Principal Fire Engineer

JENSEN HUGHES; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and annual bonus

Hybrid working arrangements

Private healthcare

Generous pension

Life assurance

Income protection

Professional memberships

Training and development

Career progression

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Jensen Hughes seeks an experienced Principal Fire Engineer to lead complex fire projects in Manchester. You will shape fire safety strategies, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive business growth through strong client relationships and technical innovation.

You will mentor junior engineers, contribute to tender submissions, and stay ahead of legislation and standards in a consultancy environment. A Chartered Engineer status is preferred.

Qualifications

• Degree in Fire Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Experience leading complex fire engineering projects.
• Chartered Engineer status or working toward it preferred.
• Consultancy background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver complex fire engineering projects from inception through to completion.
• Develop fire strategies for diverse building types.
• Undertake fire safety analyses including evacuation modelling and smoke control.
• Advise on compliance with UK Building Regulations and fire safety legislation.
• Review reports, calculations, and design documentation.
• Mentor junior and mid‑level engineers; support business development and client engagement.
• Stay updated on evolving legislation and industry standards.
• Represent the business at client meetings and industry events.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Client engagement

Education

Degree in Fire Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng) preferred

Job description

Jensen Hughes are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Principal Fire Engineer to join our growing team in Manchester. This is a technical leadership role offering the opportunity to deliver complex fire engineering projects across a diverse portfolio of sectors including commercial, residential, healthcare, education, industrial, and infrastructure developments. As a Principal Fire Engineer, you will play a key role in shaping fire safety strategies, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting business growth through strong client relationships and technical innovation. You will not only lead on some of the industry's most exciting projects but also have a key role in shaping the future talent within our teams through mentorship and development opportunities. Why join us to grow your career?

• We are the largest fire consultancy in Europe with offices located in Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Italy, and the UK & Ireland. Our reputation for providing innovative, design-focused solutions has made us the consultant of choice for many of Europe's leading property clients.
• As a Principal Engineer you will be an integral part of a dynamic technical team, working with other experienced Engineers, Surveyors and teams including our Forensics division. You will work on the industry's leading technical projects.
• Working with us offers an exciting range of opportunities to develop your career within a supportive and diverse team that always strives to do the right thing for our people, clients and communities.
• You will be given early the opportunity to progress rapidly. Jensen Hughes encourages all Engineers to achieve chartered status and offer help and support during the process

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver complex fire engineering projects from inception through to completion.
• Develop fire strategies for a wide range of new-build and existing building projects.
• Undertake fire safety engineering analyses, including evacuation modelling, smoke control assessments, and performance-based design solutions.
• Provide expert advice on compliance with UK Building Regulations, Approved Document B, and relevant fire safety legislation.
• Review and approve technical reports, calculations, and design documentation.
• Liaise with architects, developers, contractors, approval authorities, and wider project teams.
• Act as a technical lead and mentor for junior and mid-level engineers.
• Contribute to business development activities, including client engagement, tender submissions, and project proposals.
• Maintain awareness of evolving legislation, industry standards, and best practices.
• Represent the business at client meetings, industry events, and technical forums.
• Degree qualified in Fire Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Ideally be or working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer.
• A background in fire engineering preferably within a consultancy environment.

Throughout our worldwide network of experts, clients and communities, we are renowned for our leadership in fire protection engineering - a legacy of responsibility we have proudly upheld since 1939. Today, our expertise extends broadly across closely related security and risk-based fields - from accessibility consulting and risk analysis to 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, ensuring our clients can protect what matters most. For over 80 years, we have helped mitigate risks that threaten lives, property and reputations. Through technology, expertise and industry-leading research, we remain dedicated to our purpose of making our world safe, secure and resilient.

At Jensen Hughes, we believe that creating and sustaining a culture of trust, integrity and professional growth starts with putting our people first. Our employees are our greatest strength, and we value the unique perspectives and talents they bring to our organization. Our wide range of Global Employee Networks connect people from across the organization, supporting career development and providing forums for individuals to share experiences on topics they're passionate about. Together, we are cultivating a connected culture where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed together.

We have provided some guidelines regarding the responsible use of AI in the recruitment process.

The security of your personal data is important to us. Jensen Hughes has implemented reasonable physical, technical, and administrative security standards to protect personal data from loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction. We protect your personal data against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure, using security technologies and procedures, such as encryption and limited access. Only authorized individuals may access your personal data for the purpose for which it was collected, and these individuals receive training about the importance of protecting personal data. Jensen Hughes is committed to compliance with all relevant data privacy laws in all areas where we do business, including, but not limited to, the GDPR and the CCPA. Additionally, our service providers are contractually bound to maintain the confidentiality of personal data and may not use the information for any unauthorized purpose.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Private healthcare.
• Generous pension contribution.
• Life assurance and income protection.
• Professional membership subscriptions.
• Ongoing training and support towards professional development.
• Clear career progression pathways.
• A collaborative and inclusive working environment where technical excellence is valued and rewarded.