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REMOTE POSITION, BUT CANDIDATE MUST RESIDE IN NEW JERSEY AND BE AVAILABLE FOR OCCASIONAL SITE VISITS IN NYC/NORTHERN NJ.

Compensation is negotiated as a lump-sum fee for each assigned project or scope of work, based on the project scope, schedule, and responsibilities. This is not an hourly employee position.

Project workload will vary, and no minimum number of projects or amount of work is guaranteed. Our goal is to develop long-term relationships with strong freelance professionals who can become regular members of AEP's extended project team. Qualified contractors may be added to our team for future assignments and contacted as suitable projects become available.

Work is primarily performed from home. Occasional site visits in Northern NJ and NYC are required

AEP Engineering, LLC is a growing MEP engineering consulting firm seeking an experienced, highly reliable U.S.-based freelance Electrical / Fire Alarm Designer within practical driving distance of the New York City / Northern New Jersey metropolitan area to support commercial and residential building projects.

This is a 1099 independent-contractor position only. We are looking for an established freelancer or independent professional with meaningful availability for ongoing project work. This is not intended as a moonlighting position for someone whose full-time employment will take priority over AEP projects.

The right person will become a trusted recurring member of our extended project team and will be expected to take ownership of assigned work, meet commitments, and communicate proactively.

Responsibilities

Typical responsibilities may include:

• Develop electrical designs from architectural backgrounds, project criteria, and direction from AEP
• Develop electrical power distribution systems, including service, feeders, panelboards, transformers, disconnects, and branch circuits
• Perform electrical load calculations and service/load assessments
• Develop power plans and equipment connections
• Develop lighting and lighting-control designs where included in project scope
• Develop emergency and egress lighting systems
• Prepare electrical riser and single-line diagrams
• Size feeders, branch circuits, overcurrent protection, and related distribution equipment
• Create panel board schedules
• Coordinate electrical requirements for mechanical, plumbing, fire-protection, architectural, and specialty equipment
• Develop fire alarm system designs, layouts, riser diagrams, device requirements, sequences, notes, and specifications
• Prepare electrical and fire alarm plans, schedules, details, notes, and specifications
• Assist with equipment selections and technical product review
• Identify coordination conflicts and missing information before they affect the project
• Incorporate review comments and revisions
• Perform self-QA/QC before submitting work for AEP review
• Assist with responses to contractor, architect, and client technical questions as required

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a designer, not simply a CAD operator.

The ideal candidate can receive architectural backgrounds and project requirements, understand the design intent, determine what needs to be done, and independently develop a coordinated electrical and fire alarm design without requiring every receptacle, circuit, panel, feeder, fire alarm device, and note to be individually marked up.

Technical ability is important, but reliability, communication, and ownership are equally important to us.

We are specifically looking for someone who:

• Treats agreed project deadlines as firm commitments
• Does not place AEP projects on the back burner because another client becomes more urgent
• Communicates immediately if an issue could affect scope, schedule, or quality
• Proactively identifies missing information, coordination issues, design concerns, and potential problems
• Asks questions early rather than allowing uncertainty to become a last-minute issue
• Takes ownership of assigned work from start through completion
• Is receptive to feedback and willing to learn AEP's preferred design standards, procedures, and workflows
• Reviews their own work carefully before submitting it
• Communicates clearly and professionally
• Is reasonably available during normal U.S. business hours

Qualifications

• Professional experience designing electrical systems for buildings
• Professional experience designing fire alarm systems
• Strong AutoCAD skills
• Experience producing permit and construction-document drawing sets
• Experience with electrical load calculations and power-distribution design
• Knowledge of service sizing, feeders, panelboards, transformers, branch circuits, grounding, and overcurrent protection
• Knowledge of lighting, emergency lighting, and basic lighting-control requirements
• Working knowledge of fire alarm system design, notification, initiation, supervision, interfaces, and applicable code requirements
• Ability to read and coordinate architectural and other engineering drawings
• Strong written and verbal English communication
• Ability to work independently and remotely
• U.S.-based
• Experience with commercial, multifamily residential, healthcare, retail, office, renovation, and/or new-construction projects is preferred
• Working knowledge of the NEC, IBC, NFPA 72, applicable energy-code requirements, and the NYC Building and Electrical Codes is required. Candidates must understand the major code sections, know how they affect their design, when they apply, and know how to efficiently locate and interpret the applicable code sections when asked.
• Familiarity with NYC fire alarm requirements and FDNY-related requirements is strongly preferred
• PE licensure is not required for this position

Site Survey / Local Travel Requirement

This is a remote freelance position, but candidates must be located within reasonable driving distance of AEP's primary New York/New Jersey project area and must be willing and able to travel to project sites as needed.

Responsibilities may include:

• Conducting existing-condition and due-diligence site surveys
• Documenting existing electrical services, distribution equipment, panels, transformers, lighting, fire alarm equipment, devices, and related building conditions
• Taking field measurements, photographs, panel information, equipment information, and existing load data
• Identifying visible conflicts, deficiencies, and conditions that may affect the proposed design
• Organizing field notes and survey information for use in design
• Communicating significant field findings promptly to AEP

Candidates must have:

• Reliable transportation
• A valid driver's license
• Ability and willingness to travel to project sites in New Jersey, New York City, and surrounding areas
• Confidence working independently in occupied and unoccupied buildings
• Ability to conduct thorough, organized field surveys without requiring constant direction

Software and Equipment Requirements

As an independent contractor, you must provide and maintain your own:

• Computer and related hardware
• Reliable high-speed internet connection
• AutoCAD software suitable for performing the required work
• Microsoft 365 software, including Word, Excel, Outlook/email, and other standard office applications
• Professional email and reliable phone/online communication capability
• Any other general software and equipment normally required to perform your freelance design work

AEP does not provide computer hardware, Microsoft 365 licenses, AutoCAD licenses, or general office equipment for this independent-contractor position.

Contractor Relationship

This is a remote 1099 freelance independent-contractor relationship.

Project workload will vary, and no minimum number of hours or projects is guaranteed. Our objective is to develop long-term relationships with strong freelance professionals who can become regular contributors to AEP projects as our workload continues to grow.

Work will be assigned on a project or task basis, with scope, schedule, and compensation established for each assignment.

To Apply

Please submit your resume and briefly answer the following:

• How many years of electrical design experience do you have?
• How many years of fire alarm design experience do you have?
• Do you currently work as a freelancer or independent contractor?
• What types of building projects do you have the most experience designing?
• Are you able to independently develop electrical and fire alarm designs from architectural backgrounds and project criteria?
• How familiar are you with the NEC, NFPA 72, and NYC electrical/fire alarm requirements?
• What version of AutoCAD do you currently use?
• Approximately how much availability do you typically have each week?
• What hours are you generally available during the U.S. workday?
• Are you located in the United States?
• What is your typical hourly rate or preferred project-based compensation?

AEP Engineering, LLC is an MEP engineering consulting firm providing Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, and Fire Alarm design services for commercial and residential building projects throughout the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.