Design Engineer

Company Overview

We are partnering with a premier custom integration firm based in central New Jersey, specializing in ultra-high-end residential automation and a growing commercial practice, including advanced energy management, lighting control, networking, and full-home technology systems. Led by a technically hands-on founder with a background in enterprise IT, the company has built its reputation on tackling some of the most technically demanding, high-profile projects in the industry rather than standard TV and media room work. Deep manufacturer relationships and a fast-growing pipeline of premium projects mean the technical team is scaling quickly to keep pace with demand. Leadership operates by a clear set of principles: technology passion, customer-first execution, solutions-oriented thinking, and expert collaboration are expected of every team member, not just talked about.

Why Join Us?

• Work at the Pinnacle of the Industry — This team takes on some of the most technically complex residential and commercial automation projects in the business, from advanced energy management systems to multi-million-dollar builds, not the standard TV-and-media-room work.
• A Real Path to Leadership — Ownership is explicit about wanting to grow this hire into the company's next technical leader, someone trusted to own design decisions independently rather than stay in a supporting role indefinitely.
• Direct Access to Leadership and Manufacturers — You'll work closely with ownership and get direct exposure to top manufacturer partners and resources, without layers of bureaucracy in between.
• A Team That Enjoys Being a Team — Beyond project work, the team gets together for manufacturer events and celebrations, because they genuinely like each other, not because it's mandatory.
• Room to Make an Immediate Impact — Demand for the team's work is outpacing available hands right now, which means a new hire can make a visible difference from day one instead of waiting years for the opportunity.
• Open to Nontraditional Backgrounds — Whether you grew up in this industry or you're coming from IT, networking, or a computer science background looking for a hands-on path, genuine intellect and passion for technology matter more than a specific resume.

Job Overview

The Design Engineer will design, program, and help integrate advanced home automation, energy management, and low-voltage systems for some of the most sophisticated residential and commercial projects in the region. This is a hands-on role. You will take a design challenge, research the right solution, build it out, and see it through to implementation rather than hand it off. They are looking for someone who can grow into a true technical right hand, someone who can be handed a complex design problem and trusted to deliver a well-researched, expert answer without needing extensive oversight along the way.

This is not a desk job and not a remote position. You'll be in the field enough to understand how your designs actually get built and to jump in when needed, while owning the design and programming side of every project you touch. Success in this role looks like growing from a strong individual contributor into a genuine technical leader within the organization over time.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and help integrate advanced automation, lighting control, networking, and energy management systems for high-end residential and commercial projects.
• Own project designs from concept through implementation, translating client and ownership vision into buildable, documented system designs.
• Program and configure systems primarily on Savant and Lutron platforms.
• Produce and maintain system design documentation using Visio and D-Tools.
• Configure and troubleshoot networking components, including VPNs and wireless access points.
• Stay current on manufacturer firmware, software, and platform updates, and proactively flag compatibility issues before they become project problems.
• Support field teams and be present on-site as needed to ensure designs translate correctly into real-world installations.
• Collaborate directly with ownership on complex or nonstandard system designs.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Strong programming and design experience, or clear aptitude, with Savant and Lutron platforms.
• Working knowledge of networking fundamentals, including VPN configuration and wireless access points (Ubiquiti, Araknis, or similar platforms all welcome).
• Comfortable working in Visio and D-Tools; CAD experience is not required.
• Strong problem-solving skills, and genuine self-initiative: someone who researches and solves rather than waits to be told what to do.
• Ability to work both independently on complex designs and hands-on in the field when needed.
• A collaborative, team-first mindset with no ego, someone who wants to be part of the team's success rather than work in isolation.
• Genuine passion for technology and this industry.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in residential or commercial systems integration. Candidates from adjacent technical backgrounds, including IT, networking, or computer science, are also encouraged to apply.
• College degree.
• Prior systems design or programming experience beyond entry level, particularly for candidates looking to step directly into a senior design role.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Company holidays
• Family leave
• Life insurance
• Company-provided office equipment and supplies

Compensation

$70,000 to $90,000 base salary, plus an annual performance bonus based on company and individual performance.