Fire and Life Safety Specialist

SNC-Lavalin; Montreal; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm in Montreal is looking for a Fire and Life Safety Specialist. The role includes ensuring compliance with fire protection codes and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on major rail projects. Candidates should have a degree in Fire Protection Engineering and at least 10 years of relevant experience. Fluency in both French and English is an asset. This position offers competitive compensation and benefits, with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible benefits

Training opportunities

Hybrid working culture

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in fire and life safety design within large projects.
• Experience with performance-based design is required.
• Understanding of Canadian and international fire codes, especially NFPA 130.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with stakeholders to align fire and life safety goals.
• Generate project-wide strategies for fire and life safety integration.
• Prepare fire safety strategy reports and compliance documentation.

Skills

Fluency in French

Excellent communication skills

Technical writing skills

Strong understanding of fire codes

Education

Degree in Fire Protection Engineering or Building Science

Professional certification (CFPS, OIQ)

Tools

Fire modeling tools

Job description

Job Description Overview

AtkinsRéalis provides cutting‑edge engineering, procurement, construction and financing solutions to projects in more than 100 countries around the world. AtkinsRéalis is truly a global leader in its field and has been chosen to design and build some of the most prestigious projects in the world. Our participation in the Alto high‑speed rail project, connecting Québec City to Toronto, as an experienced partner within the Cadence consortium is a key example of this. We are actively working on several other major Canadian Rail projects and have several other projects at the proposal stage or awaiting award.

Our Rail, Transit Systems and Telecommunications (RTST) team deliver system solutions which include civil infrastructure, alignment and track, traction power and distribution, signalling and train control, and communications. As part of this team the Fire and Life Safety Specialist will perform a critical role in the design and planning phases of a major rail infrastructure project, ensuring that all fire protection and life safety systems are integrated into the design in compliance with applicable codes, standards, and best practices. This role involves close collaboration with first responders, engineering teams, architects, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders to embed safety into the built environment from concept through detailed design and into construction. In addition, the Fire and Life Safety Specialist is expected to develop a capability for applying FLS strategies and executing FLS assessments within the Rail, Transit Systems and Telecommunications (RTST) team.

This role will be based in Montreal. Occasional travel may be required.

Your role

• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Collaborate with first responder groups, project managers, safety engineers and all other stakeholder groups to align FLS goals.
  • Participate in design review meetings, workshops, and value engineering sessions.
• Strategic implementation:
  • Generate and communicate project‑wide strategies to integrate fire and life safety into the design process and across all systems.
  • Deliver effective Fire and Life Safety programs throughout complex, major projects.
  • Provides Management level progress reports and briefings with respect to fire and life safety systems design progress, issues, and opportunities.
• Capability development:
  • Develop capability for Fire and Life Safety within the RTST business.
  • Coaching, mentoring, and supporting career development of staff.
  • Develop a business plan for Fire and Life Safety in collaboration with the Systems.
  • Engineering & Integration Director and other senior leaders within the business.
• Design Integration:
  • Provide technical guidance on fire protection and life safety requirements during concept, preliminary, and detailed design stages.
  • Review architectural and engineering drawings to ensure compliance with fire codes, egress requirements, and emergency systems.
  • Coordinate with multidisciplinary design teams to incorporate fire detection, suppression, and evacuation systems.
• Code Compliance & Standards:
  • Interpret and apply relevant codes and standards (e.g., NFPA, CAN/ULC, Provincial Building and Fire Codes, Transit‑specific standards).
  • Liaise with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to ensure design approvals and regulatory alignment.
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation:
  • Conduct fire and life safety risk assessments for stations, tunnels, maintenance facilities, and other rail infrastructure.
  • Recommend design modifications to mitigate identified risks and enhance occupant safety.
• Documentation & Reporting:
  • Prepare fire safety strategy reports, code compliance matrices, and design review documentation.
  • Support the development of fire safety engineering studies and performance‑based design justifications.

About you

• Degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Building Science, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification (e.g., CFPS, OIQ, NFPA Fire Plans Examiner) is required.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in fire and life safety design, ideally within large infrastructure or transit projects.
• Experience with performance‑based design and fire modeling tools.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills.
• Strong understanding of Canadian and international fire codes and standards (NFPA 130 is essential) with particular application to the Rail & Transit sector.
• Must be able to work in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary project environment.
• Fluency in French and English (oral and written) is considered an asset.

Reward & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at AtkinsRéalis in Canada.

Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a brilliant range of flexible benefits you can tailor to your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs.

Make the most of diverse opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise.

And take advantage of our hybrid working culture and generous time‑off policies to balance a fulfilling career with your personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

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Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis , we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.