Fire Department · Career
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Emergency Services
Princeton, NJ · Mercer County
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Department careers page ↗Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by Princeton University, dedicated to fusion energy and plasma physics research. Its Emergency Services unit is the laboratory's own career fire and emergency medical services department, responsible for fire suppression, EMS response, and life-safety coverage across the lab's James Forrestal Campus in Princeton, New Jersey.
Because PPPL is a high-hazard DOE research site, Emergency Services personnel are cross-trained beyond a typical municipal firefighter role: officers hold NFPA Fire Fighter I certification alongside New Jersey EMT-B/D credentials, hazardous-materials awareness and operations training, and additional security duties, and must meet DOE-specific medical qualification standards (NFPA 1582 and 10 CFR Part 1046) given the campus's nuclear-adjacent research mission.
The department operates from a single station on the PPPL campus with a career staff of 26, including 21 uniformed firefighter/EMTs and 5 civilian and support personnel. Emergency Services officers and firefighter/EMTs are represented for collective bargaining by NJ FMBA Local 66.
PPPL Emergency Services hires experienced firefighter/EMTs into its Emergency Services Officer role rather than running its own recruit academy — candidates must already hold required fire and EMS certifications and bring prior paid or volunteer firefighting and EMT experience before applying.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- NFPA Fire Fighter I certification
- State of New Jersey EMT-B/D certification
- Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations training
- Professional-level CPR certification
- Minimum 3 years firefighter experience (paid or volunteer)
- Minimum 3 years EMT experience
- Minimum 1 year security experience
- Valid driver's license
- Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds
- Must pass pre-employment and random drug testing
- Must meet NFPA 1582 and 10 CFR Part 1046 medical qualification standards
- Must pass PPPL initial and annual physical agility testing
Hiring process
- Apply through PPPL's careers portal
- Meet minimum certification and experience requirements (NFPA FF1, NJ EMT-B/D, HazMat, CPR)
- Complete a Physical Capacity Exam and PPPL agility testing
- Pass medical qualification under NFPA 1582 / 10 CFR Part 1046
- Pass pre-employment drug testing and background/security screening for the DOE campus
- Serve a 90-day probationary period
Benefits
Full-time, 40-hour-per-week position that is overtime-eligible and benefits-eligible, with a 90-day probationary period.
How do I become a firefighter with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Emergency Services?
PPPL hires firefighter/EMTs directly into its Emergency Services Officer role via the PPPL careers portal. Applicants must already hold NFPA Fire Fighter I and New Jersey EMT-B/D certifications, HazMat awareness/operations training, and CPR certification, plus at least three years of firefighting and three years of EMT experience.
Does PPPL Emergency Services hire firefighters from other departments (laterals)?
Yes. The department's Emergency Services Officer position requires candidates to already have a minimum of three years of paid or volunteer firefighting experience and three years as an EMT, so laterally experienced firefighter/EMTs are the department's target applicants.
What certifications are required to work at PPPL Emergency Services?
Required certifications include NFPA Fire Fighter I, State of New Jersey EMT-B/D, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations training, and professional-level CPR, in addition to meeting NFPA 1582 and 10 CFR Part 1046 medical qualification standards specific to the DOE facility.
Is PPPL Emergency Services a union department?
Emergency Services officers and firefighter/EMTs at PPPL are represented for collective bargaining by NJ FMBA Local 66.
How many firefighters work at PPPL Emergency Services?
PPPL Emergency Services is staffed by 26 total personnel, including 21 career firefighter/EMTs and 5 civilian and support staff, operating out of a single station on the James Forrestal Campus.