Fire Protection Engineer

What You Will Do

The Engineering Services - Fire Protection Engineering (ES‑FPE) group of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) provides institutional technical direction and support for the Lab’s nuclear and non‑nuclear facilities and programs. Fire Protection Engineers (Nuclear Facilities Engineers) will oversee activities at LANL plutonium and other nuclear facilities, provide subject‑matter guidance, review designs, inspect construction, and manage fire hazards and risks.

Primary responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Provide fire protection and life safety SME technical support to laboratory facility management and programmatic organizations.
• Prepare and maintain fire hazard analyses and related documentation for complex laboratory, radiological, and nuclear facilities.
• Support construction projects through plan review and approval.
• Operate and maintain lab‑wide fire alarm systems.
• Participate in wild land fire risk reduction initiatives.
• Assess facility fire protection and life safety systems.
• Commission fire protection and life safety systems, and oversee periodic testing and maintenance.
• Prepare equivalencies and exemptions, developing them to DOE directives, building and NFPA codes.
• Perform technical reviews of proposed new activities for fire protection program adherence.

In addition to the Level 3 duties, primary responsibilities include:

• Sustain and monitor fire protection engineering and loss prevention programs.
• Implement facility and program fire protection assessment and surveillance programs.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to staff.
• Interface with nuclear facility safety basis professionals.
• Maintain laboratory fire protection engineering and maintenance standards.

This senior level position requires interaction with all levels of laboratory management and representation of the Division and Laboratory to internal and external stakeholders.

• Advanced experience in communicating compliance concerns verbally and in writing to management, customers, peers, and craft personnel.
• Expertise in design or plans review of fire protection and life safety features, or documented assessment of fire hazards and risks in facilities or processes.
• Proven leadership experience supporting and mentoring junior engineering staff.
• Experience evaluating fire protection needs and solving complex problems through creative problem‑solving.

• Demonstrated leadership aptitude with focus on professional customer service and regulatory compliance.
• Experience in developing processes, program or project documentation to incorporate fire protection or life safety objectives and criteria.

• Level 3 requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a minimum of 6 years of practical work experience; an advanced degree is highly desired.
• Level 4 requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a minimum of 12 years of practical work experience; an advanced degree is highly desired.

This position will be subject to 24/7 coverage, involving shift and weekend schedules. Shift differential pay may be awarded at the manager’s discretion.

On‑site in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

A regular appointment employee must serve a continuous one‑year period in the current position to be eligible for future Laboratory postings.

• PPO or high‑deductible medical insurance.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Basic life and disability insurance.
• Paid childbirth and parental leave.
• 401(k) with 6% matching plus 3.5% annual contribution.
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays).
• On‑site gyms and wellness programs.
• Relocation packages for locations outside a 50‑mile radius.

Position requires Q clearance; applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability. The Laboratory is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Requests for accommodations should be directed to applyhelp .