Principal Fire Systems Specialist

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; City of Rensselaer (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Rensselaer, NY is seeking a Principal Fire Systems & Life Safety Specialist to lead strategy, standards, and lifecycle management of protective systems across the IOPS enterprise.

The role demands ensuring GMP compliance and risk mitigation while driving improvements. You will partner with Security Operations, Facilities Maintenance, and Engineering to implement upgrades, manage vendors, and conduct audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in fire protection, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or related field; 8+ years of fire systems experience (Principal).
• Pharma/manufacturing GMP familiarity and hazardous area classifications (Class 1, Division 1).
• Hands-on with addressable fire alarm systems, clean agent and suppression systems; AHJ plan reviews and permitting.
• Proven leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives and vendor management.
• Preferred: NICET Fire Alarm Systems, NFPA credentials; PMP/PgMP project mgmt experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide fire and life safety standardization and improvement across pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Partner with Security Operations, Facilities Maintenance, and Facilities Engineering to implement new fire protection technologies and NFPA standards.
• Oversee third-party fire protection contractors and consultants through full project lifecycles, including procurement and budgets.
• Conduct fire system audits, life safety risk assessments, and operational reviews.
• Ensure GMP alignment and coordinate with AHJ; review commissioning reports and compliance records.
• Support crisis management, emergency response, and business continuity.
• Identify root causes and drive preventive programs with performance metrics.

Skills

Fire protection

Leadership

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

NFPA standards

BMS integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (fire protections/mechanical/electrical)

GMP/pharma environment experience

NICET NFPA credentials (preferred)

PMP/PgMP (preferred)

Tools

-addressable fire alarm systems

-clean agent suppression

-Honeywell platforms

Job description

Build our future together:

At Regeneron, we use science and innovation to develop life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases. We are seeking a Principal Fire Systems & Life Safety Specialist to lead the strategy, standards, operability, maintenance, and continuous improvement of protective systems across the IOPS (Industrial Operations and Product Supply) enterprise. The Specialist develops and executes enterprise standards, evaluates and implements new technologies, and ensures systems remain reliable, compliant, and effective throughout their lifecycle. This role will lead complex cross-functional initiatives, resolve critical operational issues, and drive proactive efforts to identify and mitigate systemic risks before they impact business operations. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing, science-driven organization making a meaningful difference to patients worldwide.

When & where:

Location: Rensselaer, New York, United States

Work model: Onsite Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Discover your role:

• Strategy and standards: Lead enterprise-wide fire and life safety standardization and improvement across pharmaceutical manufacturing, ensuring GMP and hazardous area compliance. Develop standards for system design, documentation, and lifecycle management.
• Technology and upgrades: Partner with Security Operations, Facilities Maintenance, and Facilities Engineering to implement new fire protection technologies and evolving NFPA standards. Lead long-term system upgrades and NFPA compliance programs.
• Leadership: Lead and influence cross-functional teams (internal staff, contractors, consultants, staff augmentation, temporary workers). Provide direct supervision of staff as assigned.
• Vendor management: Oversee third-party fire protection contractors and consultants through full project lifecycles, including procurement, budgets, purchase orders, and performance evaluations.
• Audits and risk: Conduct fire system audits, life safety risk assessments, and operational reviews using formal frameworks (FMEA, HAZOP).
• Compliance: Ensure alignment with pharmaceutical/GMP requirements, including Class 1, Division 1 hazardous areas, and coordinate with local fire code officials and the AHJ. Review, approve, and maintain commissioning reports, configuration baselines, inspection records, and compliance documentation.
• Emergency readiness: Support crisis management and emergency response, building sustainable models for fire preparedness, incident response, and business continuity.
• Continuous improvement: Identify root causes of recurring issues, implement preventive programs, and develop performance and reliability metrics.

This role requires:

• Bachelor's degree in fire protection, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent education and experience), plus 8+ years (Principal) or 10+ years (Staff) of fire systems experience in pharmaceutical or manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated experience in pharmaceutical/manufacturing environments with familiarity with GMP facilities, regulated operations, and hazardous area classifications (Class 1, Division 1)
• Hands-on experience with addressable fire alarm systems, clean agent suppression, Honeywell platforms, and wet/dry suppression systems; experience supporting or leading standards development and technical evaluationsTrack record working with the AHJ on plan reviews, inspections, and permitting; experience managing equipment procurement and vendor trade-off analyses
• Proven leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives, with the ability to influence stakeholders, work through ambiguity, and develop long-term roadmaps aligned to business objectives
• Strong negotiation and strategic vendor management skills (scope development, performance management)
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects from design through commissioning and maintenance, with knowledge of fire system integration with Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Excellent communication skills, including training delivery and executive-level reporting on life safety compliance
• Preferred: NICET Fire Alarm Systems, NFPA-related credentials, or similar; PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project management experience

Gowning and Physical Requirements:

• Full cleanroom attire (examples may include: including laundered undergarments, gown, facemask, hairnet, safety glasses, safety shoes and booties, latex gloves and the use of sanitizing agents during gowning process including IPA)
• Ability to remove jewelry, makeup and nail adornments when wearing cleanroom attire

Level will be determined based on qualifications relevant to the role

Does this sound like you?

We are committed to building a workplace with an inclusive culture.

Regeneron is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or be