Principal Fire Systems Specialist

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Rensselaer (IN); On-site; USD 94,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Principal Fire Systems & Life Safety Specialist to lead enterprise fire protection standards and lifecycle management for IOPS across manufacturing environments. You will drive compliance with GMP and hazardous area classifications, partner with security, facilities, and engineering to upgrade systems, and oversee contractors and audits.

You will guide cross-functional teams, manage vendor relationships, and develop metrics for reliability and continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in fire protection, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or related field, plus 8+ years of fire systems experience
• Experience with GMP facilities, hazardous area classifications (Class 1, Division 1)
• Hands-on with addressable fire alarm systems, suppression systems, and coordinating with AHJ

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide fire and life safety standardization across pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Partner with Security Operations and Facilities to implement upgrades and NFPA programs
• Oversee fire protection contractors and vendors through full project lifecycles
• Conduct fire system audits and risk assessments using formal frameworks (FMEA, HAZOP)
• Support crisis management and emergency response planning

Skills

Fire protection

Life safety

NFPA standards

GMP familiarity

Vendor management

Project leadership

Audits & risk

BMS integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Addressable fire alarm

Honeywell platforms

Wet/dry suppression

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 evaluations
• Track 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

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 belief (or lack thereof), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, civil status, pregnancy or parental status, age, disability, nationality, citizenship status, ethnic or national origin, membership of the Traveler community, familial status, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. Where required, we will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with known disabilities or chronic illnesses during the recruitment process, unless such accommodation would impose undue hardship.

Where necessary, we disclose salary ranges for roles in all countries in which we operate. The final offer will be determined within the relevant range based on the country of employment, specific role level, and your skills and experience. In some countries, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) may apply and influence certain elements of pay or benefits. Regeneron offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package which may include, depending on country and role: annual bonuses or other incentive plans, equity awards, pension or retirement benefits, 401(k) company match, health and wellness programs, fitness centers, insurance benefits (e.g. medical, dental, vision, life and disability), paid time off, and family support benefits. For additional information about Regeneron benefits in the U.S., please visit https://careers.regeneron.com/en/working-at-regeneron/total-rewards/. For other locations, additional information will be provided during the recruitment process. If you have any questions, please speak with your recruiter.

Please be advised that at Regeneron, we believe we do our best work when we are together. For that reason, many roles are required to be performed on‑site. Please speak with your recruiter and hiring manager for more information about on‑site expectations for your role and location.

As part of the recruitment process, certain background checks may be conducted in accordance with the laws of the country where the position is based. The purpose of such checks is to verify certain information prior to the commencement of employment such as identity, right to work and educational qualifications.

For jobs in Canada: this posting is for an existing position.

Salary Range (annually)

$94,000.00 - $153,600.00