Head of Fire Engineering

Aldwych Consulting; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy is seeking a Head of Fire Engineering to enhance their team. This role involves overseeing fire engineering design across diverse projects, collaborating with various disciplines to ensure fire safety integration, and mentoring junior engineers. Candidates should possess a strong technical background and relevant qualifications to drive innovation in fire safety design.

Qualifications

• Chartered or working toward chartership (CEng, MIFireE or equivalent).
• Experience in delivering design-stage fire strategies on complex engineering projects.
• Skilled in integration of fire engineering into multi-disciplinary design workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical development of fire engineering strategies on major design projects.
• Collaborate with internal design teams to embed fire safety into building layouts.
• Provide technical review of fire strategies and calculations.

Skills

Technical understanding of fire engineering design

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Fire Engineering or a closely related discipline

Tools

CFD modelling tools

Fire modelling tools (e.g. FDS, Pathfinder)

Job description

We are seeking a technically strong Head of Fire Engineering to lead and grow our in-house fire engineering capability, with a focus on delivering high-quality design input across complex infrastructure and building projects.

You will oversee all fire engineering design activity, working closely with structural, mechanical, and architectural teams to ensure that fire safety is fully integrated into the engineering process from concept through to detailed design and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical development of fire engineering strategies on major design projects across multiple sectors (e.g. transport, commercial, education, residential).
  
• Collaborate with internal design teams to embed fire safety into building layouts, materials selection, and system integration from early stages.
  
• Provide technical review and sign-off of fire strategies, calculations, and modelling outputs (e.g. smoke control, egress, structural fire resistance).
  
• Develop standard methodologies and design guidance to improve quality and consistency across the team.
  
• Lead fire-related input into multi-disciplinary design coordination meetings.
  
• Mentor junior fire engineers and support recruitment of technical talent.
  
• Advise on innovative and performance-based design approaches using tools such as CFD modelling, evacuation simulations, and risk-based assessments.
  

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Fire Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
  
• Chartered or working toward chartership (CEng, MIFireE or equivalent).
  
• Strong technical understanding of fire engineering design principles, including BS 7974, BS 9999, ADB, and international codes.
  
• Demonstrated experience delivering design-stage fire strategies on complex engineering projects.
  
• Skilled in fire modelling tools (e.g. FDS, Pathfinder) and integration of fire engineering into multi-disciplinary design workflows.
  
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work directly with architects, engineers, and clients in a design-led environment.
  

Why Join Us

This role offers the opportunity to lead technically challenging work within a design-driven organisation. You will play a central part in shaping fire engineering outcomes on high-profile projects, with the autonomy to develop best practice and drive innovation in design.

To apply, please send your CV as instructed on the page.

Aldwych Consulting values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.