Entry-Level Fire Protection Design Engineer
Full-Time | $28.00–$30.00/hour | Signing Bonus | Optional Paid Overtime
Looking for an engineering or design career where you can see your work come to life? At Concord Fire Protection, our Design Engineers take projects from architectural drawings to real-world installation. You’ll use AutoCAD, 3D modeling, engineering calculations, and practical problem-solving to design fire protection systems for new and existing buildings throughout the region.
No fire protection or construction experience is required. We expect to train the right candidate.
We’re looking for someone who enjoys figuring out how things work, can visualize things in three dimensions, likes solving problems, and wants to understand not only how to design something, but how it will actually be built.
For more than 30 years, Concord Fire Protection has designed, engineered, and installed fire protection systems throughout the Cincinnati region. As a locally owned fire sprinkler contractor, our designers work directly with project managers, construction teams, and the skilled tradespeople who install the systems they design.
This isn’t just a desk job. You’ll have the opportunity to visit active construction sites, see your designs being installed, learn from experienced field personnel, and develop an understanding of the entire construction process.
What You’ll Do
As a Fire Protection Design Engineer, you’ll gradually take ownership of projects and learn how to turn architectural and engineering plans into complete, coordinated fire protection systems.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Design automatic fire sprinkler systems for new and existing buildings using architectural, structural, and mechanical plans.
- Develop detailed 2D and 3D system layouts using AutoCAD and other industry-specific design software.
- Review building layouts and construction conditions to determine practical and efficient ways to route and install fire protection systems.
- Work directly with our field installation teams to solve real-world construction challenges and improve system designs.
- Perform hydraulic calculations and system analysis to determine system water demands.
- Coordinate fire protection systems with HVAC, plumbing, electrical, structural, and other building systems.
- Utilize BIM and Navisworks for 3D coordination to identify and resolve conflicts before they reach the construction site.
- Prepare detailed fabrication and installation drawings for our field teams.
- Visit active construction sites to survey existing conditions, structural components, ceiling conditions, and other building systems.
- Prepare material stock lists and coordinate material requirements with suppliers and fabrication partners.
- Apply NFPA standards, building codes, project specifications, and local requirements to system designs.
- Prepare drawings and documentation for submission to local building departments and authorities for permitting and approval.
- Communicate with project managers, field personnel, contractors, architects, engineers, and other project stakeholders throughout the design and construction process.
What You’ll Learn
We don’t expect an entry-level candidate to walk through the door knowing how to design a fire sprinkler system.
Our team will teach you.
As you develop, you’ll gain experience with:
- Fire sprinkler system design and engineering
- AutoCAD and industry-specific design software
- 2D and 3D construction drawings
- BIM modeling and construction coordination
- Hydraulic calculations
- NFPA fire protection standards
- Building and fire codes
- Wet, dry, preaction, and deluge sprinkler systems
- Fire pumps and water supply systems
- Construction methods and installation practices
- Material selection and fabrication
- Reading architectural, structural, and mechanical drawings
- Jobsite surveying and field coordination
- Identifying construction conflicts before installation
- Designing systems with installation efficiency in mind
- Managing projects from initial design through completed installation
The Type of Person We’re Looking For
Fire protection experience can be taught. We’re more interested in finding someone with the aptitude and mindset to become great at the profession.
You may be a good fit if you:
- Are naturally curious about how things work.
- Enjoy solving puzzles and practical problems.
- Can look at something in two dimensions and visualize how it would exist in three dimensions.
- Have strong mechanical and spatial aptitude.
- Like figuring out the most practical or efficient way to accomplish something.
- Pay attention to details and take pride in producing accurate work.
- Are comfortable with math, measurements, geometry, and technical problem-solving.
- Aren’t afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand something.
- Can receive feedback and use it to improve.
- Enjoy working independently but also want to be part of a team.
- Want to learn from both engineers/designers and the skilled tradespeople actually building the systems you design.
- Would rather solve a problem before it reaches the field than react to it afterward.
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Architectural Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Design, CAD/Drafting, or another related technical field.
- Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, BIM, SolidWorks, or other 2D/3D design software is helpful but not required.
- Experience reading architectural, structural, or mechanical drawings is helpful but not required.
- Previous construction experience is helpful but not required.
- Previous fire protection experience is not required.
- Reliable transportation for occasional travel to local project sites.
See Your Designs Get Built
One of the biggest differences between this position and many entry-level engineering jobs is that your work doesn’t stop at the computer screen.
You’ll have opportunities to visit projects you’ve designed, walk construction sites, talk directly with installers, troubleshoot challenges, and see how your decisions affect the way a building is actually constructed.
Over time, you’ll learn to look at a drawing from an installer’s perspective and ask:
“How is someone actually going to build this?”
That practical understanding is an important part of becoming a successful designer at Concord.
Build a Career in Fire Protection
Fire protection is a specialized engineering and construction industry that combines mechanical systems, hydraulics, building design, construction, and life safety.
This position is designed to develop into much more than drafting.
As your knowledge and experience grow, you’ll take greater ownership of system design, engineering decisions, construction coordination, field problem-solving, project management, and customer relationships.
Our goal is to develop designers who understand the entire project—not simply how to draw it.
Compensation
$28.00–$30.00 per hour
Approximately $58,000–$62,400 annually based on a standard 40-hour workweek.
Compensation also includes:
- Signing bonus
- Optional overtime
- Overtime paid at 1.5× your hourly rate
Job Type: Full-Time
