Designer

Salas O’Brien, Inc.; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 71,500 - 83,500; Full time

Job summary

Salas O’Brien, Inc. is seeking a skilled Lighting Designer in Long Beach, CA. The role involves preparing detailed lighting plans for commercial and residential projects, collaborating with teams, and ensuring compliance with standards. Candidates should hold a Master’s degree in Architectural Engineering with a focus on Lighting Design and have experience with CAD and Revit.

The position offers a salary range between $71,500 and $83,500 annually and emphasizes a people-first approach in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Architectural Engineering with concentration in Lighting Design.
• One year’s experience in lighting design or related occupation.
• Proficient in design tools such as InDesign, AutoCAD, Revit.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed lighting plans and layouts using CAD and Revit.
• Research and recommend lighting fixtures based on project requirements.
• Collaborate with project teams to ensure lighting designs are feasible.
• Generate design documentation and cost estimates for client communication.
• Measure light levels using photometry meters for safety evaluation.
• Perform computer-modeling photometric calculations with AGI32, Lightstanza.

Skills

Lighting design

CAD

Revit

Photometry

InDesign

Agi

Education

U.S. Master’s degree in Architectural Engineering (Lighting Design)

Tools

Lighting photometric calculation software

AutoCAD

Job description

At Salas O'Brien, we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people‑first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high‑impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

About Us: Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee‑owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high‑rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Job Duties

• Prepare detailed lighting plans, layouts, and schematics using CAD, Revit, and lighting photometric calculation software for various commercial and residential construction projects.
• Research and recommend appropriate lighting fixtures, controls, and systems based on project requirements, budgets, and technical standards.
• Collaborate regularly with project teams to ensure lighting designs are technically feasible, integrated properly, and installed according to specifications.
• Generate design documentation, cost estimates, and progress reports to support project planning and client communication.
• Conceive and prepare conceptual lighting packages in graphic design programs to convey aesthetic options, technical considerations, and practical parameters for new projects.
• In the case of renovation work, survey existing conditions, research upgrade options, and confer with ownership and design team regarding the general and specific direction for lighting upgrades.
• Measure light levels using photometry meters and evaluate light levels for safety and suitability to task areas.
• Perform computer‑modeling photometric calculations using specialized lighting software (AGI32, Lightstanza) to generate layouts and confirm technical design selections.
• Calculate and document compliance with mandatory and elective energy conservation allowances (ASHRAE, IECC, Title 24, LEED, etc.).
• Design to and demonstrate compliance with IES recommended practices, brand standards (for hospitality and retail), and health code requirements.
• Draw technical details to show lighting installations in specialty conditions (coves, millwork, landscape, and other conditions unique to each project).
• Review contractor submittals and substitution requests for compliance with construction documents and adjust those documents as needed.
• Respond to contractor queries in a fast‑paced construction schedule to prevent delays to project completion.
• Provide a sequence of operations for dimming and energy‑saving controls, review shop drawings, and oversee commissioning and programming of controls.
• Aim and focus adjustable luminaires.
• Evaluate installations and provide a punch or snag‑list for final corrections.

Minimum Qualifications

• U.S. Master’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) in Architectural Engineering (with a concentration in Lighting Design) or Theatrical Lighting.
• One year’s experience in the job offered or a related occupation involving lighting design.
• Experience using design tools, including InDesign, Agi, AutoCAD, and Revit.

Location: Long Beach, CA

Salary range: $71,500–$83,500/year

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability‑related needs of applicants as required by law.

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.