, and related low-voltage systems. The Designer will work closely with project managers, estimators, field technicians, programmers, general contractors, engineers, consultants, AHJ's, and customers to ensure designs meet applicable codes, project specifications, manufacturer requirements, and field installation needs. Qualifications Possess a working knowledge of low-voltage communication systems, including fire alarm, emergency communication, monitoring, access control, CCTV, DAS/ERRCS, AV, and related building system interfaces . Demonstrate competency in advanced fire alarm design, including high-rise systems, smoke control interfaces, voice evacuation, emergency communication systems, elevator recall, sprinkler monitoring, duct detector shutdown, door release, and other life safety system integrations. Possess proficient knowledge of current codes and standards, including NFPA, IBC, California Building Code, California Fire Code, local AHJ requirements , and the principles and practices of fire protection engineering. Be professionally licensed or certified in the area of expertise, such as NICET Fire Alarm Systems certification, or possess equivalent industry experience. Be proficient in AutoCAD software to ensure efficient and accurate production of shop drawings, permit drawings, design drawings, as-built drawings, and record documents. Be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Bluebeam, and related design/document management software. Have experience preparing fire alarm submittal packages, permit drawings, equipment data sheets, voltage drop calculations, battery calculations, sequence of operations, riser diagrams, device layouts, panel schedules, and related design documentation. Have experience preparing and writing reports detailing specific fire protection issues, design concerns, code analysis, corrective measures, alternative methods, or equivalency proposals. Have proficient knowledge of fire alarm product lines, including Kidde, EST/Edwards, Notifier, and other commonly used fire alarm systems. Be able to read and interpret construction drawings, electrical drawings, architectural drawings, mechanical drawings, reflected ceiling plans, specifications, contracts, addenda, RFPs, and scope documents. Possess good communication, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Be able to communicate professionally with project managers, estimators, field technicians, programmers, general contractors, engineers, consultants, clients, inspectors, plan checkers, and AHJ's. Be able to manage multiple design projects simultaneously, depending on project size, complexity, scope, deadlines, and permitting requirements. Job Duties Read and interpret construction documents, including drawings, specifications, contracts, addenda, RFPs, and scope documents. Actively participate in pre-planning the overall fire protection and low-voltage system design. Design and lay out fire alarm and low-voltage systems for complex buildings using CAD-based software. Prepare fire alarm design documentation, including riser diagrams, device layouts, equipment locations, panel schedules, sequence of operations, input/output matrix, battery calculations, voltage drop calculations, point-to-point details, and other required design information. Prepare fire alarm submittal packages, including drawings, calculations, product data sheets, equipment cut sheets, and supporting documentation. Design systems in accordance with NFPA, IBC, California Building Code, California Fire Code, local AHJ requirements, project specifications, manufacturer requirements, and other applicable codes and standards. Design advanced fire alarm systems, including high-rise, voice evacuation, emergency communication, smoke control interface, elevator recall, duct detector shutdown, sprinkler monitoring, fire pump monitoring, door release, and other building system interface requirements. Review architectural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler, elevator, and other trade drawings to coordinate fire alarm and low-voltage system design requirements. Identify design conflicts, scope gaps, code concerns, constructability issues, and field coordination concerns. Identify corrective measures, including design solutions, revisions, alternate layouts, and recommended system modifications. Conduct technical research and provide documentation related to code requirements, alternative methods, equivalencies, product applications, and design solutions. Respond to plan check comments, AHJ comments, engineering comments, customer comments, and internal review comments. Coordinate plan status with plan checkers, AHJ's, general contractors, engineers, consultants, and internal project teams. Submit, deliver, and pick up plans from the city, job site, client’s office, or other required locations as necessary. Participate in project meetings with clients, general contractors, engineers, consultants, inspectors, AHJ's, project managers, field teams, programmers, and other professionals at office, field, and construction site locations. Support project managers, estimators, field technicians, programmers, and service teams with technical information as needed. Coordinate with programmers to ensure design intent, sequence of operations, device addressing, system interfaces, and programming requirements are clearly documented and understood. Coordinate with field teams to address installation questions, field conflicts, RFI responses, design revisions, as-built updates, and closeout requirements. Assist with design-build projects, value engineering, change order support, tenant improvement designs, retrofit work, and system modification drawings. Maintain organized design records, drawing files, submittals, calculations, correspondence, plan check comments, RFIs, revisions, and project documentation. Maintain current knowledge of fire alarm codes, low-voltage systems, manufacturer requirements, AHJ expectations, and company design standards. Preferred Qualifications NICET Fire Alarm Systems certification, preferably Level II or higher. Experience designing fire alarm systems for multifamily, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, education, healthcare, industrial, parking structure, high-rise, and campus-style projects. Experience with Edwards/EST, Kidde, Notifier, Siemens, Silent Knight, Fire-Lite, Potter, or other fire alarm systems. Experience with California AHJ submittal processes, plan check comments, deferred submittals, and fire department permitting requirements. Experience with design-build fire alarm projects and coordinated low-voltage system design. Field experience in fire alarm or low-voltage systems is a plus. #J-18808-Ljbffr