Early Career Fire and Safety Engineer in Training; -Duty Service Member DOD Sk

Early Career Fire and Life Safety Engineer in Training (Active-Duty Service Member Only) DOD Skillbridge Program

WSP in the U.S. invites active‑duty service members to apply for a Full‑Time Early Career Fire and Life Safety Engineer role as part of the DOD Skillbridge program. This unpaid internship offers experience in fire and life safety systems design while continuing to receive active‑service pay and benefits.

We partner with Skill Bridge to support service members in transitioning to civilian careers. WSP values diversity, inclusion, and innovation, and seeks candidates ready to collaborate in building communities and expanding skylines. In this role, you will be involved in projects with our Fire and Life Safety (FLS) Team, contributing to the design, development, site survey, testing, and inspection of fire and life safety systems on building projects in the public and private sectors.

• Research building, life safety, and fire code requirements, including ICC and NFPA codes such as the International Building Code and NFPA 101.
• Assist with design of fire protection and life safety systems: automatic fire sprinkler, fire detection & alarm, smoke management, and egress systems.
• Prepare fire engineering calculations, including smoke modeling and evacuation analysis from hand calculations to 3D computational modeling.
• Assist in commissioning fire alarm, fire suppression, smoke control, and life safety systems.
• Perform routine engineering functions and provide entry‑level technical assistance on code requirements, calculations, and design strategies to develop performance‑based solutions.
• Review architectural drawings for compliance and produce fire safety strategy documents under general supervision.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision‑making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

• Career Development:
  Structured mentorship and professional development programs to support your transition and growth.
• Comprehensive Training:
  Virtual and hands‑on training modules to develop technical and leadership skills.
• Full‑Time Employment Pathway:
  Potential for permanent employment after program completion, contingent on hiring‑manager endorsement.
• Veteran‑Friendly Culture:
  Inclusive environment with resources and networks dedicated to veteran transition.

• Open to active‑duty service members with a background in technical fields.
• Must have authorization and approval from a unit commander to participate in the Skill Bridge program.
• Bachelor or Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (with fire protection focus).
• 0‑1 year of fire protection and life safety experience.

• Excellent research skills with an analytical mindset.
• Competent interpersonal and communication skills for engineering and non‑engineering audiences.
• Self‑leadership, attention to detail, multi‑tasking, and prioritization.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision and as part of a team.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, and related tools.
• Track record of workplace safety compliance with health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
• Flexibility for schedules beyond the typical workweek and occasional travel.

• Engineer in Training certification.
• Knowledge of REVIT and AutoCAD.
• Experience in fire protection engineering design application.
• Prior internship related to the fire protection engineering discipline.
• Active participation in national/local professional fire protection organizations.

Unpaid Internship: $0.00‑$0.00. Service members continue to receive active‑service pay and benefits during the program.

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, a world‑leading engineering, professional services, and consultancy firm. We design lasting solutions across buildings, transportation, energy, water, and environment markets, serving over 15,000 employees in more than 300 U.S. offices. WSP is an Equal Opportunity Employer, inclusive of protected veteran status.