Solutions Engineer (NorCal)

About the role

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions, referrals, or resumes from external recruiters or staffing agencies.

Location: Candidates must be located in the Greater Northern, CA area

Background Check Requirement

• As part of our hiring process, Frontline Wildfire Defense conducts comprehensive background checks for all new hires.
• These checks typically cover the past 7-10 years and may include employment and education verification.
• For roles that require work in the field, driving record verification is also required.
• Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of these background checks.

About This Opportunity

As a Solutions Engineer, you will play a critical role in supporting the Sales, Installation Operations, and Design functions by providing technical expertise focused on permitting and water system feasibility throughout the deal lifecycle. Working closely with the Senior Solutions Engineer, you will be responsible for supporting complex projects, validating water availability & pressure requirements, and helping navigate permitting processes to ensure projects can move forward efficiently.

This role sits at the intersection of engineering, sales, field operations, and product - and it owns something in each of them. Before a project closes, you're the technical voice that tells a General Contractor or architect whether a system is buildable and what it will take to get there. After a project closes, you are the engineering resource that solves problems no one anticipated.

You'll feed real-world constraints back into product development, help shape how Frontline communicates with water agencies, and build the documentation and training tools that scale the company's technical knowledge. The right candidate is equally comfortable on a job site, in a client meeting, and at a whiteboard working through a hydraulic problem - and treats complexity as the job, not an obstacle to it.

This is a hybrid, field-facing role requiring both office collaboration and on-site engagement across the Greater Los Angeles region. You will be a key resource for projects that require deeper technical evaluation, particularly related to water supply, hydraulics, aesthetic constraints/consequences, and jurisdictional permitting requirements.

You will engage directly with clients, local authorities, and internal teams to ensure that the sprinkler system designs are not only technically sound, but also compliant and feasible within local regulations. This role is essential in helping the company successfully deploy exterior fire sprinkler systems that protect homes and communities from wildfire risk.

Key Responsibilities

Solutions Support

• Own the technical evaluation process that enables Sales, Design, and Installation Ops to close deals with confidence
• Collaborate with the Senior Solutions Engineer on the most complex projects; independently lead standard and mid-complexity evaluations
• Provide practical design guidance on system layout and placement to ensure solutions are feasible, efficient, and implementable in the field
• Evaluate project feasibility with a strong focus on water supply, pressure, and permitting requirements
• Serve as a technical resource for projects requiring advanced engineering input or regulatory navigation
• Translate customer needs into compliant and buildable wildfire sprinkler system solutions
• Provide clear guidance and occasional training to Sales and Project Management teams to support understanding of systems design and implementation

Permitting & Regulatory Coordination

• Support permitting efforts across jurisdictions in Southern California
• Research and interpret local codes, regulations, and permitting requirements related to water systems and fire protection
• Interface with local authorities, municipalities, and water districts to facilitate approvals
• Prepare and review technical documentation required for permit submissions
• Identify potential permitting risks early and propose solutions to keep projects on track

Water Systems & Hydraulic Analysis

• Provide subject matter technical expertise in hydraulics, pipe flow, and pressure based systems
• Assess water sources, flow rates, and pressure availability for each project
• Validate system performance assumptions to ensure effective wildfire protection coverage
• Support and refine system designs based on real-world water constraints
• Collaborate with design teams to optimize layouts based on hydraulic feasibility and practical field implementation, including water routing and distribution across interior and exterior system designs
• Evaluate alternative water supply configurations - including pool sources, wells, and storage solutions - to maintain system effectiveness on projects with limited or anemic municipal water infrastructure

Field & Client Engagement

• Travel to job sites across Southern California as needed
• Ability to evaluate alternative system configurations that maintain wildfire protection effectiveness while reducing water consumption or municipal dependency - relevant for projects with limited or anemic water infrastructure.
• Conduct on-site assessments to evaluate water access, water distribution systems, infrastructure, and system feasibility
• Engage directly with clients to explain technical considerations related to water systems, electrical components, and permitting
• Act as a technical advisor during critical project stages, especially where approvals or constraints arise
• Support installation teams with technical clarification related to water systems and compliance

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with sales, design, and operations teams to ensure smooth project execution
• Provide feedback to improve permitting workflows and water system design standards
• Help standardize processes for jurisdictional approvals and hydraulic evaluations
• Contribute to internal documentation and best practices for recurring permitting scenarios

Qualifications

• 4-7+ years of experience in hydraulic engineering, mechanical/civil engineering, and plumbing design experience or fire protection systems
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred
• Experience working with permitting process, municipal codes, or regulatory approvals (CA experience strongly preferred)
• Familiarity with irrigation systems, or similar water-based infrastructure is a plus
• Strong expertise in water distribution systems, including flow, pressure, and pressure loss considerations across pipe networks
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, site plans, and engineering documentation
• Strong understanding of hydraulics and real-world system constraints
• Basic understanding of alternative power sources and electrical components
• Comfortable working in a hybrid role with frequent field visits (2-4 days a week in the field)
• Excellent problem solving skills, especially in navigating regulatory and environmental constraints
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interface with clients, internal teams, and local authorities
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and timelines

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive Salary Range: $135,000 - $160,000 annually DOE
• Mileage reimbursement provided for field travel
• Company-provided cell phone and laptop
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible time off + 14 paid holidays (yes, your birthday is one of them!)
• Company-provided equipment
• Join a high-performing, mission-driven team doing work that truly matters
• And much more!