Research Officer (Fire Safety Science and Tech)

Automotive and Surface Transportation; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 57,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Health and dental coverage

Job summary

The Research Centre for Construction at NRC is seeking a Research Associate with expertise in fire performance and fire resistance of building systems to advance the next generation of safe and productive construction in Canada.

The role involves experimental and analytical research supporting wood construction, mass timber, modular approaches, and performance-based code solutions, with collaboration across disciplines and external partners.

Qualifications

• Experience in fire resistance and fire-performance evaluation of building materials or assemblies.
• Experience in experimental design and analysis, including data collection and ensuring data quality.
• Experience in research activities from needs identification to reporting, writing and publishing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct multidisciplinary experimental and analytical research on fire performance of wood, modular and prefabricated systems.
• Develop and validate analytical and numerical models for fire performance assessment.
• Prepare technical reports, publications, and presentations; collaborate with teams and external partners; support project delivery.

Skills

Fire resistance

Fire safety engineering

Experimental design

Data analysis

Education

PhD in engineering/science/architecture or related field

Equivalent combination with Master’s + significant experience

Job description

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Research Officer (Fire Safety Science and Tech)

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

OrganizationalUnit:Construction

Classification:RO

Duration: 3 years

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position may be eligible for a limited hybrid work arrangement (combination of working onsite and telework).

At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

Discover the possible

The role

Help advance the next generation of safe, innovative and productive construction sector in Canada.

The NRC Construction Research Centre is looking for a Research Associate with expertise in the fire performance and fire resistance of building systems to contribute to research supporting innovative wood construction, mass timber, prefabricated and modular construction, performance-based solutions to code compliance, and other emerging construction technologies.

The position will contribute to federal initiatives aimed at increasing the use of Canadian wood products in construction, improving construction productivity, accelerating housing delivery, and supporting the transformation and competitiveness of Canada’s forest and construction sectors

The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary research environment involving fire safety, structural engineering, acoustics, building envelope performance, materials, construction productivity, and building codes and standards.

The Research Associate will undertake experimental and analytical research to generate the technical evidence needed to assess and validate innovative construction systems and support their safe adoption in Canada.

Responsibilities may include:

• Conducting and contributing to multidisciplinary experimental and analytical research on the fire performance of innovative wood, modular, and prefabricated construction systems, including research planning, testing, instrumentation, data analysis, and integration with modelling and engineering analysis.
• Developing, validating, and documenting analytical and numerical models and evaluation methods for assessing fire performance.
• Preparing technical reports, scientific publications, and presentations; collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external partners; and supporting project delivery

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

PhD in engineering, science, architecture or a relevant area of expertise is preferred.

An equivalent combination of a related PhD or Master’s degree in engineering, science, architecture or a relevant area of expertise, with significant relevant experience may be considered.

• Experience in fire resistance and fire-performance evaluation of building materials or assemblies.
• Experience in experimental design and analysis, including data collection and analysis, and ensuring data quality.
• Experience in the full spectrum of research activities including identification of research needs, proposal writing, project management, data production and analysis, and reporting through written documentation, presentations and publishing.

The following assets will be considered:

• Experience in applying and/or developing Canadian building and fire codes, including developing alternative solutions.
• Experience in fire risk assessment and fire risk mitigation.
• Experience in working in multidisciplinary teams.

Condition of employment

Reliability Status

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Candidates will be assessed on their knowledge and ability in areas including:

• Knowledge of Fire resistance and fire performance of building assemblies and systems.
• Knowledge of Fire science and fire safety engineering fundamentals.
• Knowledge of Experimental fire testing, instrumentation, and data analysis.
• Knowledge of application of engineering principles to building-code- and standards-related research.
• Knowledge of project management principles and practices.
• Research - Communication (Level 3)
• Research - Teamwork (Level 2)
• Research - Creative thinking (Level 3)
• Research - Results orientation (Level 2)
• Research - Networking (Level 2)

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s): Research ;

This position is classified as a Research Officer (RO), a group that is unique to the NRC. Candidates are remunerated based on their expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level. The salary scale for this group is vast, from $57,220 to $161,754 per annum, which permits for employees of all levels from new graduates to world-renowned experts to be fairly compensated for their contributions.

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level. As such, the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Closing Date:6 October 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time