Fire Life Safety Specialist

Stantec; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

Stantec seeks a talented fire engineering technical authority to lead performance-based and prescriptive fire strategies, oversee Civil Defense submissions, and manage FLS systems from concept to handover. The role requires guiding design teams and ensuring compliance with NFPA and UAE Fire & Life Safety Codes.

You will mentor junior engineers, develop internal guidelines, and contribute to client proposals and presentations for major regional projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Safety Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of post-graduate experience in fire and life safety engineering.
• At least 5 years on projects in the Middle East.
• CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead performance-based and prescriptive fire engineering strategies for diverse building types.
• Manage Civil Defense submissions and liaise with authorities across UAE and GCC.
• Oversee fire life safety systems from concept design through commissioning and handover.
• Mentor junior FLS engineers and develop internal design guides.
• Support business development with technical proposals and client presentations.

Skills

Fire safety engineering

Performance-based design

Civil Defense liaison

Technical mentorship

Proposal support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fire Safety Engineering

Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Job description

Description :Stantec is seeking a talented and motivated professional to act as the practice's technical authority on FLS matters, leading performance-based and prescriptive fire engineering strategies, managing Civil Defense authority submissions, and overseeing FLS systems from concept design through to commissioning and handover.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Fire Engineering & Strategy

• Develop prescriptive and performance-based fire engineering strategies for all building types and occupancies, including atrium buildings, underground spaces and high-rise towers.
• Prepare comprehensive Fire Strategy Reports, Fire Safety Concept Documents, and Means of Escape analyses aligned with NFPA, UAE Fire & Life Safety Code, and authority-specific requirements.
• Develop and present performance-based design (PBD) submissions to Civil Defense authorities and peer reviewers.
• Advise the design team on fire compartmentation, fire-rated construction, structural fire protection, and façade fire spread mitigation.
• Coordinate FLS interfaces with MEP, structural, architectural, and IT/Security disciplines throughout design stages.

Authority Approvals & Compliance

• Manage Civil Defense approval submissions across UAE jurisdictions (Abu Dhabi Civil Defense, Dubai Civil Defense), Saudi Arabia (SACD), Qatar (QCDD), and other GCC authorities as required.
• Prepare, coordinate, and track NOC applications, drawing submissions, and compliance certificates through the full approval lifecycle.
• Liaise with Civil Defense inspectors, third-party and insurance risk engineers.
• Ensure compliance with: NFPA 1, 13, 14, 20, 72, 92, 101, 130, 502; UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice; SFPE Handbook; IFC; and applicable local Civil Defense codes.

Practice Development

• Mentor junior FLS engineers and provide technical guidance on complex design challenges across the wider building services team.
• Develop and maintain internal FLS design guides, calculation templates, and specification master documents.
• Support business development through preparation of technical proposals, fee estimates, and participation in client presentations.

Client & Project Delivery

• Act as the House of Expertise (HoE) for projects designed in house and provide HoE services for designs prepared by others.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Safety Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline
• Minimum 10 years of post-graduate experience in fire and life safety engineering, with at least 5 years on projects in the Middle East.
• Demonstrated experience on large-scale, complex projects including high-rise (>100m), hospitals, airports, or tunnels.
• CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist — NFPA) is highly desirable.

Preferred Specifications

• Chartered Engineer (CEng — Institution of Fire Engineers preferred), or equivalent (PE - Fire Protection, CPEng).
• IFE Membership (MIFireE or FIFireE) or SFPE membership (P.E., FSFPE) strongly preferred.