Senior/Associate Fire Engineer – Expert Witness

Jensen Hughes; Dublin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

33 days paid time off

Industry-leading contributory pension scheme

Discretionary bonus scheme

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

A global fire protection consultancy in Dublin is seeking a Fire Engineering Expert Witness to conduct investigations and provide expert testimony. The role requires a degree in Fire Engineering, extensive fire safety experience, and strong communication skills. The successful candidate will enjoy competitive benefits and the chance to work on high-profile projects.

Qualifications

• Established professional background in Fire Safety Engineering.
• Experience of fire safety design in residential and commercial buildings.
• Extensive experience in fire engineering, with expert witness experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct site-based investigations to analyze fire incidents.
• Prepare reports for court proceedings.
• Provide expert witness evidence in court.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Team player

Client-facing experience

Education

Degree in Fire Engineering or relevant area

Chartered Engineer or working towards chartership

Job description

Company Overview

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.

Job Overview

Jensen Hughes are specialists in fire engineering, fire forensics and litigation. Within the litigation team, we comprise highly experienced consultants committed to delivering technical excellence for clients across the full spectrum of services. Our clients trust us to respond rapidly and deliver conclusive reports, robust evidence and expert testimony of the highest technical standard. Our unique collaborative approach and vast areas of expertise ensure clients benefit from a personal and professional service.

As a Fire Engineering Expert Witness, you will assist and work on high‑profile projects and cases, specifically design and construction defects, cladding issues, internal fire safety defects etc. You will take a lead role with disclosure, research and report writing. You will have access to the firm’s resources and know‑how and have the opportunity to be involved in training and development.

A key attraction of this role is that you will have the opportunity to be responsible for seeing a technical investigation through from beginning to end – from initially collecting the evidence on site to preparing the final technical expert witness report and ultimately giving expert evidence in court.

Responsibilities

• Conduct site‑based investigations to record evidence and analyse fire incidents.
• Review technical documentation that may include manuals and maintenance records.
• Consult relevant standards, regulations and other published guidance.
• Provide the client with timely preliminary verbal and/or written advice in a form that can be readily understood by a layperson and ultimately a judge.
• Prepare reports that may be a brief letter‑style report or a detailed, illustrated report for court proceedings.
• Attend client meetings to discuss your investigation.
• Meet with experts appointed by the other involved parties as part of the litigation process.
• Provide expert witness evidence in court, which will involve being questioned in depth by a barrister, who will have been briefed by a technical expert.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Degree in Fire Engineering, or other relevant area.
• An established professional background in Fire Safety Engineering, including cladding and site experience.
• Chartered Engineer or working towards chartership.
• Experience of fire safety design in residential apartment and commercial buildings including knowledge of relevant fire safety design codes.
• Extensive experience in fire engineering, with expert witness experience in UK and/or Irish jurisdictions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to legal and lay audiences.
• A team‑player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• Client‑facing experience and the ability to understand and respond effectively to client needs.

Desirable Skills

• Prior involvement in high‑profile litigation, tribunals, public inquiries or regulatory investigations.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with a recognised UK or Irish institution (e.g., IFE, Engineers Ireland).
• Membership in professional bodies such as the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or Engineers Ireland.
• Experience with cross‑border casework and multi‑jurisdictional standards.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance
• 33 days paid time off with an additional day after 3 years
• Industry‑leading contributory pension scheme
• 4x life assurance
• Income protection scheme
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Enhanced parental‑related pay
• Recognition and reward programmes to celebrate team efforts
• Access to extensive technical training and resources

Work‑Life Balance

• Flexible working hours and patterns including early Friday finish
• Flexible holiday use over Christmas/New Year
• Enhanced holiday entitlement after three years
• The option to carry over up to five unused holiday days into the next year

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Our benefits represent a meaningful investment in both our people and the future of Jensen Hughes. We regularly review our benefits programme to ensure it aligns with statutory requirements, market trends, and the needs of our team. Any modifications will be carefully considered to support our employees and the company’s long‑term goals.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Jensen Hughes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

AI Recruiting Guidelines

At Jensen Hughes, we embrace innovation and understand that people are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and other generative platforms to learn, prepare and communicate. We have provided guidelines regarding the responsible use of AI in the recruitment process. Please click here to review.