Talascend is currently seeking a Life Safety Commissioning Engineer for a contract opportunity with our client in Clay, New York.

Overview

The life safety commissioning engineer serves as the senior technical authority and discipline lead for commissioning fire and life safety systems required for safe occupancy, hazardous-material introduction, startup, and facility operation. This role plans, coordinates, validates, tests, and commissions life safety systems to demonstrate compliance with applicable codes, regulatory requirements, project specifications, approved sequences of operation, and operational objectives.

Responsibilities

Lead commissioning activities for fire and life safety systems from construction completion through startup and handover.
Coordinate contractors, subcontractors, vendors, engineering, construction, quality assurance and quality control, operations, owner representatives, and authorities having jurisdiction throughout testing and commissioning.
Develop commissioning plans, test procedures, test scripts, integrated systems testing protocols, and acceptance criteria in alignment with project requirements.
Manage functional performance testing, performance verification, and troubleshooting of fire alarm, clean agent suppression, sprinkler, foam, smoke control, emergency communication, and hazardous gas detection systems.
Support integrated systems testing to validate interactions between fire protection, building management, process safety, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, emergency power, and control systems.
Verify compliance with applicable NFPA standards, International Building Code, International Fire Code, National Electrical Code, local regulations, and client-specific requirements.
Review and interpret design documents, submittals, drawings, piping and instrumentation diagrams, control schematics, sequences of operation, and test results.
Coordinate the resolution of deficiencies and technical issues and achieve system acceptance.
Witness factory acceptance tests and site acceptance tests as required.
Ensure complete turnover documentation, test records, deficiency tracking, and final acceptance documentation are maintained and delivered.
Ensure adherence to project safety requirements and lockout/tagout procedures.
Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent and 10–13 years of relevant experience, or 14–17 years of relevant work experience.
Experience in commissioning or a technical consulting field such as facility design, engineering, or construction management.
Knowledge of fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, smoke detection and smoke control systems, hazardous gas monitoring systems, emergency shutdown systems, mass notification, occupant evacuation and emergency response systems, and emergency power interfaces.
Knowledge of toxic, corrosive, pyrophoric, and flammable gas systems and hazardous production material requirements.
Familiarity with semiconductor facility standards, clean rooms, and critical power.
Knowledge of NFPA 72, NFPA 13, NFPA 20, NFPA 25, NFPA 70, and NFPA 101.
Knowledge of semiconductor-specific fire code requirements for Group H-5 occupancies.
Ability to identify owner goals, needs, and expectations for building operation and function and associated commissioning responsibilities.
Experience with commissioning software and digital software.
Proven leadership and supervisory skills with a focus on mentorship and accountability.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Demonstrated time management and organizational skills to meet deadlines and quality objectives.
Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, or construction management.
10–15 years of hands-on U.S. experience in fire construction, building life safety systems, or semiconductor facility management.