Fire Alarm Electrical Engineer

Hochiki Group•Buena Park, CA

9d•$120,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This role serves as a core technical leader for UL/FM Approvals certification and regulatory compliance activities for fire alarm and life safety systems intended for the U.S. market and the global UL-certified product portfolio. The position acts as a technical bridge between UL and FM Approvals certification bodies, Hochiki America Corporation, and global engineering and certification teams. The successful candidate will lead system-level certification activities, support product commercialization, ensure regulatory compliance, and proactively engage with UL laboratories to support timely product approvals. The role requires a technically strong and commercially aware engineer with sound regulatory judgment, strong communication, and leadership skills, thriving in highly regulated environments and demonstrating confidence in technical decision-making while balancing 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or a related technical discipline
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 operating within a global or matrix organization, balancing regional accountability with global alignment
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
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
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.

Nice To Haves

Industry certifications such as NICET or equivalent desirable
Additional training or certifications relating to UL, FM Approvals, NFPA standards, or regulatory compliance desirable
Experience supporting UL 864 and/or UL 268 certification projects desirable
Experience supporting transitions from UL 864 9th Edition to 10th Edition desirable

Responsibilities

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.
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, and recommending appropriate actions.
Determining whether design changes require new UL or FM Approvals certification projects or can be managed through internal validation processes.
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.
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.
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.