Principal Fire Engineer | London | Full Time | Competitive Salary

Jacobs is looking for a Principal Fire Engineer to join a growing team of fire safety and technical experts.

This is a senior role where you will lead fire engineering design for major infrastructure and built environment projects. You will work on large national and global schemes across sectors such as road, rail, nuclear and wider property.

You will lead project teams, prepare fire strategies and work with multi-disciplinary engineers to deliver safe, practical and compliant design solutions. So yes, you will be helping make very complicated projects less likely to become tomorrow’s inquiry report. A useful contribution to civilisation, frankly.

About Jacobs

Jacobs is a global consulting, engineering and technology business.

The company works on some of the world’s most complex challenges. Its teams support cities, infrastructure, energy, water, transport, manufacturing, science and the environment.

Jacobs combines technical knowledge, design skill and project delivery experience to help clients turn ideas into real-world solutions.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Fire Engineer, you will lead fire engineering design work and support major project delivery.

You will:

• Lead project teams: Guide fire engineering work across complex projects.
• Develop fire strategies: Prepare fire strategies and technical reports.
• Use fire engineering principles: Apply prescriptive and analytical design methods.
• Coordinate teams: Work with civil, structural and other engineering teams.
• Apply standards: Use UK and international fire safety codes and guidance.
• Carry out analysis: Complete calculations and fire engineering analysis.
• Support bids: Help with future work, proposals and client opportunities.
• Build networks: Develop links across clients, partners and technical groups.
• Inspect sites: Visit tunnels and infrastructure sites where needed.
• Mentor colleagues: Support team growth and help develop technical skills.
• Share knowledge: Research, write and present conference papers.
• Improve capability: Help build Jacobs’ fire engineering offer.

Fire Engineer Responsibilities

This Fire Engineer role will suit someone who can lead technical work and explain complex issues clearly.

You will deliver fire strategies backed by sound analysis. You will also help teams make design decisions that meet safety, legal and project needs.

The work may cover infrastructure, transport, tunnels, nuclear projects and wider built environment schemes. Naturally, each will arrive with its own risks, stakeholders and deeply committed spreadsheet population.

About You

Jacobs is keen to hear from experienced fire life safety professionals with a strong project delivery background.

You will bring:

• Fire engineering experience: A strong background in fire life safety engineering.
• Technical delivery: Experience developing fire strategies and fire engineering designs.
• Project leadership: A proven record of leading or supporting major projects.
• Regulatory knowledge: Good knowledge of UK and international fire codes.
• Design judgement: The ability to use both prescriptive and analytical methods.
• Team skills: Confidence working with multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Mentoring skills: The ability to support and develop colleagues.
• Client focus: The ability to give clear advice and support future work.
• Communication skills: Strong written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Research interest: The ability to write or present technical papers where needed.

Qualifications and Experience

You should have:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, science or a related subject.
• A clear background in fire life safety engineering.
• Experience creating fire strategies.
• Experience delivering fire engineering design work.
• An established project delivery career.

Key Fire Engineer Knowledge

You should have knowledge of fire regulations and standards such as:

• Approved Document B
• BS 9999
• BS 9991
• BS 9992
• NFPA codes
• IBC and IFC codes
• UAE Fire and Life Safety Code
• Fire Code SBC 801
• Other relevant national and international standards

Key Fire Engineer Skills

Jacobs is looking for someone with strong skills in:

• Fire engineering design
• Fire strategy writing
• Fire life safety
• Technical reporting
• Fire engineering analysis
• Engineering calculations
• Infrastructure projects
• Tunnel inspections
• Multi-disciplinary design
• Project leadership
• Bid support
• Client engagement
• Team mentoring
• Technical research

Locations

This role is listed with London as a key location, and Jacobs also notes other possible locations across the UK and Ireland, including:

• Dublin
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Glasgow
• Edinburgh
• Leeds

Why Join Jacobs?

This is a strong chance to join a global business and work on major infrastructure projects with real public impact.

You will be part of a growing team and help shape its fire engineering capability. You will also work across complex projects that need strong technical thinking and clear leadership.

Jacobs offers flexible working, global reach and the chance to work with teams across many sectors.

Culture and Inclusion

Jacobs is built on safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging.

The company supports positive mental health, flexible working and a culture of care. It also values different views, backgrounds and lived experiences.

Jacobs has employee networks, communities of practice and initiatives to help people build connection and purpose at work.

Flexible Working and Support

Jacobs uses a hybrid working model. This allows employees to split their week between Jacobs offices, project sites and remote working.

Jacobs welcomes applications from people seeking flexible working. It is also a Disability Confident employer and will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria.

If you need support or reasonable adjustments during recruitment, you can contact the Jacobs careers support team.

Application Tips

Use your CV to show clear examples of Fire Engineer experience.

Focus on fire strategies, fire engineering design, fire life safety, infrastructure projects, technical reports and work with multi-disciplinary teams.

It will also help to show your knowledge of Approved Document B, British Standards, NFPA, IBC, IFC or other international codes. Keep your examples clear, specific and linked to project outcomes.