Principal Fire Engineer / Consultant

Jensen Hughes; Manchester; On-site; GBP 131,000 - 201,000; Full time

Job summary

Jensen Hughes is seeking a seasoned Principal Fire Engineer / Principal Consultant to join our Middle East team in Dubai, UAE. The role demands technical leadership in fire and life safety across UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with a strong focus on performance-based design and complex project delivery.

Qualifications include chartered status or progression toward it, 13+ years in FLS consulting, and demonstrated leadership, client management, and business development capabilities.

Qualifications

• Post graduate level or higher in Engineering (preferably Fire Engineering) with chartered status or progressing towards chartership.
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration in Fire Engineering or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Minimum 13 years of experience in Building Code and Fire & Life Safety consulting within a professional consultancy.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex Fire & Life Safety projects, including plan reviews and fire engineering analyses.
• Develop fire protection strategies and performance-based design approaches for diverse sectors.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and support business growth through client relations.

Skills

Chartered Engineer

PE registration

Leadership

Fire & Life Safety

Client management

Project management

Education

Postgraduate Engineering

Chartered Engineer status

Job description

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.

Overview – Role

Jensen Hughes is seeking an experienced Principal Fire Engineer / Principal Consultant to join our growing Middle East team, based in Dubai, UAE . This strategic senior level role will support a diverse portfolio of projects across the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, including some of the region's most complex and high-profile developments and will combine deep technical expertise in fire and life safety engineering with strong leadership, commercial awareness, and client management capabilities. A well-rounded background in handling complex Fire and Life Safety projects, ability to develop innovative, performance-based fire engineering solutions for a broad range of sectors, an established network of clients would form the key requirements for this role.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative, performance-based fire engineering solutions across a diverse range of sectors, providing technical leadership to ensure high-quality, code-compliant, and technically robust outcomes
• Lead the delivery of complex Fire & Life Safety (FLS) projects, conducting building plan and fire code reviews, fire engineering analyses, technical reports preparation and analysis, site inspections oversight and alternative compliance strategies development providing technical oversight to ensure the delivery of high-quality, standards-compliant solutions
• Develop fire protection strategies, performance-based design approaches, and alternative compliance solutions to address client challenges
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, support business development and growth initiatives, and act as a trusted advisor to clients and stakeholders
• Serve as the primary technical lead in discussions with design teams, clients, and Civil Défense authorities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, code-compliant solutions
• Keep abreast of industry developments, emerging technologies, standards, and best practices through active participation in industry events, conferences, and professional networks
• Mentor, manage, and develop junior engineers while driving technical excellence, collaboration, and team engagement
• Support project planning, resource management, and commercial performance to ensure successful project delivery

Requirements and Qualifications

• Post Graduate level or higher in Engineering (preferably Fire Engineering), Architecture, or a related discipline with a chartered Engineer status or progressing towards chartership. Professional Engineer (PE) registration in Fire Engineering or equivalent professional certification highly desirable
• Minimum 13 years of experience in Building Code and Fire & Life Safety (FLS) consulting within a professional consultancy environment , along with an established network of clients and ability & willingness to support business growth
• Proven Middle East experience in building code consulting, performance-based design, plan reviews, field reviews, and FLS inspections for leading multidisciplinary projects managing responsibilities in large, complex scenarios
• Strong communication, leadership, and project management skills, with the ability to mentor teams, engage clients, and contribute to the long-term growth of the business
• Commercial awareness and the ability to identify opportunities to strengthen client relationships and business growth
• Commitment to technical excellence, innovation, and the long-term success of Jensen Hughes

Why you should join Jensen Hughes

• Work with market-leading clients on some of the region's most complex and high-profile projects, supported by the resources and expertise of a globally recognized firm
• Benefit from strong support and mentorship from the leadership team, along with the flexibility to balance professional and personal commitments
• Career progression opportunities through a well-defined development framework that outlines expectations, growth pathways, and promotion criteria

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.