Life Safety Lead Technician

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

About The Position

Functions as a technical team leader that supports the mission of the Life Safety Shop. Responsibilities include providing technical support, training and orientation to all technicians assigned to the Life Safety Shop; reviewing and approving system programming changes prior to downloading; reviewing and submitting FACP system programming changes; performing FACP system programming downloads and/or is present for all of them; and updating copies of all system programming changes that are submitted to the Life Safety Shop Supervisor immediately upon completion for storage on the appropriate network drive. Ensures workload schedules are accomplished as issued. Notifies Supervisor immediately of any desired and/or necessary deviations, delays, or early completions. Performs major or more difficult installations and/or modifications to life safety: fire detection and suppression systems, Card Access, Security, CCTV , and Equipment Monitoring Systems. Performs walk-through inspections, above ceiling inspections, pre-final inspections, and final 100% acceptance building commissioning inspections, ensuring that all phases and/or project completions are in accordance with all applicable codes, guidelines, and standards including but not limited to: N.C. Building Code, NFPA13, NFPA70, NFPA72, the NCSCO requirements for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, and the NCSCO requirements for Fire Sprinkler Systems. Initiates punch-lists of deficiencies or discrepancies and performs completed punch-list re-inspections. Ensures technicians perform all Preventive Maintenance (PM) Inspections and all repairs on Life Safety systems are completed on schedule and are in accordance with manufacturer specifications, NFPA12A, NFPA25, NFPA72 and the International Fire Code. Individually obtains and maintains licenses from the N.C. State Board of Examiners to legally perform the inspections, which also requires additional National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies ( NICET ) certifications. The specific Life Safety system manufacturer certifications must also be individually obtained and maintained to perform any repairs or system modifications. Utilizes laptop computers for system diagnostic interrogations, troubleshooting, programming, and to configure different system peripheral printers for extraction of required system histories and sensitivity report generations. Performs specialized programming on security and equipment alarm systems to ensure system integrity and individual customer/departmental application needs are met.

Requirements

In-depth training in electronic technology theory and the ability to apply such in a troubleshooting and repair application, not restricted to the system and subsystem level, but further into the circuit board component level.
In-depth knowledge of various computer operating systems and programs to perform routine maintenance on all micro-processor-based systems or achieve deeper problem resolution.
In-depth knowledge of NFPA , NEC , NCBC , NCSCO , IFC and ADA codes, rules, and regulations to perform installations and upgrades of supported systems.
In-depth knowledge of the utilization of laptop computers and various computer operating systems and programs to perform system programming on all microprocessor-based systems.
Must be knowledgeable enough to recommend potential system software and hardware that may be required and perform training of the end users on the proper utilization and operation of the installed systems.
Recent experience in the Fire Alarm industry.
In-depth knowledge and experience in programming, service, and repair of Fire Detection and Suppression systems including sprinkler (wet and dry), pre-action and deluge systems, standpipe, fire pumps, and chemical suppression systems, Security, CCTV , Card Access systems, and Proprietary Central Alarm Receiving Stations.
Requires in-depth knowledge of and experience with the application of various codes and standards, including but not limited to NFPA13, 14, 20, 25, 70, 72, Life Safety 101, NC DOA State Construction requirements for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, NC DOA State Construction requirements for Fire Sprinkler Systems, and ADA requirements.
Ability to serve as a mandatory employee and report to work in support of essential (mandatory) University operations, even when adverse weather or other emergency conditions may require the University to close.
Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician License issued by the NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, & Fire Sprinkler Contractors and Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician License issued by the NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, & Fire Sprinkler Contractors.
NICET Level II certifications in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems and Fire Alarm Systems.
Individuals not holding a NICET Level II Certification for Inspection and Testing of Water-based Systems, Limited Fire Sprinkler Inspection Technician License by the NC State Board of Examiners and a Limited Fire Sprinkler Maintenance Technician License by the NC State Board of Examiners must have the ability to obtain licenses and certification within 3 years of employment as a condition of continued employment.
Individuals not holding NICET Level II Certification for Fire Alarm Systems must be able to obtain certification within 4 years of employment as a condition of continued employment.
A valid NC Driver’s License or ability to obtain one prior to start date.

Nice To Haves

Progressive experience in the Fire Alarm industry.
Factory certification by at least (2) major fire alarm manufacturers in programming and operations of their systems.
Experience in the review of various phases of building design in reference to life safety systems.
Experience in conducting system operational testing, inspections, and commissioning, in all aspects of Life Safety access-control systems.
Experience in working with state agencies, such as NCDOI , NCDOL , and NC SCO .
Experience in prioritizing, scheduling, assigning, and managing workload, including work orders, preventive maintenance programs, emergency requests and backlog.

Responsibilities

Providing technical support, training and orientation to all technicians assigned to the Life Safety Shop
Reviewing and approving system programming changes prior to downloading
Reviewing and submitting FACP system programming changes
Performing FACP system programming downloads and/or is present for all of them
Updating copies of all system programming changes that are submitted to the Life Safety Shop Supervisor immediately upon completion for storage on the appropriate network drive
Ensuring workload schedules are accomplished as issued
Notifying Supervisor immediately of any desired and/or necessary deviations, delays, or early completions
Performing major or more difficult installations and/or modifications to life safety: fire detection and suppression systems, Card Access, Security, CCTV , and Equipment Monitoring Systems
Performing walk-through inspections, above ceiling inspections, pre-final inspections, and final 100% acceptance building commissioning inspections, ensuring that all phases and/or project completions are in accordance with all applicable codes, guidelines, and standards including but not limited to: N.C. Building Code, NFPA13, NFPA70, NFPA72, the NCSCO requirements for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, and the NCSCO requirements for Fire Sprinkler Systems
Initiating punch-lists of deficiencies or discrepancies and performs completed punch-list re-inspections
Ensuring technicians perform all Preventive Maintenance (PM) Inspections and all repairs on Life Safety systems are completed on schedule and are in accordance with manufacturer specifications, NFPA12A, NFPA25, NFPA72 and the International Fire Code
Individually obtaining and maintaining licenses from the N.C. State Board of Examiners to legally perform the inspections, which also requires additional National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies ( NICET ) certifications
Maintaining specific Life Safety system manufacturer certifications to perform any repairs or system modifications
Utilizing laptop computers for system diagnostic interrogations, troubleshooting, programming, and to configure different system peripheral printers for extraction of required system histories and sensitivity report generations
Performing specialized programming on security and equipment alarm systems to ensure system integrity and individual customer/departmental application needs are met