Senior Lead Fire and Life Safety Engineer

About the Role

This role provides leadership within the fire and life safety engineering sector, ensuring technical deliverables, building and infrastructure projects, and programs meet or exceed industry and company standards for design, safety, and functionality. The incumbent is responsible for subject‑matter expertise, innovation, and corporate compliance with local, state, and federal engineering, construction, and safety regulations, while guiding the organization through current and future challenges. The position offers proactive and strategic direction for the fire and life safety engineering discipline, supporting project and work‑site deliverables to achieve business objectives. Core duties include reviewing permit applications, design plans, specifications, standby plans, contracts, management plans, and conducting periodic construction inspections to guarantee compliance with applicable regulations and engineering best practices. Leadership of larger, more complex fire and life safety projects is required, with responsibilities for defining tasks, overseeing budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees. Technical assistance is provided on automatic sprinkler design, fire alarm and mass‑notification systems, smoke control, egress analysis, commissioning, and building and fire code reviews. The role drives business development by pursuing and executing building and infrastructure opportunities within the assigned geography, leading technical aspects of contract negotiations, presentations, and meetings. Support for the long‑term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of fire and life safety engineering services across planning, design, consulting, and construction management is a key focus. Accountability for profitable project performance and successful completion within the specified area is essential, as is contributing to annual tactical action plans and engaging with public or private entities on engineering and construction challenges. The incumbent ensures discipline certifications, accreditations, and value propositions are continuously improved and conducts needs analyses and client surveys to align the function with business strategy. Responsibilities include developing proposals, scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgets while guaranteeing compliance with city, state, and federal codes and engineering practices. The individual interprets data to produce sound engineering conclusions, provides strategic advice to multidisciplinary teams, expands the client base for fire and life safety services, mentors staff, manages performance, and stays current with industry techniques. • Lead fire and life safety engineering discipline, providing strategic direction and expertise. • Review permit applications, design plans, specifications, standby plans, contracts, and conduct construction inspections for regulatory compliance. • Manage large‑scale fire and life safety projects, defining tasks, budgets, schedules, and supervising subcontractors and staff. • Provide technical assistance on sprinkler systems, fire alarms, mass‑notification, smoke control, egress analysis, and system commissioning. • Pursue and develop building and infrastructure business opportunities within the assigned geography. • Lead technical aspects of contract negotiations, presentations, and client meetings. • Support long‑term strategy, growth, and pipeline development for fire and life safety services. • Ensure profitable project performance and successful delivery within scope, schedule, and budget. • Contribute to annual tactical action plans and engage with public and private stakeholders on engineering challenges. • Maintain and improve discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition. • Conduct needs analyses and client surveys to align engineering function with business strategy. • Develop proposals, scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgets compliant with all codes and regulations. • Interpret data and produce engineering and regulatory conclusions for project teams. • Provide high‑level strategic advice to multidisciplinary clients. • Expand client base for fire and life safety services and cross‑sell WSP capabilities. • Mentor and develop staff, providing performance guidance and professional growth. • Stay current with fire and life safety engineering techniques, practices, and technologies. • Collaborate with multidisciplinary professionals to deliver trusted‑advisor solutions. • Uphold ethical decision‑making, adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct, and manage company resources responsibly.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸sprinkler design
• ▸fire alarm
• ▸smoke control
• ▸egress analysis
• ▸permit review
• ▸construction inspection

What You Bring

Ethical decision‑making regarding company resources, adherence to WSP’s Code of Conduct, and execution of additional duties as required complete the role’s expectations. Required qualifications are a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or related field), 12+ years of relevant experience, an engineering license, and advanced proficiency in mechanical and building design principles, codes, technical calculations, and industry software such as AutoCAD. Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and stakeholder‑engagement skills, along with a proven safety record and flexibility for travel, are essential. Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree and experience managing document review and certification processes in multi‑project environments. • Required qualifications: Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, 12+ years experience, engineering license, advanced proficiency in mechanical and building design, codes, calculations, and software (AutoCAD, CAM). • Preferred qualifications: Master’s degree and experience managing multi‑project document review and certification processes.

Requirements

• ▸mechanical engineering
• ▸12+ years
• ▸engineering license
• ▸autocad
• ▸cam
• ▸master's

Benefits

WSP USA, a global engineering and professional services firm, offers a flexible, agile workplace, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to community‑focused engineering solutions across buildings, transportation, energy, water, and environment sectors.

Work Environment

Office Full-Time