Director of Fire Protection Engineering

FootBridge; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

FootBridge is seeking a senior fire protection engineering leader to launch and build its Northern California practice. Initially remote, with plans to establish a permanent local office as the practice grows. You will lead technical efforts, develop new business, and hire a team of engineers and professionals.

The role requires a strong background in fire protection, life safety, and code consulting, plus business development and leadership experience. P.E.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of fire protection consulting experience.
• Strong technical background in fire protection engineering and life safety.
• P.E. licensure desired or candidate pursuing licensure.
• Must reside in Northern California and be within commuting distance to a major airport.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow a fire protection engineering practice throughout Northern California.
• Build relationships with clients across commercial, institutional, industrial, public-sector, and other complex environments.
• Identify and pursue new fire protection and life safety consulting opportunities.
• Expand existing client relationships and develop new accounts.
• Provide technical leadership on fire protection engineering and life safety projects.
• Lead proposal development, scopes of work, fee development, and client presentations.
• Recruit, hire, mentor, and develop fire protection engineers and technical staff.
• Establish processes, performance expectations, and operating standards for the growing regional practice.

Skills

Fire protection consulting

Business development

Leadership

Client relationship management

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Architecture

Professional Engineer licensure

Tools

NICET certification

Certified Fire Protection Specialist

Job description

Bay Area | Remote Initially | Direct Hire

Salary from $160,000-$190,000 + bonus

A growing engineering and risk consulting firm is seeking a senior fire protection engineering leader to launch and build its Northern California practice.

This role is specifically for someone with a strong background in fire protection consulting. The ideal candidate will bring technical credibility in fire protection engineering and life safety, along with the business development and leadership experience needed to establish a new regional presence. P.E. licensure is highly desired; candidates who are already scheduled to sit for the exam will also be considered.

You will initially work remotely while building relationships with clients, developing new fire protection consulting opportunities, and expanding the company’s presence across the Bay Area and other major Northern California markets.

As the practice grows, you will help determine the best location for a permanent office, build out the local operation, and hire and develop a team of fire protection engineers and technical professionals.

This is a highly visible opportunity for someone who wants to build a fire protection consulting practice from the ground up while having the resources and support of an established engineering organization behind them.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and grow a fire protection engineering consulting practice throughout Northern California.
• Build relationships with clients across commercial, institutional, industrial, public-sector, and other complex project environments.
• Identify and pursue new fire protection and life safety consulting opportunities.
• Expand existing client relationships and develop new accounts.
• Provide technical leadership on fire protection engineering and life safety projects.
• Consult with clients on fire protection systems, code compliance, life safety, risk reduction, and related engineering challenges.
• Lead proposal development, scopes of work, fee development, and client presentations.
• Attend industry conferences, client meetings, networking events, and business development functions.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of fire protection codes, building codes, risk standards, and construction technologies.
• Support and review technical work produced by fire protection engineering staff.
• Help establish the future Northern California office as business volume grows.
• Recruit, hire, mentor, and develop fire protection engineers and technical staff.
• Establish processes, performance expectations, and operating standards for the growing regional practice.
• Partner with other engineering and consulting disciplines on multidisciplinary projects.

Required Background

• 5+ years of fire protection consulting experience required.
• Strong technical background in fire protection engineering, fire and life safety, code consulting, or closely related services.
• Experience working directly with clients in a consulting environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop business, grow accounts, or support technical sales.
• Leadership or management experience strongly preferred.
• Experience mentoring, supervising, or developing engineering professionals.
• Four-year degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a related technical field preferred.
• Professional Engineer licensure highly desired; candidates actively pursuing licensure and already scheduled to sit for the exam will also be considered.
• Fire protection-related NICET certification is a plus.
• Certified Fire Protection Specialist certification is a plus.
• Strong understanding of applicable fire protection, building, and life safety codes.
• Must reside in Northern California and be within reasonable commuting distance of a major airport.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is not a traditional engineering management role where you inherit an established local office and simply maintain it.

You will have the opportunity to build the Northern California fire protection consulting practice yourself, develop the client base, help select the future office location, and eventually build the team around you.

For the right fire protection consultant, it offers a rare combination of technical leadership, business development, autonomy, and the ability to put your fingerprints on an entire regional practice.

FootBridge is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and respected. We make employment decisions based on qualifications and business needs, without discrimination on any basis, and we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.