Fire Alarm Engineer

Company Overview

With over 18 years of experience, Hays Electrical Services is a nationally recognized electrical contractor delivering high‑quality, safe, and reliable electrical solutions across commercial, industrial, and specialty markets. Licensed in multiple states and trusted by leading general contractors, Hays is built on a foundation of safety, excellence, drive, communication, and client focus. The company’s mission is to make itself indispensable to its customers by investing in its people, continuously improving processes, and delivering results that set the industry standard.

Position Summary

The Fire Alarm Engineer designs and documents Division 28 fire alarm and life safety systems from proposal through construction documents, submittals, and field support, covering new construction, retrofit, and end‑user work. The role owns system design, device layouts, calculations, and sequence‑of‑operations documentation, collaborating closely with Pre‑Construction/Estimating, Project Management, and Field Operations to deliver code‑compliant, buildable designs while holding an active Texas Fire Alarm Certificate of Registration (ACR) as the individual license of record on assigned projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design fire alarm and life safety systems in accordance with NFPA 72, the NEC, local AHJ requirements, and manufacturer specifications.
• Prepare fire alarm shop drawings, riser diagrams, device layouts, and battery and voltage‑drop calculations for submittal packages.
• Develop sequence‑of‑operations narratives and input/output matrices for new construction and retrofit projects.
• Support Pre‑Construction/Estimating with system design input, device counts, and budget‑level layouts during proposal development.
• Prepare and submit permit and plan‑review packages to local AHJs and fire marshals; respond to plan‑review comments and resubmit as needed.
• Review construction documents and coordinate design requirements with general contractors, electrical primes, and other trades.
• Support field teams with design clarifications, RFIs, and as‑built reconciliation throughout construction.
• Support pre‑test and final acceptance testing with the AHJ and fire marshal as needed.
• Maintain design standards, templates, and calculation tools for the fire alarm engineering function.
• Stay current on code changes, manufacturer platform updates, and AHJ requirements across the company’s service territory.
• Serve as the individual Texas ACR license holder of record on assigned projects, maintaining registration and continuing education in good standing.
• Follow all company safety policies and OSHA requirements at all times.

Key Performance Indicators

• Design and calculation accuracy (minimal rework from plan review or field issues).
• Submittal and plan‑review turnaround time.
• AHJ plan‑review comment cycles per project.
• On‑time delivery of design packages against project schedule milestones.
• Texas ACR registration and continuing education kept current.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Active Texas Fire Alarm Certificate of Registration (ACR), held individually and in good standing.
• 5+ years of fire alarm design/engineering experience on commercial construction projects.
• Strong working knowledge of NFPA 72, the NEC, and local AHJ requirements.
• Proficiency preparing shop drawings, riser diagrams, and battery and voltage‑drop calculations.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, electrical, and life safety construction documents.
• Experience with AutoCAD or Revit for fire alarm layout and design.
• Preferred NICET Level III or IV certification in Fire Alarm Systems, or working toward certification.
• Experience with one or more major fire alarm design/programming platforms (e.g., Autocall, Fike, Xtralis, Simplex, Fire‑Lite, Gamewell/Honeywell).
• Experience across new construction, retrofit, and service/end‑user project types.
• Prior experience at a specialty/low‑voltage subcontractor.
• Experience with ERCES / BDA (in‑building public safety) or DAS system design.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This role is primarily office/design‑based, with occasional travel to active jobsites (local/regional) to verify field conditions and support design coordination. While performing office duties, the employee regularly remains in a stationary position, operates a computer and standard office equipment, and communicates with internal and external contacts. When visiting jobsites, the employee must be able to walk construction sites—including uneven terrain, ladders, and mechanical/electrical rooms—while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. The employee must be able to detect, determine, distinguish, inspect, assess, and adjust focus. Management reserves the right to change this position description at any time according to business needs.

Why Join Hays Electrical Services?

At Hays Electrical Services, you’ll join a team that values professionalism, accountability, and growth. As a Fire Alarm Engineer, you’ll design critical life‑safety systems that carry your ACR seal, with the autonomy and support to advance your technical career within the 5K Specialty Systems division.

Benefits

• Competitive pay based on experience.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in a supportive, fast‑paced environment.