Experienced Fire Sprinkler Designer
Job Description
Founded in 1945, Eastern Fire has grown from a small, family-owned business into a leading provider of fire protection services in the Northeast United States. Renowned for its reliability, expertise, and comprehensive service offerings, including design, installation, inspection, and maintenance of fire protection systems, Eastern Fire remains dedicated to protecting lives and property, continually evolving to meet the challenges of a fast-changing industry while maintaining the core values of integrity, quality, and customer satisfaction instituted by its founders.
Due to continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Fire Sprinkler Designer to support our growing team in Auburn, ME. In this role, you will perform in-house review of submittal drawings as well as layout and coordination of water-based fire protection systems across commercial, industrial, and complex residential projects. This role is ideal for a designer who holds NICET Level III (Water-Based Systems Layout) and can independently produce code-compliant, permit-ready deliverables while partnering closely with project management, field leadership, GCs, and AHJs.
You will be responsible for full-cycle design execution—from document review and field verification through hydraulic calculations, coordination, submittals, and as-builts—ensuring designs are efficient, installable, and compliant with applicable codes and project requirements.
Responsibilities
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Perform in house review of submittal drawings, ensuring design meets codes/standards and project specifications.
- Perform the layout/design of fire sprinkler systems (new construction, tenant improvements, retrofits) for a wide range of occupancies and building types.
- Read and interpret construction documents including drawings, specifications, addenda, project schedules, and BIM coordination requirements.
- Produce high-quality deliverables, including:
- Fire protection shop drawings and coordination drawings
- Hydraulic calculations and supporting documentation
- RFIs, material data submittals, and product cut sheets
- Field installation drawings, as-built drawings, and O&M manuals
- Apply and interpret applicable codes/standards (as applicable to the project), such as NFPA 13/13R/13D, and coordinate requirements with local amendments and AHJ expectations.
- Perform site surveys of new/existing buildings and systems to validate dimensions, ceiling conditions, obstructions, water supply data, and constructability constraints.
- Develop accurate material lists (including prefab/spool-friendly takeoffs when applicable) to support purchasing and efficient installation.
- Coordinate with design management, project managers, superintendents, and foremen to resolve constructability issues and support schedule milestones.
- Participate in plan review/AHJ comment resolution and support permitting and approval cycles.
- Provide design QA/QC, support standards development, and (as needed) mentor junior designers.
Job Requirements
Required Qualifications
- NICET Level III Certification — Water-Based Systems Layout (required).
- Demonstrated experience producing permit-ready sprinkler drawings and hydraulic calculations with minimal oversight.
- Strong working knowledge of sprinkler design principles, installation practices, and field coordination needs.
- Proficiency with fire protection design software (e.g., HydraCAD or equivalent) and standard office tools.
- Strong communication skills (written/verbal) with the ability to coordinate with internal teams, GCs, and AHJs.
- Valid driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of fire sprinkler design experience (or equivalent complex project experience).
- Experience with complex hazards and challenging building features (e.g., high-pile storage, high-rise, seismic bracing coordination, specialty systems where applicable).
- Familiarity with BIM/VDC workflows and coordination tools (e.g., Revit/Navisworks) where used by project teams.
- NICET III, NFPA certifications, or formal education in CAD, Fire Science, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or related fields.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
- Office environment with moderate noise.
- Construction job sites with moderate-to-heavy noise, uneven ground, and potential work at heights.
- Ability to maneuver in restricted or poorly lit spaces.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
- May be required to climb ladders up to 12 feet.
- Depth perception sufficient for spatial coordination and field verification.
