Fire Engineer

Nexus; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Travel benefits in Tyne and Wear

Free/discounted rail travel with major

Health cash plan for employee and/or 1

Employee discounts app

Job summary

Nexus is seeking an experienced Fire Engineer to act as the technical lead for fire engineering across its large light rail network. The role includes shaping fire strategies, ensuring safety compliance, and collaborating with regulators and emergency services on a variety of assets from stations to fleet assets.

The position offers senior responsibilities, opportunities to influence capital investment programs, and a path toward Chartered status within Nexus Engineering.

Qualifications

• A relevant engineering degree, or equivalent industry experience within a fire engineering discipline.
• Membership of a Fire Engineering Institution.
• Knowledge of fire safety legislation, fire engineering regulations, British Standards and industry guidance.
• Experience producing specifications, standards, reports, procedures and technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Act as the subject matter expert and technical lead for fire engineering matters across Nexus assets and projects.
• Lead fire engineering input into capital projects from concept and design through to construction and handover.
• Develop, review and maintain Fire Strategies to ensure compliance with legislation, standards and industry best practice.
• Review fire risk assessments, surveys, action plans and associated fire safety documentation.
• Engage with external stakeholders, including fire and rescue services and regulatory bodies.
• Support investigations, incident reviews, audits and inspections where fire engineering expertise is required.

Skills

Fire engineering expertise

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Asset lifecycle knowledge

Modelling software knowledge

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent experience

Membership of Fire Engineering Institution

Chartered Engineer status (advantageous)

Tools

Fire engineering modelling software

Job description

Job Summary

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full time

Advert Start Date: 19/10/2026

Advert End Date: 16/11/2026 09:00

Salary: Circa £55,000

Job Category: Public Transport

Vacancy ID: 303688

Employment Location: Infrastructure Gosforth, Gosforth Industrial Estate, Christon Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1XD

Number of posts: 1

Closing date: 16 Nov

Further Information

Help shape the future safety and resilience of a major transport network
Nexus is making significant investment in its engineering capability, creating a rare opportunity to join and strengthen an already experienced and highly respected team. As we continue to evolve our network and embrace new technologies, we're looking for talented professionals who can bring their expertise, challenge thinking, and help shape the future of our engineering function.
We're looking for an experienced Fire Engineer to join Nexus Engineering and become the technical lead for fire engineering matters across one of the UK's largest light rail networks. This is a unique opportunity to influence the safety, design, operation and future development of a diverse portfolio of assets including stations, rail infrastructure, operational buildings and fleet assets.
As our Fire Engineer, you'll be the technical authority for fire engineering across capital projects, maintenance and operational activities, ensuring Nexus continues to meet the highest standards of safety, compliance and asset stewardship. You'll work closely with engineering specialists, project teams, regulators and emergency services, helping to safeguard infrastructure that supports millions of passenger journeys each year.
This is far more than a compliance role. It's an opportunity to shape fire engineering strategy across an entire transport network, influence major infrastructure investment programmes and leave a lasting legacy on assets that serve communities across Tyne and Wear every day.

Typical Day

• Act as the subject matter expert and technical lead for fire engineering matters across Nexus assets and projects.
• Lead fire engineering input into capital projects from concept and design through to construction and handover.
• Develop, review and maintain Fire Strategies to ensure compliance with legislation, standards and industry best practice.
• Review fire risk assessments, surveys, action plans and associated fire safety documentation.
• Assess asset condition and support lifecycle management planning for fire engineering systems and assets.
• Work closely with operational teams, project managers, consultants and contractors to provide specialist advice and assurance.
• Engage with external stakeholders, including fire and rescue services and regulatory bodies.
• Support investigations, incident reviews, audits and inspections where fire engineering expertise is required.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, standards and ways of working through innovation and continuous improvement.

About You

You are an experienced fire engineering professional with the technical expertise, credibility and judgement to provide assurance across a complex and operationally critical environment.
You will have:

• A relevant engineering degree, or equivalent industry experience within a fire engineering discipline.
• Demonstrable fire engineering experience within the built environment.
• Knowledge of fire engineering principles and associated documentation, including fire strategies, fire plans and cause and effect matrices.
• Experience of fire safety legislation, fire engineering regulations, British Standards and industry guidance.
• Knowledge of engineering and construction regulations together with Health and Safety legislation.
• Experience producing specifications, standards, reports, procedures and technical documentation.
• Experience assessing asset condition and contributing to asset lifecycle management.
• Membership of a relevant Fire Engineering Institution.
• Working knowledge of fire engineering modelling software.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to a range of stakeholders.
• You will also have the ambition to become a registered Fire Engineer when the UK Government registration framework is introduced and be committed to continual professional development.
• It would be advantageous if you are a Chartered Engineer, or working towards Chartered status, and have experience within the rail, transport or sub-surface environment.

Why Join Nexus?

• Few Fire Engineering roles offer the breadth, visibility and influence of this position.
• You'll have the opportunity to:
• Act as the Fire Engineering authority across a regionally significant transport network.
• Influence major infrastructure projects and long-term asset strategies.
• Work across stations, operational buildings, rail infrastructure and fleet assets.
• Build strong relationships with industry partners, regulators and emergency services.
• Shape the standards, policies and practices that support the safe operation of Nexus assets.
• Play a key role in protecting infrastructure that serves communities across the North East every day.

What We Offer

• You'll be part of a generous pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme)
• 28 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays and time off for volunteering too
• Enjoy travelling for free in Tyne and Wear with our enhanced travel benefits for you and your family
• Free or discounted travel with Grand Central, LNER, Lumo, Northern Rail and TransPennine Express
• You will have the opportunity to contribute to a health cash plan that will contribute (and dependants if you have them) towards dental costs, optical, and lots more
• Access to our reward app with over 1000 plus high street discounts on groceries, holidays and days out
• We like to grow our own colleagues (not literally of course!), so when you're ready for the next step in your career, we can help develop you
• The opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future safety and resilience of public transport across the region.

About Us

At Nexus, we're investing in the future of transport. From major infrastructure renewals and station improvements to supporting the introduction of our new Metro fleet, we're delivering one of the most significant periods of investment in the network's history.
Our Engineering team sits at the heart of that transformation. Joining Nexus means becoming part of a professional, collaborative and forward-thinking team committed to delivering safe, reliable and sustainable transport for the people of Tyne and Wear.