Senior Fire Engineer

Holmes; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Holmes is seeking a Senior Fire Engineer to join our Brisbane team. You will lead performance-based fire engineering design across diverse projects, from concept to construction monitoring, while building client relationships and providing senior technical guidance.

You will mentor engineers, support business development, and contribute to training. A postgraduate qualification in Fire Safety Engineering and relevant registrations are highly regarded.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Fire Safety Engineering or equivalent.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a fire engineering consultancy with performance‑based design on large, complex projects.
• CPEng/NER and RPEQ registration (or ability to obtain) highly regarded.
• CFD and egress modelling experience highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead performance‑based fire engineering design covering fire and smoke dynamics, egress, risk analysis and fire safety management.
• Interpret the Deemed‑to‑Satisfy Provisions of the BCA and relevant Australian Standards; identify Performance Solutions for clients.
• Manage projects from proposal to completion: fees, programme, invoicing and client management.
• Carry out site inspections and provide practical, timely solutions to construction queries.
• Identify risks early and work with the team to resolve them and monitor project timelines.
• Collaborate with certifiers, regulators, councils and other stakeholders to secure approvals.
• Grow client network and support business development through proposals and industry events.
• Coach and mentor engineers and contribute to training and process improvement.

Skills

Fire safety engineering

Leadership

Client relationship management

Mentoring

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Fire Safety Engineering

Undergraduate degree in Mechanical/Structural/Civil Engineering

Tools

CFD software

Egress modelling tools

Job description

Holmes is an engineering consultancy known for intelligent, pragmatic engineering and collaborative design. Our performance-based fire safety solutions deliver cost-efficient, innovative outcomes, giving clients confidence and certainty throughout the lifecycle of their buildings and infrastructure. Founded in New Zealand more than 70 years ago, Holmes now has over 500 people across New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the USA.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Fire Engineer to join our growing Brisbane team. Alongside experienced Fire Engineers you will lead performance-based fire engineering design on a wide range of projects across multiple industries, contributing your expertise from concept to detailed design, approvals, and construction monitoring. You’ll also build and maintain positive client relationships that generate repeat and new work for the wider team, and provide senior technical support, including coaching and mentoring. As the team grows, there will be opportunities to take on greater responsibility and step into leadership roles. If you enjoy developing people and growing a client base as much as solving technical problems, this could be the opportunity for you.

• Lead performance-based fire engineering design covering fire and smoke dynamics, egress, risk analysis and fire safety management.
• Interpret the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the BCA and relevant Australian Standards, and identify Performance Solutions that add value for clients.
• Run your own projects from fee proposal to completion, including fees, programme, invoicing and client management.
• Carry out site inspections and provide practical, timely solutions to construction queries.
• Identify risks early and work with the team to resolve them.
• Monitor project time to support accurate completion estimates.
• Work with certifiers, Queensland Fire Department, councils and other stakeholders to secure approval of fire safety strategies.
• Grow your client network and support business development through proposals, presentations and industry events.
• Coach and mentor engineers, and contribute to technical training, quality and continuous improvement.

About you

You’re an experienced Fire Engineer with a postgraduate qualification in Fire Safety Engineering (or equivalent), typically built on an undergraduate degree in Mechanical, Structural or Civil Engineering. You’ll have at least 5 years’ experience in a fire engineering consultancy, including performance-based design on large, complex projects. CPEng/NER and RPEQ registration (or the ability to obtain it) is highly regarded, as is CFD and egress modelling experience. An established network in the South East Queensland market would be a real advantage. Alongside strong technical skills, you’ll be confident building client relationships, explaining technical issues clearly to different audiences and making sound judgement calls. You’ll also enjoy bringing others along with you and helping the team keep improving how we work.

Working with Holmes

• Join an experienced team delivering a diverse and challenging fire engineering portfolio.
• Provide day-to-day technical leadership, project support and guidance.
• Coach and mentor engineers to develop their skills and deliver excellent work.
• Take on increasing leadership responsibility as your career and the team grow.
• Benefit from ongoing professional development, performance and career conversations.

We’re a friendly, relaxed team that enjoys getting stuck into great projects, with plenty of fun along the way. We celebrate and reward success, support ongoing career development, and look for ways to make our work environment motivating and inspiring. Our people have the freedom to do great work, backed by the infrastructure and resources needed to consistently deliver high-quality solutions.

If you’re ready for a new challenge and keen to take the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you.