Fire Protection Engineer

Architect of the Capitol • Washington, DC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This developmental professional engineering position is located in the Architect of the Capitol’s Senate Office Buildings, Facilities Support Division. The Fire Protection Engineer performs engineering work to protect life and property from destructive fire and undertakes increasingly challenging assignments to develop professional experience. The role is emergency essential; depending on the emergency, the employee may be required to report to work during emergency situations. The regular tour of duty is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The engineer develops knowledge of fire prevention and fire behavior, engineering design, and related engineering disciplines. Work includes evaluating integrated fire suppression, detection, alarm, and electrical/electronic systems; applying engineering standards, codes, physical sciences, advanced mathematics, and analytical methods; and conducting modeling and calculations related to fire growth, egress, and human response. The position also involves overseeing fire tests and measurements and evaluating fire-safety systems and methods.

The role supports fire prevention program management by identifying and mitigating hazards, reviewing construction work plans, issuing impairment notices and hot work permits when needed, developing and promoting fire-safety standards, and assessing fire risks and protection designs. It includes analyzing fire behavior and combustion, investigating post-fire incidents, providing specifications for construction, egress, and fire-protection systems, and assessing hazards and safeguards for operational activities.

The Fire Protection Engineer advises the Fire Electronics and Plumbing Branches and supports contract work by developing or reviewing scopes of work, preparing government cost estimates, specifying contractor fire-alarm personnel qualifications, reviewing contractor performance, and ensuring appropriate contract language and incentives. The employee must comply with applicable Architect of the Capitol and OSHA safety rules and take corrective action when unsafe conditions are identified. Other related duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Meet OPM qualification requirements, including applicable specialized experience and/or education requirements, by the announcement closing date.
• Meet the basic education requirements for engineers through a qualifying professional engineering bachelor's degree or an accepted combination of education and experience.
• For GS-07 qualification by experience: at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, including assisting with fire-protection system design, preparing technical drawings/specifications/documentation, and reviewing plans and calculations for code compliance; qualifying graduate education, superior academic achievement, or a combination may also qualify.
• For GS-09 qualification by experience: at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including preparing fire-protection drawings and specifications, evaluating plans/specifications/calculations for technical adequacy and code compliance, carrying out developmental assignments, and assessing fire-safety designs; qualifying graduate education or a combination may also qualify.
• For GS-11 qualification by experience: at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including assessing fire hazards and risks; preventing, detecting, controlling, and suppressing fires; applying fire-code policy such as NFPA and UPC; performing recurring fire-engineering work; participating in fire-safety assignments; and serving as COTR on assigned projects. Qualifying graduate education or a combination may also qualify.
• Pass a drug test.
• Meet the stated U.S. citizenship or other eligible employment-status category for paid employment with the Architect of the Capitol.
• Demonstrate job-related KSAs in the resume and application responses.
• If applicable, provide evidence that foreign education has been evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education.
• If a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify Selective Service registration or provide proof of exemption.

Nice To Haves

• A degree in Fire Protection Engineering is identified as ideal.
• Veterans' preference applies to eligible veterans; supporting documentation may be submitted.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate designs of integrated fire suppression, detection, alarm, and electrical/electronic systems.
• Apply fire-protection engineering standards, codes, scientific principles, mathematics, and analytical methods.
• Conduct performance-based modeling and calculations for fire growth, egress, and human responses to emergencies.
• Oversee fire tests and measurements and evaluate fire-safety system concepts and methods.
• Identify, prevent, and mitigate fire hazards and risks.
• Review construction work plans and issue system impairment notices and hot work permits as needed.
• Develop, interpret, and promote fire-safety standards and assess fire protection designs and costs.
• Examine fire phenomena and combustion products, and determine how fires originate, spread, are detected, controlled, and extinguished.
• Conduct studies predicting fire behavior in materials, structures, machines, and apparatus.
• Investigate post-fire incidents and provide specifications for building construction, exit and egress means, and fire-protection systems.
• Conduct activity hazard analyses and surveys, assess safeguards and controls, and develop controls for new or evolving activities.
• Advise the Fire Electronics Branch and Plumbing Branch on fire protection matters.
• Develop or review contract scopes of work, prepare government cost estimates, specify contractor fire-alarm personnel qualifications, and review contractor performance.
• Ensure fire-protection-related contracts are properly written or revised and include appropriate incentives where applicable.
• Comply with applicable AOC and OSHA safety rules and regulations and initiate or take corrective action on unsafe conditions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A variety of health insurance plans
• Retirement system with investment options
• Paid holidays
• Paid sick and annual (vacation) leave
• Life insurance
• Incentive systems
• Subsidized transportation
• Training and development opportunities
• Potential eligibility to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program
• Potential credit toward a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior qualifying service

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level