Senior Fire Protection Engineer

Jensen Hughes; Columbia (MD); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fire protection engineering firm in Columbia, Maryland, seeks a Senior Fire Protection Engineer with a strong background in life safety systems and fire alarm consulting. The role involves conducting design reviews, evaluating compliance with NFPA codes, and providing engineering support for diverse projects in a hybrid setting. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience and strong communication skills, offering a unique opportunity to impact fire protection in high-profile environments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years’ experience in fire protection and life safety.
• Ability to collaborate with teams and communicate effectively.
• Strong background in NFPA codes and standards.

Responsibilities

• Conduct design reviews for fire protection systems.
• Evaluate compliance with fire safety codes.
• Provide technical assistance for project statements of work.

Skills

Life safety code consulting

Fire alarm systems

Interpersonal skills

Report writing

Negotiating skills

Education

Professional Engineering (PE) license

Job description

Senior Fire Protection Engineer

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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 has a hybrid job opportunity for a Senior Fire Protection Engineer with experience in life safety code consulting, sprinkler systems, fire detection and alarm systems, and passive fire protection. The ideal candidate must have a strong background in the application of National Fire Protection Associates (NFPA) codes and standards, as well as Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC). Experience with performance-based fire engineering design is also a benefit. The applicant must be able to collaborate with a team of Fire Protection Engineers with diverse backgrounds and experience levels. The successful candidate will provide full-time engineering and technical support at a high-profile government location in the metropolitan Washington, DC area, while possibly being able to work a hybrid schedule. This is an exciting opportunity to gain fire protection experience and knowledge in a wide range of fire suppression, fire alarm, and life safety systems and approaches, in a unique and challenging setting.

Responsibilities

• Conduct design review and commissioning services for fire protection, fire alarm, and life safety systems. Duties include review of designs and submittals; verification of as-built and redline drawings; construction surveys and inspections; development and partial witnessing of pre-functional checklists; and development and executing functional performance tests.
• Review of designs will include evaluating whether the designer has met the owner’s intent based on contract serviceability, maintainability, and operability requirements, that the designer has adhered to all applicable building, fire and life safety codes, and assess whether fire protections systems and components are adequately sized for owner/tenant identified requirements.
• Provide technical assistance in the development of statements of work for projects related to all aspects of the built environment on behalf of building owner and associated stakeholders.
• Apply fundamental fire and life safety engineering principles to create performance-based solutions to design challenges that are not addressed by the straightforward application of existing fire protection codes and standards.
• Evaluate existing facilities for compliance with building code of record and provide recommendations for improvements. Evaluations will include site surveys and analysis of life safety systems, fire detection and alarm systems, smoke control systems, and active as well as passive fire protection systems.
• Perform calculations related to means of egress sizing, maximum allowable building height and area, sprinkler system water supply capacity (i.e., hydraulic calculations) and smoke control equipment.
• Provide engineering support to the building management office for fire alarm and fire protection system inspection, testing, and maintenance.
• Propose additions, changes, and updates to existing fire protection and life safety codes, standards, and regulations.
• Perform impact analysis on the consequences of new code adoption and code cycle changes to construction project requirements and building operations.
• Meet client and customer needs and expectations by completing assigned tasks in the time allotted, and effectively communicating with project team members, clients, customers, and others.
• Compose technical letters and reports to address specific technical concepts as may be needed by assigned tasks.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years’ experience in life safety, active and passive fire protection, and fire alarm systems code consulting, design review, inspections, and commissioning.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license preferred.
• Excellent report writing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to present clear and technically sound fire protection engineering strategies and have good communication and negotiating skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, enjoy professional challenges and desire to be an integral part of the long-term growth of Jensen Hughes.

Equal Opportunity Employment

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