Senior Fire Protection Engineer
Location: Norfolk Naval Station, Norfolk, VA
Salary Range: $135,000–$165,000
We are hiring a Senior Fire Protection Engineer to provide high-level fire protection engineering design and technical support for complex federal facilities projects. This role supports both Design-Bid-Build and Design-Build efforts and offers the opportunity to contribute to projects ranging from major facilities and infrastructure to renovations, life-safety systems, and performance-based designs.
You’ll work closely with project stakeholders and multidisciplinary architecture and engineering teams to help ensure facilities meet demanding fire protection, life-safety, and code requirements.
What You’ll Do
- Provide independent, timely, and professional fire protection engineering support for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of federal facilities.
- Support projects for the Navy, Marine Corps, and other supported commands, including minor works, special projects, military construction (MILCON), demolition, maintenance, space utilization, and facilities development.
- Participate in project conferences and coordinate with engineering and architectural disciplines to integrate fire protection requirements into overall facility designs.
- Provide technical expertise related to:
- Life safety and code compliance
- Construction type, building height, and allowable area
- Separation distances and fire-rated construction
- Spray-applied fireproofing and firestopping
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Fire alarm and mass notification systems
- Clean-agent fire suppression systems
- Installation-wide fire alarm reporting systems
- Water distribution systems
- Hydraulic analysis
- Fire modeling
- Performance-based fire protection designs
- Support complex projects involving facilities such as multi-story office buildings, steam plants, hospitals, housing, manufacturing facilities, training facilities, and similar structures.
- Prepare written engineering analyses, consolidate technical findings, and evaluate recommendations and supporting facts.
- Present proposed designs and study results to project stakeholders.
- Apply budgeting, planning, and project management techniques while coordinating the work of others and leading teams as needed.
- Follow applicable safety policies and guidance, including requirements for personal protective equipment.
What You’ll Bring
- Professional Engineer (PE) registration in Fire Protection Engineering is required.
- A minimum of 10 years of professional fire protection engineering experience involving code-compliant facilities design for new construction, including renovation design experience.
- Substantial professional knowledge and hands-on application of fire protection engineering principles, concepts, practices, theories, and techniques for planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining shore-based engineering projects.
- Working knowledge of DoD and Navy design criteria, guide specifications, policies, codes, and standards applicable to fire protection engineering.
- Strong knowledge of relevant standards and references, including:
- Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards
- International Building Code (IBC)
- International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- International Residential Code (IRC)
- FM Global Loss Prevention Data Sheets
- Society of Fire Protection Engineers' Handbook
- Other applicable industry standards
- Knowledge of applicable local, state, federal, and foreign-country laws, codes, and statutory requirements affecting fire protection engineering design throughout the supported regional area.
- Understanding of related architectural and engineering disciplines and how their requirements affect fire protection system design.
- Ability to make oral presentations covering proposed designs and study findings.
- Experience with Autodesk software, Microsoft Office products, fire protection engineering design and analysis software, and applicable DoD computer systems and software.
- Strong technical writing skills, including the ability to document analyses, consolidate findings from others, and evaluate technical recommendations.
- Knowledge of budgeting, planning, and project management practices, with the ability to coordinate work and lead teams.
Education
Completion of an ABET-accredited course of study in a fire protection engineering program from a college or university, resulting in a bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Fire Protection Engineering, supplemented by considerable hands-on facilities design experience, is required.
If your degree is in Mechanical Engineering, PE registration in Fire Protection Engineering is required.
Physical Requirements
You’ll need the ability to:
- Stand, walk, climb, kneel, and crouch, as well as remain stationary/seated for at least 60% of the time.
- Operate standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and copy machines.
- Use your hands to handle or control objects and reach with your hands and arms.
- Lift up to 10 lbs.
- See details of objects located less than a few feet away.
- Understand spoken communication and communicate clearly both in person and by telephone.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this position is $135,000–$165,000. Compensation is determined based on factors including job responsibilities, relevant experience, education, certifications, technical skills, security clearance status, geographic location, market conditions, internal equity, and contract-specific requirements.