Fire Protection, Principal to Consulting Engineer

Vistra Corp; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Vistra Corp is seeking a Fire Protection Engineer to support and enhance fire protection systems across the power generation fleet. You will lead design oversight, lifecycle management, and provide engineering guidance aligned with NFPA standards to ensure safe, reliable plant operations.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s in fire protection or related field, 5+ years in industrial fire protection, and a PE license preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline required.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license: Fire Protection P.E. preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in fire protection engineering within industrial environments.
• Experience in design, installation, and commissioning of fire protection systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design review and technical evaluation of new fire protection installations and upgrades.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA standards (NFPA 13, 20, 22, 12, 72, 850, 750, etc.).
• Provide engineering guidance on system selection, hydraulic calculations, detection, and suppression strategies.
• Develop scopes for upgrades, retrofits, and new installations; review technical specs and bid packages.
• Support capital project planning with cost estimates, schedules, and risk assessments.
• Manage contractors and vendors during installation, testing, and commissioning.
• Review submittals, shop drawings, and test documentation.
• Evaluate existing systems for adequacy, reliability, and compliance.
• Participate in incident investigations and root cause analyses; collaborate with insurers.

Skills

NFPA standards knowledge

Project management

Design review

Hydraulic calculations

System integration

Education

Bachelor's in Fire Protection Engineering or related

Professional Engineer (P.E.) license – Fire Protection preferred

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Fire Protection Engineer to support and enhance fire protection systems across our power generation fleet. This role is responsible for the engineering, design oversight, and lifecycle management of fire protection systems to ensure compliance with applicable codes, insurance requirements, and internal standards.

The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in fire protection engineering, hands-on experience with system installation and upgrades, and the ability to lead projects from scope definition through execution. This position plays a critical role in reducing operational risk, improving system reliability, and supporting safe, continuous plant operations.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities:

• Engineering & Design Oversight

• Lead the design review and technical evaluation of new fire protection system installations and upgrades.

• Ensure compliance with applicable standards including NFPA 13, 20, 22, 2001, 12, 72, 25, 850, and 750.

• Provide engineering guidance on system selection, hydraulic calculations, detection and suppression strategies, and integration with plant systems.

• Project Scope Development & Execution

• Define detailed project scopes for fire protection system upgrades, retrofits, and new installations.

• Develop or review technical specifications, and bid packages for contractor execution.

• Support capital project planning, including cost estimates, schedules, and risk assessments.

• Contractor & Vendor Management

• Manage and oversee contractors and vendors during installation, testing, and commissioning activities.

• Review contractor submittals, shop drawings, and test documentation.

• System Performance & Compliance

• Evaluate existing fire protection systems for adequacy, reliability, and compliance.

• Support inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) programs in alignment with NFPA 25.

• Identify gaps and recommend corrective actions to mitigate fire and explosion risks.

• Risk Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in incident investigations and root cause analyses related to fire protection system failures or impairments.

• Collaborate with insurance carriers and internal stakeholders during site assessments and audits.

• Drive standardization and continuous improvement initiatives across the fleet.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with operations, maintenance, engineering, and EHS teams to integrate fire protection requirements into plant activities.

• Provide technical training and guidance to site personnel as needed.

Education and Skill Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline required.

• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license: Fire Protection P.E. preferred.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in fire protection engineering within industrial, power generation, or similar asset-intensive environments.

• Demonstrated experience in design, installation, and commissioning of fire protection systems.

• Strong working knowledge of NFPA standards including but not limited to:

  • NFPA 13 (Sprinkler Systems)
  • NFPA 20 (Fire Pumps)
  • NFPA 22 (Water Tanks)
  • NFPA 2001 (Clean Agent Systems)
  • NFPA 12 (CO₂ Systems)
  • NFPA 72 (Fire Alarm & Detection)
  • NFPA 25 (Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance)
  • NFPA 850 (Electric Generating Plants)
  • NFPA 750 (Water Mist Systems)

• Familiarity with hydraulic calculations, fire modeling concepts, and system integration.

• Strong project management and organizational skills.

• Proven ability to manage contractors and multiple projects simultaneously.

• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence stakeholders.

• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities.

Key Metrics for Success:

• Compliance & Risk Reduction

• Reduction in identified fire protection system deficiencies across the fleet.

• Successful adherence to NFPA standards, insurance requirements, and internal policies.

• Project Execution

• Delivery of fire protection projects on time and within budget.

• Quality of design and installation as measured by commissioning results and post-installation performance.

• System Reliability

• Improvement in fire protection system availability and readiness.

• Reduction in system impairments and overdue ITM activities.

• Audit & Inspection Outcomes

• Positive results from internal audits, insurer evaluations, and regulatory inspections.

• Timely closure of audit findings and corrective actions.

• Operational Support

• Effectiveness in supporting plant operations with minimal disruption.

• Responsiveness to emergent issues and incident investigations.

Location : Will consider any Vistra fossil generation facility as an alternative to Irving TX.

Job Grade: Grade will be assigned based on skills and experience (aligned with engineering/specialist progression program).

Job Family

Engineering Services

Company

Luminant Generation Company LLC

Locations

Irving, Texas

Texas

We are a company of people committed to: Exceeding Customer Expectations, Great People, Teamwork, Competitive Spirit and Effective Communication. If this describes you, then apply today!

If you currently work for Vistra or its subsidiaries, please apply via the internal career site.

It is the policy of the Company to comply with all employment laws and to afford equal employment opportunity to individuals in all aspects of employment, including in selection for job opportunities, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, protected veteran status, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws.

It is the policy of the Company to comply with all employment laws and to afford equal employment opportunity to individuals in all aspects of employment, including in selection for job opportunities, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, protected veteran status, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws.