Fire Alarm Systems Manager

ARCO Companies; Charleston (SC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Traditional 401k

Tuition reimbursement

Scholarship for associates’ children

1-month paid sabbatical after every 5y

1-week paid volunteer leave each year

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

100% paid 10-week maternity leave

Job summary

ARCO Companies is seeking an experienced Fire Alarm Systems Manager to lead estimating, design, installation oversight, testing, and commissioning of commercial and industrial fire alarm systems. The role blends 50% office work with 50% field support, with regular travel across the Southeast.

You will serve as the company’s subject matter expert, coordinating with project managers, AHJs, engineers, and manufacturers to ensure code-compliant project execution and successful closeout.

Qualifications

• Active Fire Alarm License or Fire Alarm Qualifier in at least one state.
• Ability to obtain and maintain additional state licenses as required.
• 5–10 years of commercial/industrial fire alarm experience.
• Strong understanding of NFPA 72, NEC, IBC, IFC, testing, inspection and commissioning.
• Experience with new construction, manufacturing, warehouse, and design-build projects.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Lead fire alarm estimating, design coordination, installation, programming oversight, testing, inspection, commissioning, and maintenance.
• Serve as the subject matter expert and coordinate with project managers, field teams, AHJs, owners, engineers, and manufacturers.
• Review drawings, specifications, and code requirements to ensure compliance.
• Develop scope reviews, estimates, value engineering options, and constructability recommendations.
• Coordinate system design with engineers, owners, AHJs, and equipment manufacturers.
• Review and manage fire alarm submittals and shop drawings.
• Assist with permitting and AHJ coordination.
• Support project teams from preconstruction through closeout and conduct site visits.
• Coordinate programming, testing, inspections, and final acceptance activities.
• Troubleshoot complex issues and provide technical solutions; train field personnel.
• Develop internal fire alarm standards, procedures, and quality control processes.
• Participate in recruiting fire alarm technicians and subcontractors; support business development.

Skills

Fire alarm systems

Project leadership

Code compliance

NFPA 72

Reading drawings

Driver's license

Tools

Testing equipment

Job description

GSC is seeking an experienced Fire Alarm Systems Manager to lead and support the estimating, design coordination, installation, programming oversight, testing, inspection, commissioning, and maintenance of commercial and industrial fire alarm systems. This position will serve as the company's subject matter expert for fire alarm systems and will work closely with project managers, superintendents, field personnel, AHJs, owners, engineers, and manufacturers to ensure code-compliant and successful project execution. This is a hybrid role consisting of approximately 50% office responsibilities and 50% field support, with regular travel to project sites throughout the Southeast.

A Day in the Life:

• Serve as GSC's lead fire alarm technical expert.
• Review project drawings, specifications, and code requirements.
• Develop fire alarm scope reviews, estimates, value engineering options, and constructability recommendations.
• Coordinate system design with engineers, owners, AHJs, and equipment manufacturers.
• Review and manage fire alarm submittals and shop drawings.
• Assist with permitting requirements and AHJ coordination.
• Support project teams from preconstruction through closeout.
• Conduct jobsite visits to verify installation quality, schedule progress, and code compliance.
• Coordinate programming, testing, inspections, and final acceptance activities.
• Troubleshoot complex fire alarm system issues and provide technical solutions.
• Train electricians, foremen, and superintendents on fire alarm installation best practices.
• Develop internal fire alarm standards, procedures, and quality control processes.
• Mentor field personnel and assist in recruiting fire alarm technicians and subcontractors.
• Support business development and growth of GSC's fire alarm division.

Required Qualifications:

• Active Fire Alarm License or Fire Alarm Qualifier credential in at least one state.
• Ability to obtain and maintain additional state licenses as required.
• 5–10 years of commercial and/or industrial fire alarm experience.
• Strong understanding of NFPA 72, NEC, IBC, IFC, testing, inspection, and commissioning requirements.
• Experience with new construction, manufacturing, warehouse, and design-build projects.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• NICET Level II, III, or IV Certification.
• Multiple state fire alarm licenses throughout the Southeast.
• Experience with major manufacturers and programming platforms.
• Supervisory or management experience.
• Existing relationships with AHJs and fire marshals.

What We Can Offer You:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Traditional and Roth 401k
• Tuition reimbursement for associates
• Scholarship for associates’ children up to $28,000 per child
• 1-month paid sabbatical after every five years of employment, plus $5,000 for travel
• 1-week paid volunteer leave each year
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• 100% paid 10-week maternity leave

At ARCO, our first core value is to treat people fairly and do the right thing. We are committed to building and sustaining a culture that supports diversity and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

From recruiting, training, and hiring practices to selecting our subcontractors, we understand that diversity of all those involved in the construction process enhances our ability to deliver the best solutions to our customers. We hire the best and the brightest from across the country – constructing a team of experts in architecture, design, engineering, project management, and business services.

MAKE YOUR MOVE

We are proud to be one of the fastest-growing, privately-owned companies in America, celebrating over 30 years of experience as design-build experts. We have completed over 7,500 design-build projects nationwide. We ranked #9 on ENR’s Design-Build Firms list and #34 on ENR's Top 400 Contractors list of 2026. Most importantly, our clients like us, trust us, and want to do business with us. We are looking for people with the same enthusiasm, passion, and respect for the hard work that brought us to where we are today. Are you a person who can make a difference at ARCO? If the answer is “Yes!” we look forward to meeting you.

ARCO does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies without pre-approval from ARCO’s Human Resources team. Pre-approval is required before any external candidate can be submitted. ARCO will not be responsible for fees related to unsolicited resumes and for candidates who are sent directly to our hiring managers. Agencies must have a fully executed vendor agreement in place as well as written approval to submit candidates from an ARCO TA Manager for a specific position before submitting candidates.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

As set forth in ARCO Companies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.