Fire Protection Lead

RINA•Chicago, IL

4d•$130,000 - $180,000

About The Position

RINA is recruiting a Fire Protection Lead for its Plant Engineering Division, based in Houston, Texas, or Chicago/Lisle, Illinois. The position supports engineering and development of a large tank farm project in Texas and serves as the project’s technical authority for Fire Protection and Fire-Fighting Systems. The Lead directs the development, coordination, review, and approval of fire protection design throughout the engineering phases. The role requires experience in fire protection engineering for large tank farms, terminals, refineries, petrochemical facilities, or other major industrial facilities handling flammable and combustible liquids. It also requires strong knowledge of Texas regulatory and permitting requirements, applicable NFPA standards, and local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements. The successful candidate must hold the Texas professional license, registration, or qualification required to take responsible charge of, and where applicable sign, seal, or certify, engineering documents within the assigned scope. The Lead will establish the fire protection design basis, define and review firewater and foam systems, assess fire scenarios and escalation risks, review technical documents and vendor submissions, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and project stakeholders, and support permitting, construction, commissioning, and final acceptance activities. Regional travel of up to 25% may be required for site visits and client meetings.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Professional license(s), registration(s), and/or certifications required in Texas to take responsible charge of and, where applicable, sign, seal, and/or certify Fire Protection and Fire-Fighting System engineering documents within the assigned scope.
Demonstrated previous experience with the Texas State Fire Marshal regulatory framework and relevant local AHJs.
Significant fire protection engineering experience in oil and gas, terminals, refineries, petrochemical, chemical, or major industrial facilities.
Demonstrable experience with large above-ground storage tank farms.
Proven experience designing fire protection systems for significant inventories of flammable and combustible liquids.
Previous experience as Lead Fire Protection Engineer or Fire Protection Technical Authority on major projects.
Strong practical knowledge of firewater networks, foam systems, fixed firefighting systems, and fire detection and alarm.
Experience performing or reviewing firewater demand and hydraulic calculations.
Demonstrable experience applying Texas fire protection requirements and working with Texas AHJs.
Experience supporting fire protection permitting and approval processes in Texas.
Ability to coordinate a multidisciplinary engineering team and manage specialist suppliers and contractors.
Strong written and spoken English and the ability to develop, review, and defend engineering documentation.
Ability to travel regionally up to 25% for site visits and client meetings.
Valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

Act as the project's technical authority and focal point for Fire Protection and Fire-Fighting Systems.
Establish and maintain the project Fire Protection Design Basis and Fire Protection Philosophy.
Identify and maintain applicable Texas, local, and federal regulatory requirements, codes, standards, and AHJ requirements.
Define fire protection requirements for the tank farm and associated facilities, systems, and buildings.
Identify credible fire scenarios and establish the basis for fire protection system design.
Define and review the overall firewater and foam system architecture, fire scenarios, and associated demand.
Lead or review firewater hydraulic calculations and confirm the adequacy of the firewater distribution network.
Define and review firewater storage and pumps, ring mains, hydrants and hose connections, monitors, foam systems, tank rim-seal protection, deluge and fixed water-spray systems, sprinklers, fire and gas detection, fire alarms, passive fire protection, emergency access, and firefighting provisions.
Review tank arrangements, containment and dike areas, equipment spacing, and plot plans from a fire protection perspective.
Assess potential fire escalation and domino scenarios involving adjacent tanks and equipment.
Provide fire protection input to HAZID, HAZOP, Fire Risk Assessment, QRA, and other safety and design reviews as applicable.
Review PFDs, P&IDs, plot plans, equipment layouts, firewater layouts, specifications, calculations, datasheets, and vendor documentation.
Prepare and/or review technical specifications and requisitions for firefighting equipment and packages.
Perform technical bid evaluations and review vendors' fire protection documentation.
Coordinate with Process, Piping, Civil, Structural, Electrical, Instrumentation, HSE/Technical Safety, and Operations disciplines.
Interface with the Client, EPC/EPCM contractors, specialist fire protection contractors, and relevant AHJs.
Support permitting, construction, commissioning, and final acceptance activities as required.