Fire Protection Engineer — Hybrid Work & Life-Safety Impact

CDM Smith; Omaha (NE); Hybrid; USD 91,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

CDM Smith, a global engineering and construction firm, seeks a Fire Protection Engineer to design comprehensive fire protection systems and provide life-safety analyses for federal and commercial projects. The role offers a hybrid work model and opportunities to mentor junior staff across multiple offices.

You will collaborate with sales and clients, ensure NFPA/UFC compliance, and contribute to durable, sustainable infrastructure designs while using HydraCAD, HydraCALC, and other CAD tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering; PE license preferred.
• Experience in life-safety and fire protection design.
• 7+ years of related experience.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Equivalent experience considered in lieu of a degree.

Responsibilities

• Develop fire protection designs: sprinkler, suppression, pumps, alarms.
• Act as QFPE for federal projects; ensure life safety compliance.
• Review designs for NFPA/UFC and state/local regs; obtain sign-off.
• Perform analyses: egress, fire hazard, water supply as needed.
• Evaluate systems with HydraCAD/HydraCALC and other software.
• Collaborate with sales to prepare compliant proposals and RFP responses.
• Mentor junior staff and supervise engineers on project work.
• Meet clients to review current and future design needs.

Skills

Engineering design principles

Life-safety design

Regulatory knowledge

Verbal and written communication

Mentoring junior staff

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Architectural or Chemical Engineering, or related discipline

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Fire Protection Engineering (preferred)

Tools

HydraCAD

HydraCALC

CADD 3D/4D software

Microsoft Office (Excel/Word)

Job description

CDM Smith, a global engineering and construction firm, seeks a Fire Protection Engineer to design comprehensive fire protection systems and provide life-safety analyses for federal and commercial projects. The role offers a hybrid work model and opportunities to mentor junior staff across multiple offices.

You will collaborate with sales and clients, ensure NFPA/UFC compliance, and contribute to durable, sustainable infrastructure designs while using HydraCAD, HydraCALC, and other CAD tools.