Plumbing & Fire Protection Designer

Optima Engineering PA; Asheville (NC); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee-Owned Company

Flexible/Hybrid work schedules

Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage

Flexible Spending Account

Retirement Plan with 401(k) and Profit

Employee Stock Ownership (stock)

Discretionary bonuses

Education and professional development

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Optima Engineering is seeking a Plumbing & Fire Protection Engineering Designer to join our Southeast-based, employee-owned team. You will design plumbing and fire protection systems for higher education, municipal, K-12, and commercial facilities, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver thoughtful, high-quality projects.

The ideal candidate holds a NC PE or eligibility within 6 months, 5–10 years of MEP design, and strong Revit/AutoCAD skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5–10 years of MEP building systems design experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) in North Carolina or eligible to obtain within 6 months.
• Proficiency in Revit and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Support the proposal process with input on design options, schedules, and code reviews.
• Perform site visits to assess current conditions for renovation or addition projects.
• Collaborate with project managers and teams to prepare construction drawings and calculations using AutoCAD or Revit.
• Conduct quality control reviews to ensure deliverables meet client expectations and firm standards.
• Coordinate across disciplines and agencies to manage final design reviews and responses to comments.
• Participate in the construction phase, including submittal review, RFI responses, field observations, and closeout documentation.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Job description

At Optima Engineering, an employee-owned MEP consulting firm, we focus on delivering high-quality mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology design solutions for buildings across the Southeast. Our projects include higher education, municipal, K-12, and commercial facilities.

We are seeking a Plumbing & Fire Protection Engineering Designer who is passionate about creating thoughtful and efficient designs, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and delivering projects that positively impact our clients and communities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 5 - 10years of experience in MEP building systems design for higher education, municipal, K-12, and/or commercial facilities.
• Registration as Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of North Carolina, ability to obtain your PE in North Carolina within 6 months or relevant experience.
• Proficiency in Revit and/or AutoCAD required.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the proposal process by providing input on design options, schedules, and code reviews.
• Perform site visits to existing facilities to assess current conditions for renovation or addition projects.
• Collaborate with project managers and multidisciplinary teams to prepare construction drawings and calculations using AutoCAD or Revit.
• Conduct quality control reviews to ensure deliverables meet client expectations and firm standards.
• Coordinate across disciplines and agencies to manage final design reviews and responses to comments.
• Participate in the construction phase, including submittal review, RFI responses, field observations, and closeout documentation.

Technical Skills

• Understanding of plumbing and fire protection systems, including sanitary and vent systems, storm systems, process waste, domestic water, lab and process gas systems, and sprinkler design (wet, dry, and pre-action).
• Perform plumbing system design and sizing (water, waste, storm, fuel systems, med gas, etc.) and fixture selection.
• Design zone layouts and riser diagrams for building sprinkler systems.
• Produce complete plumbing and fire protection drawing packages (plans, details, specifications, life safety).

Why Work at Optima Engineering

Optima Engineering is a 30-year-old, employee-owned, multi-discipline engineering firm with offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville, and Greenville, South Carolina. We provide clients with comprehensive services—including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, technology/low voltage, lighting design, and commissioning—across diverse markets such as mission critical, education, healthcare, commercial, and government.

Recognized four times by the Charlotte Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work, we take pride in fostering a people-first culture where collaboration, innovation, and professional growth thrive. Our mission is to deliver reliable, high-quality engineering solutions for our clients while creating a rewarding and supportive environment for our team.

Benefit Highlights

• Employee-Owned Company
• Flexible/Hybrid work schedules with early Fridays year-round
• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage; Flexible Spending Account; financial and estate planning assistance; and other additional benefits
• Multi-tiered Retirement Plan including Employer 401(k) contributions, Profit Sharing, and Employee Stock Ownership (an additional retirement benefit funded entirely by the company)
• Discretionary bonuses throughout the year
• Ongoing education and professional development opportunities
• Frequent volunteer and community involvement opportunities

If you want to be excited about going to work and making a difference in the organization you represent, we’d love to talk with you about joining our team.

To learn more about Optima Engineering, please visit www.optimaengineering.com.

Optima Engineering is committed to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants — including individuals with disabilities and veterans — are encouraged to apply. Optima Engineering participates in the E-Verify employment authorization program. For more information, please click here.