Design Manager
About The Position
Symons Fire Protection, Inc. is seeking a Design Manager to oversee the design department, ensuring operational and financial accountability. This role involves resource planning, departmental profitability, managing key client relationships, and navigating complex regulatory environments with senior County and City AHJs. The ideal candidate will have proven, multi-year people management experience, with a demonstrated history of guiding professional career paths, managing workplace dynamics, and fostering high-retention engineering cultures. The position requires expertise in local Fire Code amendments and WUI regulations, along with proficiency in design software.
Requirements
- At least 8 years of progressive engineering and design experience, including a minimum of 5 years of direct leadership experience overseeing a team of 10+ design professionals.
- NICET Level III in Water-Based Systems Layout.
- Expert in Autocad, Autosprink, Hydracad, NFPA and Bluebeam Revu (Studio, Sets, Quantity Link) for department-wide standardization and macro executive review.
- Expert command of local Fire Code amendments, and WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) regulations.
- Currently residing in the Southern California area.
Responsibilities
- Oversees departmental operational budgets, software licensing configurations (Autosprink, NFPA, Autodesk, Bluebeam, HydraCAD), and long-term department expansion.
- Monitors project burn rates, estimate design hours for multi-million dollar contracts, and safeguard the department's gross profit margins.
- Audits the highest-risk projects (e.g., high-rise, high-piled storage, or hazardous industrial spaces) and serve as the final escalation point for complex plan-check disputes.
- Owns the ultimate authority to hire, fire, discipline, and promote department personnel in alignment with company growth objectives and policies.
- Coaches, mentors, and develops team, preparing them for advanced management paths.
- Conducts career-pathing sessions, establish succession planning matrices, resolve high-level interpersonal conflicts, and actively work to reduce employee burnout.
- Establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) for the department, conducting formal performance reviews and implementing corrective action plans when necessary.
- Cultivates a psychologically safe work environment where team members feel empowered to collaborate, voice technical concerns, innovate, and report errors without fear of negative repercussions.
- Other management duties as assigned.
Benefits
- 401(k) + Company Matching
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and AD&D Insurance, including FREE Employee Only premium for SIMNSA and Kaiser Permanente Bronze Base medical plans.
- 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
