Fire Alarm Electrical Engineer (Advanced/Expert Level)

UL/FM Approvals Certification & Fire Alarm / Life Safety Systems

Department:

Global Product Certification Function (Panel Development)

Location:

United States (Hybrid work arrangement; on-site work at Technical Centres such as Buena Park, CA and Chicago, IL).

Occasional international travel to the United Kingdom, Japan, and other countries may be required for technical coordination.

Role Purpose

To serve as a core technical leader for UL / FM Approvals certification and regulatory compliance activities relating to fire alarm and life safety systems intended for the U.S. market and the global UL-certified product portfolio.

This role acts as a technical bridge between UL and FM Approvals certification bodies, Hochiki America Corporation, and global engineering and certification teams based in Japan and the United Kingdom. The position is responsible for leading system-level certification activities, supporting product commercialization, and ensuring regulatory compliance while balancing technical, commercial, and business priorities.

The successful candidate will proactively engage with UL laboratories, particularly UL headquarters laboratories in the Chicago area, to support timely product approvals and maintain business continuity within a highly regulated environment.

Who you'll report to

Head of UK R&D

What you'll be doing:

UL/FM Approvals Certification & Regulatory Compliance:

• Acting as the primary technical interface with UL engineers for fire alarm control panels (FACPs) and system compatibility involving detectors, pull stations, annunciators, modules, and other system accessories.
• Leading and supporting UL panel-level and system-level testing activities, including preparation of test configurations, internal coordination, and on-site or remote witnessing.
• Reviewing and supporting UL submission packages including schematics, wiring diagrams, labelling, installation manuals, and technical documentation.
• Providing technical leadership for certification activities under UL 864, UL 268, FM Approvals requirements, and applicable NFPA standards.
• Interpreting regulatory requirements during early development stages and proactively identifying certification and compliance risks.

Product Validation & Technical Judgment:

• Evaluating hardware and firmware behaviors at both standalone product and complete system levels, including interoperability between panels and connected field devices.
• Reviewing internal test results, defects, and non-conformities to assess technical and business impact, while recommending appropriate actions including immediate correction, deferred fixes, or residual risk acceptance.
• Determining whether design changes require new UL or FM Approvals certification projects or can be managed through internal validation processes.

Cross-Functional & Global Coordination:

• Coordinating certification schedules and approval workflows between UL / FM Approvals laboratories and internal stakeholders across group companies.
• Acting as a technical liaison between Hochiki America Corporation, Hochiki Corporation (Japan), UK engineering teams, and external partners.
• Communicating technical positions effectively across cultures, time zones, and organizational boundaries.

System Compatibility & Documentation:

• Reviewing and validating compatibility between FACPs and connected devices including detectors, pull stations, annunciators, modules, and system accessories.
• Ensuring compatibility claims are technically accurate and correctly reflected within product specifications and technical documentation.
• Supporting updates to installation instructions and technical literature resulting from certification or design changes.

Issue Resolution & Continuous Improvement:

• Analyzing market issues and customer feedback relating to UL-certified products.
• Supporting root-cause analysis activities in collaboration with internal and external engineering teams.
• Improving and institutionalizing certification and validation processes to reduce long-term regulatory and business risk.

Who you'll be working with:

• Internal engineering, certification, quality, and product management teams across Hochiki Group businesses
• Hochiki America Corporation, Hochiki Corporation (Japan), and UK engineering organizations
• UL, FM Approvals, and other regulatory certification bodies
• External partners, consultants, suppliers, and testing laboratories

Person Specification

We are seeking a technically strong and commercially aware engineer who combines sound regulatory judgment with strong communication and leadership skills. You will thrive in highly regulated environments, demonstrate confidence in technical decision-making, and effectively balance safety, compliance, product quality, and business objectives.

This position is ideally suited to an experienced certification, compliance, or systems engineer with hands-on knowledge of fire alarm systems, UL certification processes, and system-level product validation within a multinational or matrix-structured organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or a related technical discipline
• Industry certifications such as NICET or equivalent desirable
• Additional training or certifications relating to UL, FM Approvals, NFPA standards, or regulatory compliance desirable experience
• Minimum 7 years of engineering experience with regulated or safety-critical products
• Hands-on experience working with UL certification or comparable third-party certification bodies
• Experience with fire alarm systems, life safety products, or similar regulated systems
• Experience supporting UL 864 and/or UL 268 certification projects desirable
• Experience supporting transitions from UL 864 9th Edition to 10th Edition desirable
• Experience operating within a global or matrix organization, balancing regional accountability with global alignment

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of UL 864, UL 268, FM Approvals requirements, and applicable NFPA standards
• Familiarity with NFPA 72 and expectations of U.S. Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
• Deep understanding of system-level behavior involving hardware, firmware, interoperability, and life safety systems
• Knowledge of certification processes, compliance documentation, validation activities, and regulatory risk management
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance compliance, product quality, schedule, and business impact

Technical skills

• Ability to analyze and explain system-level interactions between fire alarm control panels and connected devices
• Strong technical troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and problem-solving capabilities
• Experience reviewing schematics, wiring diagrams, installation instructions, and technical compliance documentation
• Ability to assess certification impact resulting from product design changes
• Competence using standard business software including Microsoft Office applications and collaboration tools
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills for collaboration with teams in the U.S., U.K., and Asia

Personal Qualities

Integrity: Acts with professionalism, accountability, and sound engineering judgment while representing the company with regulatory bodies and senior stakeholders.

• Passion & Challenge: Demonstrates initiative and confidence in addressing complex regulatory and technical challenges, particularly in situations requiring interpretation and balanced decision-making.

Teamwork: Builds strong collaborative relationships across global engineering, certification, and commercial teams while communicating effectively across cultures and organizational boundaries.

Leadership & Influence: Confidently represents the organization in discussions and negotiations with UL, FM Approvals, and senior internal stakeholders to achieve certification objectives without unnecessary delay.

Strong prioritization skills with the ability to make technically and commercially impactful decisions under schedule and compliance constraints.