Head of Fire Engineering

Description

The successful candidate will develop fire strategies, provide technical guidance, ensure compliance with regulations, and integrate fire safety principles across multi-disciplinary teams. Client care, industry leadership, and technical excellence are essential to this role. The Fire Engineer will be expected to lead, recruit, and develop a fire engineering function within the company while contributing to business growth, strategic planning, and project delivery.

• Means of Escape & Compartmentation Analysis: Assess escape provisions, fire-resistant compartmentation layouts, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Establish an internal fire engineering function
• Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the business in meetings, workshops, and client discussions to resolve fire safety challenges.
• Project Delivery & Coordination: Collaborate with architects, MEP engineers, and contractors to integrate fire safety into design and construction processes.
• Fire Safety System Design & Technical Reviews: Conduct technical assessments of detection, alarm, suppression, and smoke control systems, including CFD modelling and fire risk evaluations.
• Provide industry-leading expertise to multi-disciplinary teams across UK offices Principal responsibilities and accountabilities
• Technical Excellence & Innovation: Promote advancements in fire engineering knowledge, write technical articles, speak at industry events, and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Team Development & Leadership: Lead and mentor fire engineering team members, establishing a high-performing internal function.
• Fire Strategy Development: Author and review fire safety strategies, balancing passive and active provisions for compliance and safety.
• Develop and implement fire strategies and technical reviews for new and existing projects.
• Lead fire engineering assessments to ensure regulatory compliance and risk mitigation.
• Business Development & Client Care: Contribute to the growth of the fire engineering discipline by networking, developing client relationships, and supporting new business opportunities.
• Financial Management & Reporting: Oversee fire engineering budgets, fee monitoring, and cost analyses for project delivery.
• Regulatory Compliance & Approvals: Ensure fire designs adhere to UK Building Regulations (Part B), BS 9999, and other fire safety codes. Engage with regulatory authorities for approvals.

Requirements

We are looking for a highly skilled and ambitious Fire Engineer to establish and lead our in-house Fire Engineering Department and join our rapidly growing, dynamic multi-disciplinary consultancy. This pivotal role will bring fire safety expertise into the business, while ensuring rigorous fire safety standards across our projects.

• Extensive fire safety design experience within a design consultancy or engineering firm.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with experience mentoring and developing fire engineering teams.
• Expertise in fire strategy development, risk assessment, and compartmentation analysis.
• Strong knowledge of fire regulations and standards (Building Regulations, BS 9999, BS 5839, BS 5306, BS EN 12845, ASTM, ISO, etc.).
• Ability to engage professionally with all levels of stakeholders, including clients, architects, code officials, and contractors.
• Multidisciplinary experience, demonstrating an ability to integrate fire safety within broader engineering solutions.
• Recognized professional membership with The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or similar body.
• Financial awareness, including fee tracking, project budgeting, and cost monitoring.
• Degree in Fire Engineering, Fire Safety Engineering, or equivalent (Accredited by the Institution of Fire Engineers).
• Eligible to pass security clearance and airside pass applications.
• Ability to travel within the UK, depending on project requirements.
• Full UK Driving License. Technical skills and experience
• Proficiency in fire safety system design, including smoke control calculations, sprinkler coverage, and evacuation modelling (CFD simulations).

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance