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Fire Life Safety Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Commercial Fire Protection Inc.

$34K - $44K/yr

Commercial Fire Protection is seeking a Fire Life Safety Inspector in the Northern California Bay ... programming and repairs of our customers fire alarm systems; identifying code and non-conformance ...

Bechtel

Senior Fire & Life Safety Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$97K - $133K/yr

Fire suppression or fire water system design expertise is not required but encouraged. In this role ... Mentors fire and life safety engineering personnel by providing on-the-job training and technical ...

Duke Health

Fire & Life Safety Specialist

Durham, NC · On-site

The Fire & Life Safety Division is charged with the responsibility to design, implement, and manage a vigilant fire safety program. The Fire & Life Safety Division conducts periodic assessments for ...

HDR

Fire & Life Safety BIM Specialist

Omaha, NE · On-site

As part of HDR's Building Engineering Services Group, you'll help design the critical ... HDR's Fire & Life Safety (FLS) team continues to expand our market sector expertise across our ...

Bechtel

Senior Fire & Life Safety Engineer

Chandler, AZ · On-site

$102K - $141K/yr

Fire suppression or fire water system design expertise is not required but encouraged. In this role ... Mentors fire and life safety engineering personnel by providing on-the-job training and technical ...

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Fire Life Safety Design Engineer information

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How much do fire life safety design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for fire life safety design engineer in the United States is $31.77, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $36.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a fire life safety design engineer?

A Fire Life Safety Design Engineer is a professional who designs systems and solutions to protect people and property from fire and related hazards. They develop plans for fire alarm systems, sprinklers, emergency exits, smoke control, and building evacuation protocols, ensuring compliance with local and international fire codes. Their work involves collaborating with architects, engineers, and safety officials to integrate fire safety measures into building designs, renovations, and operations. These engineers play a crucial role in safeguarding lives and minimizing property damage during emergencies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fire life safety design engineer?

To thrive as a Fire Life Safety Design Engineer, you need a strong background in fire protection engineering, building codes, and system design, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and often a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, hydraulic calculation software, and NFPA standards is essential for creating compliant and effective designs. Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and communication skills help you coordinate with architects, contractors, and regulatory bodies. These abilities ensure the safety and regulatory compliance of buildings by delivering robust fire protection solutions.

What are some common challenges fire life safety design engineers face when working on large-scale building projects?

Fire Life Safety Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders—including architects, contractors, and local authorities—to ensure all fire safety systems integrate seamlessly with the building's overall design. Adhering to evolving codes and standards while customizing solutions for unique project needs can also be complex. Additionally, balancing cost-effective design with stringent safety requirements requires careful planning and frequent communication within multidisciplinary teams.

What is the difference between Fire Life Safety Design Engineer vs Fire Protection Engineer?

AspectFire Life Safety Design EngineerFire Protection Engineer
CredentialsFire safety certifications, engineering degreeFire protection certifications, engineering degree
Work EnvironmentDesigning safety systems for buildings, compliance reviewsDesigning fire suppression systems, risk assessment
Industry UsageArchitectural firms, building designFire safety consulting, industrial facilities

While both roles focus on fire safety, the Fire Life Safety Design Engineer primarily concentrates on designing building safety features and ensuring code compliance, whereas the Fire Protection Engineer often specializes in fire suppression systems and risk mitigation. Understanding these distinctions helps in selecting the right career path or job opportunity.

What are popular job titles related to Fire Life Safety Design Engineer jobs?

For Fire Life Safety Design Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Fire Life Safety Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $66,084 per year, or $31.8 per hour.

Fire Life Safety Discipline Lead

Irving, TX • On-site

ARORA ENGINEERS
Specialized Design Services • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about ARORA ENGINEERSexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Develop and manage fire/life safety system designs in accordance with codes, standards, and project specifications.

  • Oversee and coordinate fire protection and fire alarm system design activities, including site surveys, submittal reviews, inspections, and RFIs.

  • Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and quality to ensure project deliverables meet client needs and adhere to safety and code requirements.

Job description

Overall Responsibility: The candidate shall be responsible for fire/life safety (FLS) system engineering in accordance with Arora's mission of "Improving the quality of life by Rethinking Infrastructure". They must exhibit the skills to independently develop and manage FLS designs in accordance with codes, standards and project specifications while ensuring the needs of clients are met. In addition, the candidate must display strong communication skills to collaborate with internal and external team members and clients during the design process.
Essential Functions:
  • Management and Oversight of Fire/Life Safety staff.
  • Management, Oversight, Reporting and Accountability for Project Scope, Schedule and Budget.
  • Project Cost Management, including the following:
    • Monitors and reports on Project's Financial performance.
    • Provides feedback and participates in the Monthly Billing Review Meeting.
    • Monitors and proactively address project's Aged Receivables to ensure timely collections of invoices.
    • Maximizes project profitability through appropriate project budgeting/pricing, utilize resources and cost control procedures.
  • Project Time Management, including the following:
    • Plans, organizes, monitors, coordinates and administers the work on one or multiple projects from the planning/budget phase through the completion of the project.
    • Develops and establishes project priorities and schedules for projects and monitor projects for compliance with the approved schedules; and schedule post-contract items prior to the expiration of the guarantee/ warranty periods.
    • Defines procedures for management of schedules to avoid risks and provides work around schedules, as required, to keep the project within the objectives as established by the Client.
    • Ensures adequate time is scheduled within each phase for QA/QC reviews.
    • Project Quality Management, including the following:
      • Ensures adherence to Arora's QA/QC Program
      • Ensures use of Blue Beam software for QA/QC reviews
      • Development of a Project Work Plan and Procedures.
  • Provide and support the development of technically accurate, complete Fire Protection and Fire Alarm documents to the client that adheres to all code requirements, company specifications and the engineering standards of practice.
  • Independently analyze and develop conceptual, working, and detailed design of Fire Protection and Fire Alarm systems for new and existing facilities.
  • Independently develop and analyze project scope, schedule, phasing, staging, specific site issues, and pertinent code issues.
  • Coordinate Fire Protection and/or Fire Alarm designs with building architecture, structure and systems.
  • Coordinate and perform site surveys, submittal reviews, inspections, responds to RFIs, and generates punch lists
    • Identifies sources of safety liability, safety risk, required safety records and outline the components of the safety program manual.
    • Risk Assessments, Identification and Avoidance
  • Keeps Project reporting systems current.
  • Establishes a tracking procedure for all closeout items.
  • Communicate with co-workers, technical resources, external consultants, clients/owners and Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
  • Represents Arora externally to the Design Team and serves as the critical Point-of-Contact (POC) for external communication.
  • Conducts internal team meetings to confirm progress, review issues and actions, quality and safety, and resolve questions.

Secondary Functions:
  • Support the future growth and expansion of FLS practice.
  • Support and participate in the recruitment of future FLS staff.
  • Support business development including but not limited to targeted marketing and proposal writing.
  • Provide technical mentorship to less experienced staff.
  • Participate in local FLS and related industry events.
  • Support the ongoing development and use of FLS standard documentation and processes.

Needed Skills:
  • Detailed FLS design knowledge as it applies to water-based fire protection and fire alarm systems including but not limited to water supplies, sprinkler layout, standpipe design, fire pumps, automatic and manual fire detection, audible and visual fire alarm notification, building system interfaces and non-water based fire protection systems.
  • Must be intimately familiar with NFPA 13, 14, 20, 72 and 2001 including differences between versions, recent updates, and the intent of the code.
  • Knowledge NFPA codes and standards, including, but not limited to: 25, 30, 92, 101, 110, 130, 415 and 502.
  • Familiar with model building codes and their fire protection requirements.
  • Familiar with local building codes and their fire protection requirements.
  • Proficient in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam and MS Office Suite.
  • Proficient in hydraulic fire protection modeling software such as HydraCAD or SprinkCalc.
  • Familiar with passive building fire protection, including fire rated construction, fire stopping, fire rated doors and windows.
  • Knowledge of fire protection engineering, including mass notification, hazard analysis, code consulting, fire dynamics, smoke management, and egress systems.
  • Familiar with construction cost estimating resources, tools and methods.
  • Familiar with proposal writing and fee estimating.
  • Candidate should be able to orally communicate complex design and technical ideas to other designers and engineers as well as people with a nontechnical background.
  • Candidate must possess excellent writing skills, capable of writing reports, letters, and facilitating effective internal and external communication.
  • Ability to create and maintain productive relationships with employees, clients, and vendors.

Education/Experience Minimum:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology with 10 years' experience directly related to fire protection and Professional Engineering (PE) licensure.
  • Additional experience as a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS); or NICET Certification in Water Based System Layout; Special Hazard Suppression Systems, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Systems and/or Fire Alarm Systems, preferred.

Equipment, Physical Activity, Physical, Visual Acuity Requirements: See attached ADA Job Requirement Supplemental Checklist

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