Senior Fire Protection Engineering Supervisor

Northern Impact•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

A leading national architecture and engineering practice is seeking a Senior Fire Protection Engineering Supervisor to lead and expand its West Coast fire protection group. This role offers the opportunity to guide the direction of fire protection work across a broad portfolio of technically complex, mission-driven projects. The supervisor will oversee the development of fire alarm, suppression, and life safety strategies; manage and mentor a small team of engineers; and serve as the primary fire protection voice within multidisciplinary project teams. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable in a hands-on technical role and a visible leadership position, with an interest in growing a regional practice. Firm Overview With 12 offices across the nation, their portfolio includes the design of healthcare facilities, corporate headquarters, labs, museums, local, state, and federal government facilities, higher education buildings and campuses, and infrastructure improvements. At this company, they work to foster an environment where diversity of thought, background, and experience creates new energy. Through your curiosity, tenacity, creativity, and unique insights, you can make an impact every day. That impact is felt by your colleagues and our clients; and by those who inhabit the spaces they create. They are committed to meeting their clients’ sustainability goals as well as challenging the industry. They aim to develop the expertise and research to push beyond net zero energy to net positive energy; from a neutral effect on health, safety, and resources to a positive one. As the need and desire for sustainable environments grow, so does the focus on high-performance buildings with sound data that they can share back with clients and their design teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field from an accredited program; a graduate degree in Fire Protection Engineering is preferred but not required.
Approximately 9 or more years of fire protection engineering experience, including responsibility as engineer of record or similar lead role on design projects.
Active Fire Protection Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Strong familiarity with building and fire codes and key NFPA standards (for example, life safety, suppression, and alarm standards), with additional exposure to FM Global criteria, military standards, or industrial guidelines considered a plus.
Proficiency with Revit, BIM-based workflows, and common office software.
Demonstrated supervisory experience, including mentoring, staffing input, and day-to-day oversight of technical teams.
Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities, with a track record of solving complex, code-related design challenges.
Clear, confident written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to both engineering and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to obtain and maintain any client-specific access or security clearances that may be required.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in Fire Protection Engineering is preferred but not required.
Additional exposure to FM Global criteria, military standards, or industrial guidelines considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for the West Coast fire protection group, including vision-setting, resource planning, and ongoing improvement of processes and standards.
Serve as the fire protection lead on multi-discipline projects, responsible for the design and review of fire alarm, suppression, smoke management, and life safety systems.
Collaborate closely with architectural, structural, and MEP teams to integrate fire protection solutions seamlessly into overall building designs.
Mentor and support staff through technical guidance, training, and performance feedback, helping to build a high-performing, engaged team.
Participate in client meetings and internal design reviews, clearly communicating fire protection strategies and code approaches.
Prepare and coordinate fire protection documentation, including drawings, technical specifications, and system calculations.
Evaluate building and life safety requirements, including construction type, allowable area and height, occupancy classification, egress, and fire-resistance and smoke-control strategies.
Support construction-phase services, including review of contractor submittals, responses to RFIs, site visits, and witnessing of system testing.
Coordinate with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) at various project stages and, when needed, help develop code modification requests and engineering judgments.
Conduct field assessments of existing fire protection systems and document findings.