Principal Fire Safety Engineer

Tetra Tech, Inc.; Basingstoke; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Tetra Tech is seeking a Principal Fire Safety Engineer to lead fire safety strategies and hazard analyses across a diverse portfolio, including nuclear, residential and commercial sectors. The role combines technical leadership with client engagement and regulatory liaison in a hybrid office/remote setting.

You will develop fire strategies, perform analyses, and deliver compliant documentation while mentoring colleagues and liaising with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience in applying fire safety engineering principles to develop fire strategies and conduct hazard analyses.
• Ability to produce clear, detailed technical documentation and reports.
• Experience engaging with regulatory authorities and stakeholders is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of fire safety strategies and hazard analyses across diverse projects (nuclear, residential, commercial).
• Attend meetings with clients, conduct site visits, and manage regulatory interactions to ensure compliance.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports and fee-proposals; supervise junior team members and ensure delivery of robust documentation.
• Collaborate with architects, designers and multidisciplinary teams to integrate fire safety requirements into designs.

Skills

Fire safety engineering

Hazard analysis

Regulatory interaction

Technical report writing

Project leadership

Tools

CFAST

FDS

Job description

Join us in shaping the future of Fire Safety Engineering

At Tetra Tech, we’re looking for a motivated and ambitious Principal Fire Safety Engineer to join our growing fire safety engineering team.

This role offers the chance to work on a diverse portfolio of projects - delivering fire strategy design and hazard analysis across sectors such as nuclear, residential, commercial, office, waste and recycling and other high-hazard environments. Whether you're actively seeking your next challenge or open to exploring new possibilities, this role offers the chance to grow your career within a consultancy renowned for its technical excellence and collaborative culture.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

Within the nuclear sector our projects often involve bespoke, technically complex challenges with limited reference documentation which offers a distinct contrast to the more prescriptive residential sector. Engineers will have the opportunity to apply core fire engineering principles, including modelling and calculations, to deliver innovative, safety-focused solutions. Larger projects may involve developing fire strategies for major new builds, such as regional distribution centres or facilities on nuclear-licensed sites.

You will apply advanced fire engineering expertise in scenarios where standard guidance is limited, using analytical and modelling techniques to develop innovative solutions. This role provides a unique platform to refine and expand the skills that inspire many professionals to pursue a career in fire engineering. As a key member of our consultancy team, you will take responsibility for delivering high-quality fire safety strategies and technical solutions that meet client objectives and regulatory requirements.

Your Impact in this Position

In the first year, you will have the opportunity to contribute to complex and innovative fire engineering projects across multiple sectors. The role involves working on high-profile assignments where you will apply your technical expertise in a dynamic and technically challenging environment. Current projects include one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure sites, providing exposure to large-scale nuclear work and the chance to develop skills in stakeholder engagement, technical design, and regulatory interaction.

We support career growth through progression toward chartership and access to CIPD-accredited training. For nuclear fire engineering roles, some projects may require understanding the nuclear safety case. While not essential initially, training will be provided to develop this capability. Whether you are seeking your next challenge or exploring new possibilities, this role offers the chance to advance your career within a consultancy recognised for technical excellence and a collaborative culture.

Fire Safety Engineering Expertise

The role involves applying fire safety engineering principles to develop innovative, compliant building designs. You will create fire strategies, conduct hazard analysis and address complex risks. A strong knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework for fire-safe design, including guidance such as Approved Document B, BS 9999 and BS 9991 is essential. You will bring working knowledge of fire safety engineering principles, including the PD 7974 suite of standards. Experience with fire modelling software such as CFAST or FDS is advantageous, though not essential, as we provide opportunities to develop these skills.

Regulator Interaction

You will manage client-facing responsibilities which include attending meetings and conducting site visits to assess existing fire safety measures and building conditions. Acting as a key representative of the Consultancy, you will ensure fire safety considerations are fully addressed throughout the project lifecycle. The role also involves regular interaction with regulatory bodies across different sectors, requiring confidence and experience in leading these engagements to achieve compliance and maintain strong professional relationships.

Technical Report Writing

The role requires the ability to produce clear, accurate and technically robust written reports that articulate fire protection requirements and underpin project decisions. These reports must translate complex fire engineering principles into practical, actionable guidance for clients and stakeholders, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and standards. The role involves reviewing and refining work produced by junior team members, providing feedback, ensuring technical accuracy and integrating their contributions into cohesive, high-quality project documentation. Strong attention to detail, clarity of expression and the ability to present technical information in a structured and professional manner are essential to maintaining the Consultancy’s reputation for excellence.

Proposals and Project Management

This role combines technical expertise with strong client engagement. You will take ownership of client requests, which may range from clearly defined scopes of work to more exploratory assignments requiring specialist guidance. This includes working closely with clients to clarify requirements, shape project objectives and develop tailored fee proposals. Once a project is secured, you will maintain proactive communication with the client to ensure progress aligns with expectations, delivering high-quality fire safety documentation to support the agreed scope. You will be responsible for delegating tasks to junior team members, providing oversight and feedback to ensure efficient delivery and technical excellence. This is a position for those who thrive on responsibility, client interaction, and leadership within a collaborative environment.

Stakeholder Engagement

Internally, you will collaborate closely with the Fire Engineering Team Lead, the Operational Director and other members of the fire engineering team to deliver high-quality solutions. Externally, you will work alongside architects, designers and key stakeholders throughout the design and delivery process, ensuring fire safety requirements are seamlessly integrated into complex projects. You will also play an active role in multidisciplinary initiatives, partnering with colleagues from various teams and departments to develop coordinated, innovative, and technically robust outcomes that meet client and regulatory expectations.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

You will bring experience in practical fire engineering, with a proven track record of developing fire safety strategies and undertaking fire risk analysis across complex engineering projects. You will possess strong technical expertise in fire engineering principles, modelling and calculations, alongside the ability to produce clear, detailed and accurate technical documentation.

You will be confident engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, and have excellent communication skills that enable effective collaboration with architects, designers and project teams throughout the design and delivery process. Experience gained within the nuclear sector would be advantageous, although this is not essential.

Our team embraces flexibility in every aspect of the role, including project focus across nuclear and non-nuclear sectors, work location between office, client site and home and opportunities for personal development. While proximity to our Warrington, West Cumbria or Basingstoke office is preferred, remote working is also considered. For office-based staff, we operate a hybrid model of three days in the office and two days working from home.

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Whyjoin Tetra Tech?

TetraTech is a leading provider of consulting and engineering services workingacross the full project lifecycle worldwide. We have a wide rangeofexpertiseacrossour teams, providing a global support networkwith a personalised approach to client relationships to better understand wherewe can add value.We provide a collaborative environment that supportsindividual performance, innovation, and creativity.Wesupport public and private sector clients on local, national, and internationalprojects to deliver sustainable and resilient solutions. Our operations in theUK, Ireland, and the Netherlands include more than 6,000 employees whoareLeading with Science®to solve our clients’ most complexproblems.Inalignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments tosupport candidates andemployeesrequiringadditionalarrangements. This could includeadaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace.Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment processor in your day-to-day role.