Principal Fire Safety Engineer

Knapton Consulting Engineers; Dún Laoghaire; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Knapton Consulting Engineers is seeking a Principal Fire Safety Engineer for a full‑time hybrid role based in Dún Laoghaire. You will develop fire safety strategies and review designs to ensure compliance across commercial, residential, and institutional projects.

The role requires leading projects, mentoring junior engineers, coordinating with clients and authorities, and contributing to business development while maintaining high standards of life safety and regulatory adherence.

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in Fire Protection Engineering and Fire Safety across complex buildings.
• Strong knowledge of Life Safety principles and relevant standards/regulations.
• Experience specifying life safety systems and integrating them into designs.

Responsibilities

• Develop fire safety strategies for diverse building types.
• Review architectural and engineering designs for compliance with codes.
• Prepare technical reports, fire safety certificates and regulatory submissions.
• Coordinate with clients, design teams and authorities; oversee junior engineers.
• Support business development and contribute to quality assurance best practices.

Skills

Fire Protection Eng

Life Safety

Regulatory Compliance

Project Leadership

Report Writing

Education

Degree in Fire Safety Eng or related

Chartered status desirable

Job description

Company Description

Knapton Consulting Engineers is a Dublin-based multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, founded in 1998, that provides a comprehensive range of professional services to the built environment. The firm delivers projects across public and private sectors, including commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional developments in Ireland and the UK. Clients include leading organizations in industry, retail, government, and semi-state bodies. Services span civil and structural design, fire safety engineering, building surveys, project and construction management, planning applications, and expert witness work. The company is committed to high-quality, competitively priced services, using up-to-date design standards and best practices while tailoring multi-service packages to meet specific client needs and timelines.

Role Description

The Principal Fire Safety Engineer is a full‑time, hybrid role based in Dún Laoghaire, with flexibility for some work from home. This role involves providing design, analysis, and advisory services for a variety of building types and uses. Daily responsibilities include developing fire safety strategies, reviewing architectural and engineering designs for compliance, and preparing technical reports, fire safety certificates, and regulatory submissions. The role also involves coordinating with clients, design teams, and authorities, overseeing junior engineers, and ensuring that life safety, fire protection, and access requirements are integrated into projects. The Principal Fire Safety Engineer also supports business development, contributes to quality assurance and best practice processes, and helps maintain Knapton’s reputation for reliable, expert fire safety consultancy.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in Fire Protection Engineering and Fire Safety, including the development of fire strategies for complex buildings - 3 years minimum.
• Strong knowledge of Life Safety and Safety Engineering principles, with experience applying relevant standards and regulations.
• Practical site experience with specifying life safety systems, including design review, performance assessment, and integration into overall fire protection schemes.
• Degree in Fire Safety Engineering, Mechanical/Civil Engineering, or a related discipline; chartered or working toward chartered status is highly desirable.
• Experience in the built environment, preferably within consultancy, covering commercial, residential, and institutional projects.
• Ability to lead projects, mentor junior team members, and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary design teams and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, report‑writing, and communication skills, with attention to detail and a commitment to regulatory compliance and best practice.
• Familiarity with Irish and UK building regulations, fire codes, and inspection and certification processes (e.g., BCAR)