Principal Fire Engineer

Vacancy No 5560

Vacancy

Title:

Principal Fire Engineer

Location:

Essex

Fire engineering is a profession built on continuous learning. Regulations evolve, building designs become increasingly complex, and expectations around safety and compliance continue to rise. The most successful fire engineers understand that technical excellence is not a destination but an ongoing journey.

We provide an environment where experienced fire engineers can continue to grow while taking ownership of challenging and rewarding projects. You will play a key role in delivering complex fire engineering solutions, supporting the development of colleagues, and contributing to the technical strength of our team.

We foster a collaborative culture where technical challenges are shared, ideas are openly discussed, and decisions are supported by collective expertise. In an increasingly complex building safety landscape, you will be part of a team that values knowledge sharing, professional development, and technical excellence.

As a Principal Fire Engineer, you will:

• Lead the technical delivery and quality assurance of complex fire engineering projects across multiple sectors.
• Develop, review, and approve fire strategies for commercial, residential, healthcare, education, and mixed-use developments.
• Apply both performance-based and prescriptive fire engineering approaches to achieve safe, practical, and compliant design solutions.
• Undertake and review qualitative and quantitative fire engineering assessments.
• Utilise fire and smoke modelling tools to assess building performance and interpret technical outputs.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and support to junior and mid-level engineers.
• Contribute to project proposals, client presentations, and business development activities where appropriate.
• Liaise effectively with clients, architects, design teams, contractors, regulators, and approving authorities.
• Support the continuous improvement of technical standards, processes, and best practice within the business.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UK fire safety legislation, guidance, and the evolving Building Safety Act framework.

• Degree qualified in Fire Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Significant post‑graduate experience within a fire engineering consultancy environment, typically around seven years or more; relevant experience and capability are more important than a specific number of years.
• Strong and current knowledge of UK fire safety legislation, Approved Documents, British Standards, and industry guidance.
• Proven experience preparing and delivering fire strategies for complex building projects.
• Ability to review, challenge, and quality‑assure technical work produced by others.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or actively progressing towards chartership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and project management capabilities.

• Membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE) or higher.
• Experience using fire and evacuation modelling software such as FDS, Pathfinder, or equivalent tools.
• Experience delivering projects across multiple sectors and building types.
• Exposure to commercial project delivery, client relationship management, or business development activities.
• Experience supporting, mentoring, or managing engineering teams.

• Competitive salary.
• Opportunity to lead technically challenging and high‑profile projects.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment focused on professional growth.
• Exposure to a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple sectors.
• Ongoing support towards professional development and chartership progression.
• The opportunity to contribute to the future growth and technical direction of the business.

Your expertise will be valued, your development supported, and your contribution recognised. You will work alongside experienced professionals who are committed to delivering high‑quality fire engineering solutions while fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and technical excellence.

If you are an ambitious fire engineer looking to take the next step in your career and make a meaningful impact, we would welcome the opportunity to hear from you.