Chief Engineer – Fire & Life Safety Systems

Wynn Al Marjan Island; Ras Al Khaimah; On-site; AED 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah seeks a Chief Engineer for Fire & Life Safety Systems. The role involves overseeing fire safety infrastructure, ensuring compliance with regulations, and managing a team. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience and technical expertise in fire safety systems, with a focus on operational integrity and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in fire and life safety system operations.
• At least 5 years in supervisory roles within large-scale environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational integrity of fire and life safety infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Fire and Life Safety Code.
• Supervise a team of fire alarm technicians.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Technical Knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering

Higher Technical Diploma

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Office

Job description

General Purpose

We are seeking a technically accomplished Chief Engineer – Fire & Life Safety Systems to lead the planning, maintenance, compliance, and continuous improvement of all electrical fire and life safety systems across a large-scale luxury resort. This role ensures that all detection, alarm, suppression, and emergency communication systems function to the highest technical standards, are fully compliant with the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice, and are aligned with international benchmarks such as NFPA and BS standards.

The ideal candidate will possess deep subject matter expertise in complex fire safety infrastructure, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to manage systems across a multi-building, guest-facing operation with minimal downtime and full regulatory readiness.

Systems Management and Operational Control

• Lead the operational integrity of all fire and life safety infrastructure, including addressable and conventional fire alarm panels, intelligent detectors, beam and aspiration systems, emergency communication interfaces, and suppression controls (e.g., clean agent, sprinkler pre-action, CO₂).
• Ensure real-time functionality of integrated fire safety systems across building management systems (BMS), safety PLCs, and monitoring platforms.
• Implement and refine the preventive maintenance strategy (PPM), ensuring optimal detection sensitivity, reduced false alarms, and minimized unplanned outages.
• Perform or oversee advanced diagnostics, cause-and-effect logic reviews, circuit tracing, and interfacing with building automation for isolation, shutdown, and emergency override sequencing.
• Review and validate the programming and network topology of life safety systems, including loop configurations, power supply resilience, signal supervision, and interlock logic.
• Ensure all system shutdowns and live tests are planned with risk assessments, method statements, and coordination with Security, Engineering, and Guest Operations.
• Lead testing and commissioning oversight of new installations, upgrades, and expansions, witnessing SAT/FAT activities, verifying device registration, zone mapping, and compliance to NFPA 72 protocols.
• Maintain sitewide asset health dashboards and recommend targeted lifecycle upgrades or refurbishments in coordination with CAPEX planning cycles.
• Ensure full traceability and documentation of all faults, interventions, test results, device replacements, and software upgrades in alignment with ISO and Civil Defense audit standards.
• Maintain critical spare part inventories including fire panel boards, smoke and heat detectors, interface modules, batteries, and communication relays; ensure availability of calibrated testing tools (e.g., detector testers, loop testers, IR thermometers).
  
  

Compliance and Regulatory Interface

• Ensure continuous compliance with the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, Civil Defense regulations, and other applicable local authority requirements.
• Prepare and maintain comprehensive compliance documentation including inspection logs, system certifications, and PPM completion reports.
• Act as the technical point of contact during fire safety audits and inspections by Civil Defense or insurance bodies; ensure timely closure of any identified non-conformities.
• Develop and validate system cause-and-effect matrices, zoning layouts, and response protocols in line with both code and operational risk profiles.
• Lead technical reviews of contractor fire safety proposals, shop drawings, and submittals; participate in value engineering, material submittal approval, and system integration planning.
  
  

Design Coordination and Technical Authority

• Liaise with consultants, specialist contractors, and authorities having jurisdiction during design, retrofit, and extension projects.
• Review and approve fire alarm design drawings, device spacing layouts, panel locations, cable routing plans, and suppression nozzle placements for technical accuracy and compliance.
• Specify system architecture upgrades including integration of voice alarm systems (VAS), PA/GA interfaces, and IoT-enabled fire safety diagnostics platforms.
• Validate interfaces with third-party systems such as elevators, HVAC smoke controls, access control, and emergency lighting for seamless life safety integration.
• Collaborate with the Facilities and Projects teams to ensure fire protection infrastructure is aligned with evolving operational needs and technology trends.
  
  

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain and update all technical documentation including fire alarm zone charts, as-built drawings, maintenance records, test reports, and authority approvals.
• Develop monthly and quarterly performance reports summarizing system availability, intervention rates, compliance scores, and proposed improvement actions.
• Prepare and review technical scopes, specifications, and tender documents for fire system maintenance, upgrades, and service contracts.
• Evaluate vendor proposals for compliance with technical, regulatory, and commercial requirements.
  
  

Team Oversight and Cross-functional Support

• Supervise a team of fire alarm technicians and specialist contractors, ensuring technical quality of work and adherence to safety procedures.
• Provide subject matter guidance on complex fault rectification, testing methods, and code interpretation.
• Plan work schedules to ensure 24/7 coverage of life safety infrastructure without operational disruption.
• Support training of engineering staff and security personnel on fire system awareness, alarm response, and isolations.
• Ensure the team’s work aligns with resort protocols for guest safety, service continuity, and engineering excellence.
  
  

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering, or a closely related discipline. A higher technical diploma (HND/HNC) with extensive fire systems experience may also be considered.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in fire and life safety system operations, including at least 5 years in technically focused supervisory roles within large-scale commercial or hospitality environments.
• Deep expertise in operating, troubleshooting, and commissioning fire detection and suppression systems in high-density occupancy structures.
• Proven capability in ensuring system compliance, supporting audits, and managing contractor interfaces on complex MEP packages.
  
  

Certifications and Technical Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of the UAE Fire Code, Civil Defense inspection criteria, NFPA 72, NFPA 101, BS 5839, and relevant international codes.
• Experience with leading fire alarm system manufacturers (e.g., Siemens, Notifier, Honeywell) and integration with BMS/SCADA platforms.
• Familiarity with tools such as AutoCAD/Bluebeam for system layout reviews and MS Office for reporting and documentation.
• Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) or UAE Civil Defense Accreditation highly desirable.
  
  

Language Skills

Fluent in written and spoken English. Proficiency in Arabic or other regional languages is an advantage for stakeholder communication.