Senior Research Scientist – Fire Detection and Suppression

International Association for Fire Safety Science; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and well-being programs

401(k) and pension plan

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible work arrangements

Generous time off allowances

Job summary

The International Association for Fire Safety Science in College Park, Maryland, is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to lead projects in fire detection and suppression. This role focuses on developing scientific knowledge and solutions to enhance industrial property loss prevention in critical areas.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering and has strong research experience in combustion and heat transfer. The position offers a comprehensive rewards program, including health benefits and flexible work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Strong research experience involving experimental and analytical methods in thermal fluids.
• Familiarity with advanced sensor technology and AI integration is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to develop solutions for complex technical challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects to evaluate fire detection and suppression performance.
• Design experiments for model development, calibration, and validation.
• Interpret experimental data and prepare technical documentation.
• Communicate results to stakeholders and manage project aspects.

Skills

Fundamental background in combustion

Fluid mechanics

Heat transfer

Applied mathematics

Excellent communication skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or Fire Protection Engineering

Job description

Established nearly two centuries ago, FM is a leading mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder‑owners. These owners, who share the belief that the majority of property loss is preventable, represent many of the world’s largest organizations, including one of every four Fortune 500 companies. They work with FM to better understand the hazards that can impact their business continuity to make cost‑effective risk management decisions, combining property loss prevention with insurance protection.

FM is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to develop new scientific knowledge, technologies, and engineering solutions for problems related to fire detection and suppression. The position will directly contribute to industrial property loss prevention, with emphasis on critical business areas and emerging hazards such as data centers, renewable energy industries, automated storage facilities, and operations involving ignitable liquids.

Responsibilities

• Lead internally funded research projects to evaluate fire detection and suppression performance.
• Design experiments to support the development, calibration, and validation of physics‑based or empirical models.
• Apply available modeling tools and analytical methods for effective problem solving.
• Interpret and analyze experimental and model data and prepare high‑quality technical documentation.
• Communicate test methods, results, and engineering recommendations to internal and external stakeholders, including collaborators, clients, and industry partners.
• Manage all aspects of project management, including proposals, planning, execution, reporting, and engineering application.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong fundamental background in combustion, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and applied mathematics.
• Research experience involving experimental and analytical methods in thermal fluids, heat transfer, and combustion/fire science, as well as a general understanding of associated numerical methods.
• Research experience in the field of fire detection and suppression research, and familiarity with advanced sensor technology, artificial intelligence integration, and machine learning concepts is highly desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop effective solutions to complex technical challenges.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to productively collaborate in an interdisciplinary research environment.

The final salary offer will vary based on geographic location, individual education, skills, and experience. The position is eligible to participate in FM’s comprehensive Total Rewards program that includes an incentive plan, generous health and well‑being programs, a 401(k) and pension plan, career development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, flexible work, time off allowances and much more.

FM is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce.