Facade Engineer

Jensen Hughes; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fire safety consultancy in Birmingham is seeking a Fire Engineer to conduct external wall assessments for enhanced fire safety in residential buildings. The role involves reviewing architectural designs, conducting on-site inspections, and producing reports. Ideal candidates will have extensive knowledge of building safety legislation and the ability to work independently. This position offers a flexible work environment and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

33 days paid time off

Discretionary bonus scheme

Enhanced parental-related pay

Access to extensive technical training

Qualifications

• Extensive understanding of fire safety design legislation.
• Ability to manage workload independently.
• Experience with report writing in a technical context.

Responsibilities

• Conduct reviews of architectural drawings for fire safety compliance.
• Perform on-site inspections of external wall construction.
• Produce clear and comprehensive assessment reports.

Skills

Knowledge of facades and building envelope systems

Knowledge of construction methods

Knowledge of passive fire protection products

Ability to read architectural drawings

Experience carrying out intrusive external wall surveys

Ability to author technical reports

Ability to work independently

Desire to mentor junior professionals

Education

Relevant engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Job description

Overview

Throughout our worldwide network of experts, clients and communities, Jensen Hughes is renowned for leadership in fire protection engineering and related security and risk-based fields. Our expertise spans accessibility consulting, risk analysis, process safety, forensic investigations, security risk consulting, emergency management, digital innovation and more. Our engineers and consultants collaborate to solve complex safety and security challenges, helping clients protect what matters most. We are committed to making our world safe, secure and resilient, with a culture of trust, integrity and professional growth that starts with our people.

Our Global Employee Networks connect people across the organization to support career development and provide forums for sharing experiences. Together, we cultivate a connected culture where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.

Job Overview

Role can be based in any of these UK offices: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate Fire Engineer (External Wall Assessments) to join our market-leading UK team.

The successful candidate will perform a critical fire engineering role for external wall construction, contributing to industry-wide improvements to fire life safety for residential buildings post Grenfell. You will work with other team members across multiple offices to support clients UK-wide, delivering rapid, high-quality reports. You will undertake reviews of external wall construction for existing and new buildings, via document/design reviews, on-site intrusive surveys, on-site inspections of new works, fire risk appraisals and development of fire-engineered solutions for new designs.

Responsibilities

• Reviews of architectural drawings and specifications for external wall design relevant to fire life safety and compliance with Building Regulations, Fire Safety Order and PAS 9980
• On-site inspections of external wall construction for new buildings to ensure compliance with the design package and Building Regulations related to fire life safety
• On-site intrusive survey inspections to verify external wall construction in existing buildings, including identification of products/materials and cavity barrier/fire stopping installation
• Risk-based assessment of external wall construction of existing buildings in line with PAS 9980 methodology
• Identification and review of building fire strategy key principles via desktop review of fire strategy reports, fire risk assessment reports, building plans or on-site inspection
• Production of clear and comprehensive reports outlining assessments made
• Support the development of Fire Safety Strategy reports with input into principles relevant to risk of fire spread over external walls (Building Regulation B4(1))
• Project resource management
• Assist with quality assurance processes as required
• Managing your own client base and exceeding client expectations
• Updating the technical knowledge base
• Supporting on fee proposals, business development and marketing material preparations
• Providing in-house CPD presentations when needed in your specialist area
• Keeping up to date with the latest guidance and product literature and sharing this knowledge with the wider organization
• Travel to client sites for site inspection and meetings on a regular basis, with overnight stays likely

Requirements and Qualifications

From day one, the following qualifications/experience are required:

• Knowledge of facades and building envelope systems and interfaces (cladding, curtain wall glazing, render, brickwork, custom solutions)
• Knowledge of construction methods, fire performance of external wall materials, cavity barriers, fire stops and fire breaks
• Knowledge of passive fire protection products, fire testing and related products
• Knowledge of waterproofing systems focusing on system classification and components’ reaction to fire and interaction with the vertical façade
• Experience carrying out intrusive external wall surveys on a wide range of buildings (high-rise residential, office, large retail, historic)
• Ability to read architectural drawings and specifications
• Ability to author technical reports with engineering judgement
• Extensive understanding of fire safety design legislation and guidance (Building Regulations, Approved Document B, Fire Safety Order, PAS 9980)
• Knowledge of the fire risk assessment process and general risk/hazards in the built environment
• Knowledge of refurbishment schemes and on-site contractor management
• Ability to work at heights on scaffolding or other access equipment
• Experience with report writing in Microsoft Word
• Ability to work independently and manage workload
• Desire to mentor and manage junior professionals including Design Engineers

Why you should join Jensen Hughes

• Work with market-leading clients
• Support from the leadership team
• Backing of a leading international company
• Career advancement with a clearly defined framework and promotional opportunities

Our People Are Our Greatest Asset

We know our people are the foundation of our success. We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support wellbeing, work-life balance and professional growth.

Our UK and Ireland Benefits Include

• Private medical insurance
• 33 days paid time off with an additional day after 3 years
• 4x life assurance
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Enhanced parental-related pay
• Recognition and reward programmes
• Access to extensive technical training and resources

Supporting Your Work-Life Balance

We offer flexible working arrangements to suit both you and the business, including hybrid and part-time options. We also provide:

• Flexible working hours and patterns including early Friday finish
• Enhanced holiday entitlement after three years
• Option to carry over up to five unused holiday days

A Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Our benefits represent a meaningful investment in our people and the future of Jensen Hughes. We regularly review our benefits programme to align with statutory requirements, market trends, and team needs. Any modifications will support employees and the company’s long-term goals.

Jensen Hughes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

The security of your personal data is important to us. Jensen Hughes has implemented reasonable security standards to protect personal data from loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction, and complies with data privacy laws including GDPR and CCPA. Our service providers are contractually bound to maintain confidentiality and may not use information for unauthorized purposes.

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