R&D Staff Engineer - Hazardous Area Products

FANUC America Corporation; Rochester Hills (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k) Retirement Program

Life Insurance

Disability Plans

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Program

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Benefit Dollars

Holidays

Job summary

FANUC America Corporation is seeking an R&D Staff Engineer to provide compliance leadership for hazardous area industrial robot products throughout development and production. You will manage product certification and agency approvals, coordinate with agencies, and develop strategies and documentation for compliance.

Lead internal and surveillance audits, guide engineering teams on certification requirements, and ensure products meet regulatory standards and performance expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field required.
• Minimum ten years working with approval agencies (FM, UL, CSA, etc.).
• Experience certifying products for hazardous locations and related standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop specifications for hazardous area products to ensure compliance with international standards.
• Lead product certification activities with test plans, procedures, and analyses.
• Interface with agencies (FM, UL, CSA, Notified Bodies) to secure and maintain approvals.
• Monitor standard changes and assess impact on existing and future products.
• Review design/document changes to ensure continued compliance.

Skills

Hazardous area compliance

Regulatory approvals

Technical writing

Explosive environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Who You Are

FANUC America, the largest industrial robot manufacturer and the only producer of Explosion-proof robots in the U.S., is looking for an R&D Staff Engineer to provide compliance leadership for hazardous area (explosive environment) industrial robot products throughout development and production. You will manage product certification and agency approval activities, including securing approvals for new products and maintaining existing certifications. You’ll also coordinate with approval agencies, support resolution of certification issues for existing products, and develop technical strategies and documentation for compliance. Cross‑functional partnership will help you ensure our products meet regulatory requirements and performance expectations.

How It’s Done

• Develop specifications for hazardous area (explosive environment) products to ensure compliance with applicable international standards
• Lead product certification activities, including development and execution of test plans, procedures, and analysis to support approvals
• Interface with approval agencies (e.g., FM, DEKRA, CSA, Notified Bodies), coordinate approval activities, and maintain product certifications and documentation
• Monitor and assess changes to applicable standards and determine impact on existing and future products
• Review and approve design and documentation changes affecting certified products to ensure continued compliance
• Lead internal and surveillance audits driven by explosion-proof certification audits
• Provide technical guidance to engineering teams on compliance requirements and product designs
• Coordinate cross‑functional efforts with engineering, manufacturing, and internal stakeholders to ensure products are designed, built, and maintained in accordance with certification requirements
• Develop and review technical communications and documentation for internal teams, global partners, and external agencies
• Resolution of certification and approval issues for existing products, in coordination with responsible engineering groups
• Ensure accuracy of certification‑related information in customer‑facing materials, including marketing and installation documentation

What You Need

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• Minimum ten years of experience working with approval agencies (i.e. FM, UL, CSA)
• Experience certifying products for use in hazardous location
• Working knowledge of international hazardous area standards and certification schemes (e.g., IECEx, ATEX, JPEx, KCs)
• Strong technical problem‑solving skills with the ability to analyze and resolve complex engineering challenges
• Proficiency in technical writing, including the creation and review of engineering documentation
• Solid understanding of electrical and mechanical systems

What Would Be Even Better

• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or related field
• Experience working with certification bodies such as CSA, DEKRA, FM, Intertek, or TIIS
• Experience supporting or leading product certifications for equipment used in hazardous (explosive) environments
• Experience administering or auditing quality systems aligned with ISO/IEC 80079‑34
• Formal certification in hazardous area compliance (e.g., CompEx, IECEx, or CoPC)
• Experience serving in a technical authority or approval role for hazardous area product certifications
• Experience coordinating or hosting witnessed testing with certification agencies
• Experience in Robotics or automation systems

It’s Up To You

At FANUC America Corporation we are passionate about our customers, our employees, and the work we perform. We maintain a workplace where individuals can be proud of, where talents are embraced, and results are encouraged and supported. We are looking for talented people who value integrity, informed decision‑making and collaboration.

Benefits

We offer market competitive pay and benefits programs, as well as opportunities for advancement, knowledge and skill development, and recognition of individual achievements. In addition, we offer the following benefits to our employees:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Program
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Benefit Dollars
• Generous Holiday & Vacation Program

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans