Senior Fire Alarm Design Specialist
Job Description
Location(s)
3230 El Camino Real, Suite 200, Irvine, California 92602, United States
About Us
Backed by more than a century of Bosch innovation, Bosch Building Technologies North America is driven by a simple belief: buildings should protect, inspire, and empower the people inside them. We partner with organizations to create smart, connected environments that feel safer, work smarter, and support a more sustainable future. With decades of regional experience and teams rooted in communities across North America, we bring together integrated security, fire detection, building automation, and energy solutions, all delivered by people who genuinely care. Our experts are committed to excellence, guided by digital innovation, and passionate about creating experiences that make every building feel like it's working for you.
In 2026, Robert Bosch unified its global building technology integrator operations under the name of Bosch Building Technologies. As part of this transition, Paladin Technologies and Climatec combined their branch networks, creating a product-agnostic systems integrator focus on delivering flexible, future-ready solutions, offering customers an expanded, cross-domain service portfolio working as one cohesive team to deliver greater value under a stronger Bosch identity.
Full Time/Part Time
Full-time
Job Description
Job Summary: The Senior Fire Alarm Designer Specialist is responsible for leading the design, coordination, and execution of complex fire alarm and life safety system projects for commercial construction environments. This role serves as a technical subject matter expert, overseeing all phases of design development from project inception through completion while ensuring compliance with applicable fire and life safety codes, customer requirements, engineering specifications, and Authority Having Jurisdiction standards.
The Senior Designer works closely with Operations, Field Teams, Project Managers, Engineers, Customers, and AHJs to develop high-quality design packages, provide technical guidance, resolve design challenges, and support successful project execution. This position also plays a key role in mentoring design team members, driving design consistency, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
Additional Information:
- Compensation: $40 - $62.50 per hour
- Working Hours: This position generally works Monday- Friday, overtime and on call when necessary
- Travel Requirements: Local if needed
- Benefits:
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401K w/ company match
- Life/AD&D/LTD
- Paid Vacation/Sick/Holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pet Insurance
Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
- Lead the design and development of complex commercial fire alarm and life safety system projects.
- Serve as the primary design resource for fire alarm system layouts, specifications, and technical compliance requirements.
- Partner closely with Field Operations, Project Management, Sales, Engineering teams, and customers throughout the project lifecycle.
- Develop complete CAD-based design packages including floor plans, device layouts, riser diagrams, panel schedules, calculations, sequences of operation, details, and bills of materials (BOMs).
- Review project scope, contract documents, specifications, and design criteria to ensure alignment with customer requirements and project objectives.
- Interpret and apply NFPA 72, IBC, IFC, NEC, local codes, and AHJ requirements to all system designs.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance on system architecture, device placement, survivability requirements, networked systems, and integration with related building systems.
- Coordinate designs with architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural, and low-voltage disciplines to minimize conflicts and support successful installations.
- Review and approve design modifications resulting from field conditions, change orders, or customer requests.
- Develop and maintain accurate as-built documentation reflecting completed installations.
- Perform design quality reviews and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency within the design process.
- Assist in resolving technical issues encountered during installation, commissioning, and project closeout.
- Support permit submittals and address comments from AHJs, consulting engineers, and customers.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and intermediate designers.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting established schedules, budget expectations, and project milestones.
- Maintain clear and professional communication with internal and external stakeholders regarding design progress, approvals, and project changes.
- Assist with the evaluation and implementation of new technologies, standards, and design practices.
- Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
Job Requirements
Required Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED required; technical degree, engineering technology degree, or related education preferred.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in fire alarm system design and life safety systems.
- Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD, including floor plans, external references (XREFs), blocks, layers, plotting, and page setups.
- Demonstrated experience designing commercial fire alarm systems for new construction, tenant improvement, and retrofit projects.
- Strong knowledge of NFPA 72, NFPA 70 (NEC), applicable building codes, and fire/life safety standards.
- Ability to read and interpret architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural, and construction drawings.
- Experience preparing complete design packages, including riser diagrams, battery calculations, voltage drop calculations, sequences of operation, and bills of materials.
- Strong understanding of fire alarm system integrations with suppression, security, mass notification, smoke control, elevator recall, HVAC, and other building systems.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and related design software.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and project management abilities.
- Ability to independently manage multiple large-scale projects and competing priorities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Associate's degree or higher in Engineering Technology, Electronics, Fire Protection, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in fire alarm design, engineering support, or life safety systems.
- NICET Certification in Fire Alarm Systems (Level III or IV preferred).
- Experience with Bluebeam, Revit, BIM coordination, and other advanced design tools.
- Experience leading design teams or mentoring junior designers.
- Knowledge of manufacturer-specific fire alarm platforms such as Notifier, Siemens, Edwards, Simplex, Potter, or Fire-Lite.
- Experience supporting design-build and large-scale commercial construction projects.
- Demonstrated knowledge of system networking, emergency communication systems, and integrated life safety solutions.
- Strong customer-facing skills with a professional demeanor and positive, solution-oriented mindset.
Physical Demands:
In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
- Must be able to effectively communicate, (ie see, hear, speak and write clearly) in order to communicate with colleagues and/or customers; manual dexterity required for occasional reaching, lifting of light office objects, and operating office equipment
Working Conditions:
In general, the following conditions of the work environment are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
- The office is clean, orderly, properly lighted and ventilated. Noise levels are considered low to moderate
