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About the Role
Symons Fire Protection, Inc. is seeking a Design Manager to oversee the design department, focusing on resource planning, departmental profitability, client relationships, and regulatory navigation. This role requires proven people management experience and a history of guiding professional development and building high-retention engineering cultures.
Responsibilities
- Oversees departmental operational budgets, software licensing configurations, and long-term department expansion.
- Monitors project burn rates, estimates design hours for multi-million dollar contracts, and safeguards department gross profit margins.
- Audits high-risk projects and serves as the final escalation point for complex plan-check disputes.
- Holds ultimate authority to hire, fire, discipline, and promote department personnel.
- Coaches, mentors, and develops the team for advanced management paths.
- Conducts career-pathing sessions, establishes succession planning matrices, resolves interpersonal conflicts, and works to reduce employee burnout.
- Establishes KPIs for the department, conducts performance reviews, and implements corrective action plans.
- Cultivates a psychologically safe work environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and error reporting without fear.
- Achieves a department billable utilization rate of 85%.
- Maintains a department-wide first-pass plan check approval rate of 90%+.
- Ensures design department capacity matches project backlog schedules up to 90 days out.
Requirements
- At least 8 years of progressive engineering and design experience.
- A minimum of 5 years of direct leadership experience overseeing a team of 10+ design professionals.
- Expert command of local Fire Code amendments and WUI regulations.
- Must be currently residing in the Southern California area; remote candidates will not be considered.
Skills
- Autosprink
- NFPA
- Autodesk
- Bluebeam
- HydraCAD
- Autocad
- Bluebeam Revu (Studio, Sets, Quantity Link)
Location
- San Diego, CA
Work Type
- Onsite
Experience Level
- 8+ years of engineering and design experience
- 5+ years of direct leadership experience
Education Level
- NICET Level III in Water-Based Systems Layout
Salary/Compensations
- $135.00 - $205.00
Benefits
- 401(k) + Company Matching
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and AD&D Insurance
- 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
- Employee Referral Program
- Management support for professional development
About the Company
- 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.
Equal Opportunity
- 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.