Location: Carlsbad, California
Work Arrangement: Primarily onsite. Due to the hands-on nature of regulatory testing, lab work, and close collaboration with engineering teams, hybrid or remote flexibility is limited.
Travel: Up to 10% travel may be required to support testing and certification activities, including visits to external test laboratories, manufacturing partners, and internal facilities in the United States, Canada, and occasionally Europe.
KORE1, a nationwide provider of staffing and recruiting solutions, has an immediate opening for a Sr. Product Regulatory & Certification Engineer (UL / NRTL / Hardware Compliance)
The Senior Regulatory & Compliance Engineer serves as the primary technical authority for product regulatory compliance across a North American hardware portfolio. This role owns regulatory strategy, certification execution, and ongoing compliance maintenance for hardware and software-enabled products spanning security systems, access control platforms, automation products, and related connected hardware technologies.
As the primary regulatory engineer supporting multiple product lines, this individual must operate independently, exercise senior-level judgment, and partner closely with engineering, product management, operations, and external certification bodies to ensure products meet regulatory requirements and development timelines.
This role is responsible for guiding compliance strategy across the full product lifecycle-from early design guidance and regulatory risk assessment through certification, production release, and ongoing compliance maintenance.
Primary Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary regulatory and compliance owner for North America-based product development programs
- Interpret and translate regulatory standards into clear, actionable requirements for engineering teams
- Provide early-phase regulatory risk assessment and design guidance to minimize late-stage compliance issues
- Lead and coordinate product certification and approval activities with Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) and competent authorities
- Obtain and maintain required regulatory marks for target markets, including UL, CSA, FCC, and ISED
- Manage relationships with NRTLs such as UL, CSA, Intertek, and accredited test laboratories
- Develop and execute pre-compliance and formal compliance test plans (EMC, EMI, RF, Safety)
- Define test modes, configurations, and sample requirements; support and witness testing as needed
- Prepare and submit regulatory application packages and technical documentation
- Maintain certifications, listings, and regulatory files across the product lifecycle
- Support and approve Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) with regulatory impact
- Manage NRTL factory inspections, surveillance audits, and corrective actions
- Partner with hardware, firmware, and system engineering teams during design and validation
- Coordinate with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and operations to ensure continuity of compliance
- Provide regulatory leadership across multiple concurrent product programs and ensure compliance strategies align with development timelines and product launch milestones
- Act as the internal subject matter expert for regulatory interpretation, advising engineering teams on applicable standards, design implications, and risk mitigation strategies
- Develop compliance roadmaps for new product introductions, identifying applicable standards and certification pathways early in development
- Engage directly with certification bodies and test laboratories to resolve interpretation questions, negotiate testing approaches, and ensure efficient certification outcomes
- Support cross-functional teams in aligning product architecture, design decisions, and documentation with regulatory expectations
- Provide technical support during the troubleshooting of regulatory failures or non-compliance issues identified during pre-compliance or formal certification testing
- Oversee regulatory readiness for product launches and ensure certification activities align with program schedules
- Maintain awareness of evolving regulatory standards and proactively communicate potential impacts to engineering and product teams
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership
- Implements and maintains department policies and standards
- Understand, support and execute all work according to the established procedures of the organization
- Project-based assignments as requested
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline
- Experience in regulated hardware environments such as security systems, access control, consumer electronics, automation products, connected devices, or similar electronics-based product categories
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in product regulatory compliance, certification, or safety engineering supporting hardware products through development, certification, production, and sustaining phases
- Demonstrated experience independently driving hardware products through the full regulatory lifecycle, including early design guidance, certification testing, production release, and sustaining compliance
- Experience working directly with external certification agencies and test laboratories (e.g., UL, CSA, Intertek) to coordinate product certification, regulatory submissions, and compliance testing
- Core Regulatory Expertise
- Strong ability to read, interpret, and apply agency standards and translate them into actionable engineering requirements for product development teams (required)
- Knowledge of applicable safety and regulatory certifications such as UL, FCC, ISED, CSA, and other Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) requirements (required)
- Experience working directly with external certification agencies and test laboratories (e.g., UL, CSA, Intertek) to coordinate product certification, regulatory submissions, and compliance testing (required)
- Ability to manage multiple regulatory programs simultaneously across different product categories and regulatory frameworks (required)
- Experience developing or supporting EMC, EMI, RF, and safety testing activities as part of product certification processes (required)
- Ability to interpret multiple regulatory frameworks across different product lines and determine efficient certification strategies (required)
- Technical Standards & Product Knowledge
- Working knowledge of UL 1023 (Household Burglar-Alarm System Units) (nice to have)
- Familiarity with UL 639 (Intrusion-Detection Units) (nice to have)
- Experience with UL 2610 (Commercial and Industrial Gate Operators) (nice to have)
- Hands-on knowledge or experience with UL 325 (Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems) (nice to have)
- Experience with connected, wireless, or IoT-enabled products (nice to have)
- Experience supporting compliance activities in environments where products combine hardware, firmware, and wireless connectivity (nice to have)
- Knowledge of EMI mitigation techniques and RF measurement methods (nice to have)
- Supporting Skills
- Experience collaborating cross-functionally with engineering, product management, manufacturing, operations, and external partners
- Proven ability to multi-task, set project priorities, and establish discipline goals and objectives independently
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to operate independently and influence stakeholders across technical and business teams
- Computer literacy required, including intermediate skills in Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Strong attention to detail
- Positive attitude, self-motivated, and eager to succeed
- Logistics
- Ability and willingness to work primarily onsite in Carlsbad, California due to the hands-on nature of regulatory testing and engineering collaboration
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% domestically and internationally (including the United States, Canada, and occasionally Europe) to support certification testing, lab coordination, and regulatory activities
- Valid passport or ability to obtain one if required for international travel
Physical Requirements:
Essential functions of this job require the following minimal physical demands. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Required to sit, talk or hear; frequently required to use hands to grip or feel; and occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- Vision and depth perception suitable for use of utilizing a computer, printer, phone, and keyboard
- Manual dexterity suitable for use of utilizing a computer
- Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes which permits the employee to work in an office setting
- Ability to walk and/or climb 5% of the time comfortably, with or without reasonable accommodation
- Ability to sit at a computer for 90% of the time comfortably, with or without reasonable accommodation
- Travel up to 10% of the time
- Light to moderate lifting
Working Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Must be comfortable working in an office environment to include moderate noise levels
- The working area is primarily in an open office setting with reasonable lighting and controlled temperatures
Compensation depends on experience but is typically is $100-160K.
ABOUT KORE1
Specializing in professional and technical recruiting, KORE1 is committed to supporting top IT, Engineering, Creative, Scientific, Accounting and Finance professionals in their career paths. We build deep relationships with leading companies, connecting them to exceptional talent every day. With extensive industry expertise and unmatched opportunities, our goal is to provide a unique experience for our contractors and consultants as they prepare for their next role. We are passionate about matching the right people with the right companies.
Kore1 provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Kore1 complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. 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. Kore1 expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Kore1's employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
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