Fire Alarm Field Engineer II

M.C. Dean, Inc.; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life, and dis

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

401k Retirement Plan

Military Reserve pay offset

Paid maternity leave

Job summary

M.C. Dean, Inc. in Tysons, Virginia, seeks a Fire Alarm Field Engineer II to support installation, programming, testing, and commissioning of fire alarm systems on medium to large projects. You will troubleshoot, assess, and ensure compliance with NFPA codes and design intent on site.

The role requires 2+ years hands-on experience with fire alarm systems, NICET certification or pursuit, and the ability to obtain a Secret clearance. Strong communication and field coordination are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electronics, Fire Protection, or related field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with fire alarm system installation, programming, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Strong knowledge of NFPA 72 and applicable building and fire codes.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting major fire alarm platforms (Siemens, Simplex, Notifier, Edwards, Bosch).
• Ability to read and interpret fire alarm drawings, one-lines, sequences of operation, and test procedures.
• Strong communication, customer-facing, and documentation skills.
• This position has been identified as requiring an additional client background check.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced troubleshooting of fire alarm systems to identify and resolve hardware, software, wiring, and network issues.
• Program, configure, and modify fire alarm control panels, networked systems, and interfaces in accordance with approved design documents.
• Conduct system assessments to evaluate existing fire alarm systems for code compliance, operational performance, and upgrade or retrofit needs.
• Create detailed test plans and procedures for complex and integrated fire alarm and life safety systems.
• Support commissioning activities, inspections, acceptance testing, and integrated system testing.
• Verify system operation against NFPA standards, local codes, AHJ requirements, and approved sequences of operation.
• Provide SME technical support to customers, project teams, and field personnel.
• Perform system take-offs and prepare BOMs to support project execution and change management.
• Provide on-site technical support during installation, testing, and turnover activities.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, installers, customers, and AHJs to resolve system issues and deficiencies.
• Review drawings, submittals, and technical documentation to support accurate field implementation.
• Assist with RFIs, field change documentation, test reports, and project closeout deliverables.
• Participate in on-call rotation to support troubleshooting and emergency response as required.

Skills

Fire alarm systems

NFPA 72 knowledge

Reading drawings

Customer communication

Field troubleshooting

On-site support

Team coordination

Physical ability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electronics, Fire Protection, or related field.

Tools

Siemens

Simplex

Notifier

Edwards

Bosch

Job description

Overview

About M.C. Dean

M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation’s most mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

Why Join Us?

Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment. At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.

Fire Alarm Field Engineer II is responsible for field-level engineering support of fire alarm systems on medium to large, complex projects. This role focuses on advanced troubleshooting, system programming, system assessments, and commissioning support to ensure fire alarm systems operate in compliance with applicable codes, design intent, and customer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced troubleshooting of fire alarm systems to identify and resolve hardware, software, wiring, and network issues

• Program, configure, and modify fire alarm control panels, networked systems, and interfaces in accordance with approved design documents

• Conduct system assessments to evaluate existing fire alarm systems for code compliance, operational performance, and upgrade or retrofit needs

• Create detailed test plans and procedures for complex and integrated fire alarm and life safety systems

• Support commissioning activities, inspections, acceptance testing, and integrated system testing

• Verify system operation against NFPA standards, local codes, AHJ requirements, and approved sequences of operation

• Provide subject matter expert (SME) technical support to customers, project teams, and field personnel

• Perform system take-offs and prepare bills of material (BOM) to support project execution and change management

• Provide on-site technical support during installation, testing, and turnover activities

• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, installers, customers, and AHJs to resolve system issues and deficiencies

• Review drawings, submittals, and technical documentation to support accurate field implementation

• Assist with RFIs, field change documentation, test reports, and project closeout deliverables

• Participate in on-call rotation to support troubleshooting and emergency response as required

We offer an excellent benefits package including:

• A competitive salary
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Military Reserve pay offset
• Paid maternity leave

Qualifications

Required Education / Technical & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electronics, Fire Protection, or related field.

• 2+ years of hands‑on experience with fire alarm system installation, programming, testing, and troubleshooting

• Strong knowledge of NFPA 72 and applicable building and fire codes

• Experience programming and troubleshooting major fire alarm platforms (e.g., Siemens, Simplex, Notifier, Edwards, Bosch, or equivalent)

• Ability to read and interpret fire alarm drawings, one‑lines, sequences of operation, and test procedures

• Strong communication, customer‑facing, and documentation skills

• This position has been identified as requiring anadditional client background check.

Clearance/Citizen Type: Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements—including U.S. citizenship for access to classified information.

(Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance required).

Certification

• Posses NICET Level II in Fire Alarm Systems or obtain within 90 days of employment
• Posses NICET Level III in Fire Alarm Systems within 90 days of employment (Preferred)

Preferred

• Experience with networked, campus‑wide, or integrated life safety systems

• Experience developing test plans and supporting integrated commissioning

• Experience supporting mission‑critical, industrial, or high‑reliability facilities

Abilities:

• The position requires the ability to lift, carry, and move objects weighing up to [50 pounds] on a regular basis. Candidates must demonstrate physical strength and stamina to perform various tasks, including but not limited to, loading, and unloading, operating equipment, and assisting in the transportation of various materials. Proper lifting techniques and safety protocols must be followed to ensure personal and team safety.
• Relocates a 12 foot stepladder without assistance.
• Works at various heights up to 60 feet and can climb and maintain balance on scaffolds, aerial lifts, catwalks and all types of ladders.
• Walks, climbs, lifts, squats, crawls, kneels, pushes, pulls and reaches overhead on a routine and repetitive basis.
• Possess good vision (may be corrected vision), the ability to see in color, and the ability to hear and communicate in English.
• May use a standard ladder without exceeding the weight limit while carrying tools.
• Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Pay Range

USD $43.57 - USD $49.02 /Hr.