Fire and Life Safety Engineer

About the role

This role serves as a senior technical contributor and discipline lead for Fire and Life Safety Systems on large, complex, and mission-critical projects, including hyperscale data centers, life sciences, and semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The position is explicitly focused on integrated life safety and emergency communication systems—such as networked fire alarm and signaling, emergency voice/alarm communication systems (EVACS/ECS), air-sampling smoke detection (e.g., VESDA), in-building public safety communications (IB-PSC/ERRC), and toxic gas monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Plans and conducts independent scope development and prepares technical specifications for fire and life safety design and field investigations on large, complex, mission critical projects in support of a global business unit.
• Led and approves the architecture, design development, modification, evaluation, and multi-system integration of fire and life safety systems using relevant Engineering Department Procedures (EDPs), design standards and guides, and Bechtel Standard Application Programs (BSAPs).
• Communicates complex technical issues and recommends solutions to upper management.
• Develops conceptual and preliminary fire and life safety designs for projects with specialized, mission critical, or unique operational requirements, including hyperscale data centers and semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
• Supports preparation of estimates, staffing needs, and schedules.
• Prepares or oversees the preparation of discipline estimates and work plan in accordance with project scope, schedule and budget, and supports implementation and assists with performance reporting.
• Interfaces with client personnel to define requirements, develops scope for cost estimates, and supports proposal preparation and technical presentations.
• Provides technical oversight during implementation, including system integration, acceptance coordination, issue resolution, and performance tracking for assigned fire and life safety scopes.
• Interprets new or special regulations, codes, standards, criteria, and performance data, providing authoritative technical guidance to project teams.
• Collaborates with client representatives and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to obtain approvals for fire and life safety aspects of the work.
• Conducts or leads special studies of new Control Systems engineering methods, materials, and techniques.
• Mentors fire and life safety engineering personnel by providing on-the-job training and technical guidance to support professional development.
• Contributes to and participates in technical training and knowledge-sharing programs as directed.

Requirements

• Requires bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) and 5-8 years of relevant experience or 9-12 years of relevant work experience.
• Proven experience delivering integrated fire and life safety solutions in mission critical environments, with emphasis on system survivability, resilience, and coordination across electrical, mechanical, architectural, security, ICT, and building automation systems.
• Strong working knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including NFPA 72, NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), IBC, IFC, and applicable local, state, federal, and AHJ requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply codes and standards, resolve complex technical issues, and support AHJ coordination and approval processes.
• Experience supporting scope development, estimating, staffing, scheduling, and execution planning for fire and life safety engineering scopes within an EPC environment.
• NICET Level III (or higher) certification in one or more of the following strongly preferred: Fire Alarm Systems, In Building Public Safety Communications (IB PSC), Professional Engineer (PE) licensure a plus, depending on project requirements.