Senior Fire Protection Engineer

GHD • Bowie, MD

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

GHD’s US East Region is seeking a Senior Fire Protection Engineer to develop and lead full-service fire protection engineering and life safety consulting projects for private and public sector clients, including commercial, institutional, and federal facilities. The role combines fire protection systems design, life safety and code consulting, project management, technical documentation, client engagement, business development, and mentoring.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, or an equivalent ABET-accredited degree.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 10–20 years of experience evaluating and designing fire protection systems and consulting on building and fire codes.
• Strong working knowledge of NFPA and ICC codes and standards and FM Global datasheets.
• Experience developing contract documents for a wide variety of fire alarm and suppression systems, including specialized applications.
• Experience across all stages of the project life cycle, from preparing bids, feasibility studies, consenting, detailed design, and data analysis through client management.
• Interest in coaching and mentoring graduate and EIT engineers.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% to project sites and client meetings as required.
• Established client-facing experience, with the ability to independently manage key client relationships and represent GHD as a fire protection and life safety consultant.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Federal Government DoD and civilian agency projects and clients.
• Experience with specialized applications such as industrial fire protection and process hazard analysis, aircraft hangars, high-piled storage warehouses, facilities with flammable and combustible liquids, mission-critical facilities, and foam suppression.

Responsibilities

• Lead and collaborate on fire protection systems design and life safety/code consulting projects, including working with the Revit design team.
• Provide life safety analyses and prepare reports and plans addressing applicable codes and standards, construction type, allowable height and area, occupancy classification, fire-resistance-rated assemblies, exits, exit capacity, and travel distance.
• Develop technical documentation for fire protection systems, including design narratives, technical memorandums, design drawings, and technical specifications.
• Manage fire protection engineering projects and work proactively with multidisciplinary project teams across groups.
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, and clients on building and fire code and standards consulting.
• Identify hazards, mitigation techniques, and recommended solutions, materials, and equipment for fire protection and life safety consulting.
• Support business development, client expansion, proposal development, and strategic growth initiatives, including proposals for IDIQ task orders and other opportunities.
• Support client relationship development.
• Mentor mid-level and entry-level Fire Protection Engineers and contribute to research and development activities.
• Perform peer and QA/QC reviews of fire protection design documents to verify technical and code-compliant designs and consistent, clean drafting.
• Participate in construction administration, including reviewing and responding to RFIs and submittals, performing final punch-list walks, and witnessing acceptance testing.
• Serve as Engineer of Record where needed.

Benefits

• 401(k) participation beginning on the first day of the month after three months of service.
• Paid time off starting at 16 days per year, increasing with years of service, for rest, sick, and personal time.
• Holiday pay; GHD observes nine holidays per year.
• Wellness reimbursement of 50% of eligible costs, up to $250 annually, for items and programs such as gym memberships, home exercise equipment, bicycles, race fees, smoking cessation, weight loss programs, and fitness trackers.

What This Job Offers

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