Job Description

About the role

Buckeye Fire Equipment is expanding our R&D team with a hands-on Fire Protection Engineer who can take products from blank page to factory launch. If you’ve personally owned the end-to-end development of portable/wheeled extinguishers or related fire protection products—prototyping, testing, certifications (UL/FM/USCG), and production scale-up—you’ll feel right at home here.

What you’ll do

• Own new product introductions (NPI) end-to-end: define requirements, develop concepts, build/test prototypes, drive certification, and launch to production with Operations and Quality.
• Design & validate portable and wheeled extinguishers (dry chemical, water mist/foam, CO₂, clean agent, lithium-battery hazard solutions) including agent selection, nozzle/hardware, discharge dynamics, and ergonomics.
• Lead certification/approvals with UL/FM/USCG and align with NFPA 10 (and applicable NFPA/USCG standards). Prepare test plans, run/observe tests, interpret results, and resolve non-conformances.
• Translate design to manufacturing: develop drawings/BOMs, tolerances, and critical-to-quality features; conduct DFM/DFA reviews; partner with suppliers on tooling and PPAPs; support pilot builds and ramp.
• Run experiments and analyze data: plan DOEs, GR&R, MSA, and failure/root-cause analyses (8D/5-Why); iterate quickly using our lab and production floor.
• Assure regulatory compliance: collaborate on cylinder/packaging and transport requirements (49 CFR/DOT), EPA SNAP where applicable, labeling, and user documentation.
• Continuously improve existing lines (cost, reliability, performance), and contribute to platform roadmaps (agents, valves, cylinders, hoses, wheels, brackets, etc.).
• Cross-functional leadership: align scope, schedule, and budgets with PMO; communicate risk/mitigation; present gate reviews to leadership.

Success looks like (6–12 months)

• Launch at least one NPI to production meeting time-to-listing , cost, and performance targets.
• Achieve first-pass certification on key tests (UL 299/711/2129/8/154 as applicable) with minimal retest cycles.
• Demonstrate ≥95% first-pass yield at pilot, with CTQs locked and control plans in place.
• Deliver complete DHF/PPAP packages and robust field-use documentation.

Qualifications

Required

• B.S. in Fire Protection, Mechanical, Chemical, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years industry experience developing fire protection products, with direct, hands-on ownership from concept through certification and production launch.
• Working fluency with UL/FM processes and relevant standards (e.g., UL 299, UL 711, UL 2129, UL 8, UL 154), NFPA 10 , and basic 49 CFR/DOT considerations for cylinders/transport.
• Proven lab skills: instrumentation, flow/pressure measurements, fire test setup, data acquisition, and statistical analysis.
• CAD (SolidWorks or similar) and drawing/BOM creation with GD&T fundamentals.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause capability (DOE, 8D, FMEA).

Preferred

• Experience with water-mist/foam chemistries, clean agents/Halon alternatives, or lithium-battery fire hazards.
• Exposure to USCG approvals, FM Approvals, and international marks.
• Familiarity with Stage-Gate, APQP/PPAP, PFMEA/DFMEA, and control plans.
• Basic FEA/CFD literacy for flow/thermal problems (nice to have).
• Supplier development and custom tooling experience.

Traits we value

• Builder’s mindset with a bias for experiments and measurable results.
• Clear communicator who can align shop floor, suppliers, and certification bodies.
• Ownership—you thrive on getting products safely into customers’ hands.

Buckeye Fire Equipment provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training

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