Designer - Fire Alarm and Low Voltage

Fire Alarm and Low Voltage Designer - Poway, CA

AMPAM is a leading Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) contractor serving large-scale multifamily and commercial projects across California. With 1,500 employees across multiple business units, we are committed to delivering quality, safety, and excellence in every project. In June 2026, AMPAM acquired Coastal Fire & Integration Systems ("Coastal"), a San Diego-area provider of fire protection, low-voltage, and life safety systems. This role will join the AMPAM team as a part of our Coastal Fire & Integration Systems acquisition.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Fire Alarm and Low Voltage Designer to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for preparing accurate, code-compliant fire alarm and low-voltage system designs, shop drawings, permit drawings, as-built drawings, calculations, reports, and related project documentation.

This position requires advanced knowledge of fire alarm and life safety system design, including high-rise systems, smoke control interface, voice evacuation, emergency communication systems, monitoring, and related low-voltage systems. The Designer will work closely with project managers, estimators, field technicians, programmers, general contractors, engineers, consultants, AHJs, and customers to ensure designs meet applicable codes, project specifications, manufacturer requirements, and field installation needs.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate must:

• Possess a working knowledge of low-voltage communication systems, including fire alarm, emergency communication, monitoring, access control, CCTV, DAS/ERRCS, AV, and related building system interfaces.
• Demonstrate competency in advanced fire alarm design, including high-rise systems, smoke control interfaces, voice evacuation, emergency communication systems, elevator recall, sprinkler monitoring, duct detector shutdown, door release, and other life safety system integrations.
• Possess proficient knowledge of current codes and standards, including NFPA, IBC, California Building Code, California Fire Code, local AHJ requirements, and the principles and practices of fire protection engineering.
• Be professionally licensed or certified in the area of expertise, such as NICET Fire Alarm Systems certification, or possess equivalent industry experience.
• Be proficient in AutoCAD software to ensure efficient and accurate production of shop drawings, permit drawings, design drawings, as-built drawings, and record documents.
• Be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Bluebeam, and related design/document management software.
• Have experience preparing fire alarm submittal packages, permit drawings, equipment data sheets, voltage drop calculations, battery calculations, sequence of operations, riser diagrams, device layouts, panel schedules, and related design documentation.
• Have experience preparing and writing reports detailing specific fire protection issues, design concerns, code analysis, corrective measures, alternative methods, or equivalency proposals.
• Have proficient knowledge of fire alarm product lines, including Kidde, EST/Edwards, Notifier, and other commonly used fire alarm systems.
• Be able to read and interpret construction drawings, electrical drawings, architectural drawings, mechanical drawings, reflected ceiling plans, specifications, contracts, addenda, RFPs, and scope documents.
• Possess good communication, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Be able to communicate professionally with project managers, estimators, field technicians, programmers, general contractors, engineers, consultants, clients, inspectors, plan checkers, and AHJs.
• Be able to manage multiple design projects simultaneously, depending on project size, complexity, scope, deadlines, and permitting requirements.

Job Duties

The Fire Alarm and Low Voltage Designer will be responsible for:

• Reading and interpreting construction documents, including drawings, specifications, contracts, addenda, RFPs, and scope documents.
• Actively participating in pre-planning the overall fire protection and low-voltage system design.
• Designing and laying out fire alarm and…