Senior Fire Protection Engineer

About the role

DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. As a Senior Fire Protection Engineer, you will lead fire protection engineering services from schematic design through construction administration across a wide range of sectors including Federal, K-12, Healthcare, Higher Education, Justice/Civic, Sports, and Culture & Performing Arts.

As a key member of an integrated design team, you will collaborate closely with other disciplines to deliver highly coordinated building designs that elevate human experience through thoughtful, performance-driven design solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of fire protection systems and collaborate closely with the mechanical engineering team to develop engineering drawings and perform required calculations.
• Lead fire protection engineering teams across multiple regions, providing technical leadership, staff oversight, mentorship, and project-specific support.
• Manage the planning, execution, and delivery of fire protection design services firmwide, ensuring schedules, milestones, budgets, and quality standards are met.
• Develop fire protection scopes of work, project budgets, proposals, and design strategies across a diverse range of project types and market sectors.
• Prepare and review fire and life safety analyses, building code compliance reviews (IBC Chapters 1–10), and applicable NFPA standards.
• Oversee the production, coordination, and quality assurance of construction documents, technical reports, specifications, and plan review deliverables.
• Coordinate with clients, consultants, vendors, and local and state authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) to support permitting, approvals, and effective project execution.
• Lead construction administration activities including submittal reviews, site observations, construction meetings, and issue resolution during implementation.
• Support business development efforts through client relationship management, participation in interviews, and contributions to proposals/RFP responses.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering field.
• 7+ years of experience in the design and analysis of fire protection systems within the built environment.
• Active Fire Protection Professional Engineer (PE) licensure required.
• Demonstrated experience with both new construction and renovation/retrofit of fire protection systems.
• Strong working knowledge of International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), and applicable NFPA codes and standards.
• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across multidisciplinary teams, clients, and stakeholders.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Disability and wellness programs.
• Flex spending accounts.
• Paid holidays and paid time off.
• 401(k) plan with employer contributions.
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
• Bonus opportunities.

Pay

The suggested pay range for this position is $100,000 - $177,320 USD, based on location, experience, and skills.

Schedule

DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.