Fire Protection Engineer

Pay

The expected hiring range for this position is $99,500.00–$130,900.00. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About the Role

Fermilab is seeking a Fire Protection Engineer to join the Infrastructure Services Directorate. The engineer will report to Fermilab’s Fire Protection Program Manager and will be responsible for fire protection‑related compliance within various facilities across Fermilab. The Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) develops, implements, and oversees Fermilab’s Fire Protection Program. The FPE ensures the safety of Fermilab employees, visitors, and the public by following state regulations, Department of Energy (DOE) standards, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards. They will provide fire protection expertise for construction and renovation projects, conduct hazard analyses for experiments, and focus on fire safety system design, maintenance, and operational readiness.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Fermilab’s Fire Protection Program, ensuring compliance with NFPA, DOE (420.1C, 10 CFR 851), and OSHA standards.
• Conduct fire hazard analyses, fire system inspections, safety audits, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Review and approve fire protection system plans, including sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and suppression systems. Perform technical reviews of shop drawings, hydraulic calculations, and other relevant submittals.
• Conduct fire protection assessments for Fermilab buildings, systems, laboratories, and support testing and maintenance of fire protection systems.
• Perform risk analyses for experimental projects and provide engineering support for new construction and renovations.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers, and construction teams to integrate fire protection requirements into facility designs.
• Manage Fermilab’s hot work program and review operational readiness for high‑risk activities, such as the use of flammable or hazardous materials.
• Conduct NFPA/ICC code reviews to ensure compliance with life safety standards.
• Perform building walkdowns to assess compliance with Department of Energy (DOE) fire safety requirements.
• Scope technical tasks, identify creative solutions to assigned problems, and develop fire protection strategies with supervisory guidance.
• Incorporate engineering and scientific best practices into problem‑solving and project planning, including managing technical challenges, special materials, or difficult oversight requirements.
• Carry out development and qualification programs to improve fire protection processes and reduce future risks.
• Develop alternate solutions to existing fire protection challenges and prepare detailed analyses to determine optimal strategies.
• Evaluate project proposals and provide recommendations based on fire protection requirements.
• Prepare manuals, reports, and other documents to support and publicize technical fire protection efforts.
• Demonstrate creative problem‑solving and technical expertise through engineering reports or technical papers.

Requirements

• Build and maintain relationships with coworkers across various disciplines, including operations, maintenance, construction, and safety teams.
• Perform tasks individually or as part of multidisciplinary teams, driving work tasks to completion.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams on fire protection projects, coordinating efforts between different groups.
• Manage time effectively, balancing multiple projects, documents, and tasks simultaneously.
• Communicate complex fire protection topics clearly, tailoring the language to fit the audience.
• Originate and edit written technical documents, including fire protection reports and specifications.
• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable engineering discipline (e.g., Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Structural Engineering) from an ABET‑accredited institution with a minimum of 4 years of engineering experience, or a Master’s or PhD from an ABET‑accredited institution with at least 2 years of relevant engineering experience.
• In‑depth knowledge of NFPA codes (such as NFPA 13, 25, 30, 72, and 101) and international fire and building codes.
• Experience in fire system design, maintenance, and inspection, including automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and suppression systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work effectively across disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with fire protection in high energy physics, nuclear, or highly protected risk (HPR) industries.
• Familiarity with Department of Energy (DOE) fire protection regulations, such as DOE‑STD‑420.1C and DOE‑STD‑1066.

Work Arrangement

This is an onsite role; the candidate must be able to work from Fermilab’s Batavia, Illinois location. The described work arrangement is subject to change based on business needs and is not guaranteed to be final.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off
• Life insurance
• Short‑ and Long‑term disability insurance
• Retirement benefits

Why Fermilab

Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe, and the South Pole.