Sr. Special Hazards Technician

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.

 

The Senior Special Hazards Systems Technician is responsible for the installation, programming, testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, inspection, and service of complex special hazards fire protection and life safety systems. This position serves as a senior technical resource in the field and is expected to independently diagnose system issues, execute system modifications and upgrades, support project delivery, and provide technical guidance to other technicians.

 

The role requires strong working knowledge of fire alarm and special hazards releasing systems, applicable NFPA requirements, manufacturer-specific equipment, electrical drawings, sequence-of-operations documentation, and testing/commissioning procedures.

 

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 Top-Secret clearance required.)

Responsibilities:

• Install, program, troubleshoot, service, test, and commission special hazards fire suppression and releasing systems, including clean-agent, pre-action, deluge, and other specialty fire protection systems.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of releasing panels, fire alarm control panels, detection circuits, notification circuits, releasing circuits, supervisory devices, power supplies, network communications, and associated field equipment.
• Program and configure system control equipment in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, sequence of operations, manufacturer requirements, and applicable codes.
• Perform functional testing of system interfaces, including detection, releasing, abort, manual release, HVAC shutdown, damper control, door release, equipment shutdown, sprinkler supervisory devices, and fire alarm system interfaces.
• Support acceptance testing, integrated system testing, commissioning, and customer/AHJ demonstrations.
• Perform preventive maintenance, inspections, testing, deficiency correction, emergency service, and system repairs.
• Read and interpret construction drawings, riser diagrams, wiring diagrams, control schematics, specifications, cause-and-effect matrices, and sequence-of-operations documents.
• Identify field conditions that differ from approved design documents and communicate required changes to project management and engineering.
• Document deficiencies, troubleshooting findings, repairs, testing results, system modifications, and recommended corrective actions.
• Coordinate field activities with customers, project managers, engineering personnel, subcontractors, other trades, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction as required.
• Verify proper installation and operation of initiating devices, releasing devices, notification appliances, monitor/control modules, supervisory devices, and associated system interfaces.
• Maintain accurate service reports, inspection documentation, test records, redlines, material usage, and other required project documentation.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and field support to junior technicians.
• Support project planning by identifying labor, material, access, outage, testing, and scheduling requirements.
• Maintain assigned tools, test equipment, programming equipment, software, and company-issued assets.
• Follow company safety requirements, customer site requirements, and applicable OSHA practices while performing field activities.
• Participate in emergency and after-hours service response when 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:

• High School Diploma (required) with 10+ years of relevant experience or 
• 2 years technology degree and 8+ years of relevant experience 
• 8+ years of progressive experience installing, servicing, programming, testing, and troubleshooting fire alarm and/or special hazards fire protection systems, with demonstrated advanced field capability.
• Demonstrated experience with special hazards releasing systems, including clean-agent and/or pre-action/deluge applications.
• Strong knowledge of NFPA 72 and working knowledge of applicable requirements of NFPA 13, NFPA 25, NFPA 2001, and other codes/standards relevant to assigned systems.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot complex system faults using system documentation, programming tools, meters, and manufacturer diagnostic utilities.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, fire alarm drawings, risers, wiring diagrams, specifications, and sequences of operation.
• Experience performing system programming, functional testing, acceptance testing, and commissioning.
• Working knowledge of low-voltage electrical systems and fire alarm/releasing circuit supervision.
• Ability to use digital multimeters and other electrical/system diagnostic equipment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate technical issues clearly to customers, project teams, and other technicians.
• Ability to document work accurately and complete required service and testing documentation.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel to customer and project locations as required.
• Ability to work independently and lead technical field activities with limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• NICET certification in Fire Alarm Systems and/or Special Hazards Systems; Level II or higher preferred.
• Manufacturer certifications and demonstrated programming experience with major fire alarm/special hazards platforms.
• Experience with systems such as Kidde, Fike, Notifier, Siemens, EST/Edwards, Gamewell-FCI, Honeywell, or comparable platforms.
• Experience with clean-agent systems utilizing agents such as FM-200, FK-5-1-12, inert gas systems, or equivalent technologies.
• Experience with pre-action and deluge releasing applications and associated sprinkler supervisory/control interfaces.
• Experience working in mission-critical, government, healthcare, data center, industrial, or other high-availability environments.
• OSHA 10/30 or equivalent safety training.
• Experience leading small field teams and mentoring technicians.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Advanced technical knowledge of special hazards fire suppression systems

• Ability to perform site assessments and develop practical, code-compliant recommendations

• High level of self-organization and ability to work independently

• Strong planning, time management, and problem-solving skills

• Ability to multitask and adapt to changing priorities

• Ability to work under stress and in time-sensitive environments

• Strong customer service skills with a professional, consultative approach

• Effective verbal and written communication skills

• Attention to detail with a strong focus on accuracy, documentation, and compliance

• Ability to train, mentor, and support junior technical staff.

Working Conditions

• Field-based role with work performed at customer sites

• May require travel, flexible hours, on-call rotation, and emergency response

• Work may involve confined spaces, lifting, and exposure to industrial environments

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

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 $48.00 - USD $51.50 /Hr.