Design Manager – Lead High-Impact Fire Protection Team

Symons Fire Protection, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Health insurance

Paid time off

Discretionary bonus

Onsite gym

Free coffee

EAP

Company events

Referral program

Career development

Job summary

Symons Fire Protection, Inc. in San Diego seeks a Design Manager to oversee the design department, ensuring resource planning, profitability, and strong client relationships while navigating complex regulatory hurdles with County and City AHJs.

The role requires multi-year people management experience, guiding career paths, and building high-retention engineering teams. You will manage budgets, licenses, and design standards across major projects in Southern California.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive engineering and design experience.
• Minimum 5 years direct leadership overseeing a team of 10+ design professionals.
• NICET Level III in Water-Based Systems Layout.

Responsibilities

• Oversee departmental budgets, software licensing and long-term expansion.
• Monitor burn rates, estimate design hours for multi-million contracts, protect gross margins.
• Audit high-risk projects and resolve complex plan-check disputes.
• Hire, fire, discipline, and promote design personnel in line with growth.
• Coach and mentor team, develop career paths and succession plans.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Project management

People management

KPIs / Performance monitoring

Communication

Education

NICET Level III in Water-Based Systems Layout

Tools

Autocad

Autosprink

HydraCAD

Bluebeam Revu

NFPA standards

Job description

Symons Fire Protection, Inc. in San Diego seeks a Design Manager to oversee the design department, ensuring resource planning, profitability, and strong client relationships while navigating complex regulatory hurdles with County and City AHJs.

The role requires multi-year people management experience, guiding career paths, and building high-retention engineering teams. You will manage budgets, licenses, and design standards across major projects in Southern California.