Fire Alarm Electrical Engineer

Fire Alarm Electrical Engineer (Advanced/Expert Level)

At Hochiki, we're committed to giving our customers the best—both through the quality of our products and the service we provide. We know that our people are the driving force behind our success, and we truly value the impact each employee makes. In return, we offer rewarding careers, competitive benefits, and plenty of opportunities to grow in a supportive, energetic workplace.

Our culture is shaped by Hochiki Corporation's Core Values:
Integrity, Passion, Challenge and Teamwork

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.

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…