Freelance Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California

Company Description

Davenergy Solutions is a rapidly growing, profitable company headquartered in San Diego, CA. Our employees are the key to maintaining our competitive edge. To attract and retain the best industry talent, Davenergy Solutions shares its success with its employees and is committed to providing a professional work environment where learning, growth, and recognition are highly valued. If you are seeking an opportunity to work in a progressive organization that offers diversified challenges and excellent opportunities for advancement, we encourage you to review our current employment opportunities. For more information about Davenergy Solutions and open positions, please visit www.davenergy.com.

Position Summary

We are seeking a qualified Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) to support healthcare and federal facility projects for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). This position is responsible for performing comprehensive fire protection and life safety (FLS) design reviews, peer reviews, and field inspections to ensure compliance with applicable federal standards, VA Technical Information Library (TIL) requirements, Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC), NFPA codes, and local life safety regulations.

What You'll Do

As a Fire Protection Engineer, you'll play a critical role in protecting patients, healthcare staff, and federal facilities by ensuring fire protection and life safety systems meet the highest standards of engineering excellence. Through independent technical reviews, multidisciplinary coordination, field inspections, and final compliance certifications, you'll help deliver safe, code-compliant healthcare environments for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.

Working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, you will ensure fire protection systems are effectively integrated into mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and architectural designs for complex healthcare facilities while supporting the VA throughout the design review process.

Key Responsibilities

Fire Protection & Life Safety Design Reviews

• Perform independent peer reviews of fire protection and life safety (FLS) design documents prepared and sealed by outside engineering firms.
• Review fire protection drawings and specifications for compliance with:
• VA Technical Information Library (TIL)
• Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC)
• NFPA Codes and Standards
• International Building Code (IBC)
• International Fire Code (IFC)
• Local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements
• Review stand-alone life safety upgrade designs to verify compliance with applicable VA and DoD requirements.
• Ensure fire protection systems can be effectively incorporated into hospital designs alongside mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and architectural systems.
• Review sprinkler system evaluations and fire distribution reports to ensure they meet Government (GVT) intent and Statements of Work (SOW) developed by the VA.

VA Design Review Process

• Perform formal Fire Protection and Life Safety (FLS) reviews following receipt of design review requests and associated project documentation submitted by the VA's designated representative.
• Review a variety of design documents, including:
• Design narratives
• Technical specifications
• Construction drawings
• Engineering calculations
• Requests for Information (RFIs)
• Other design documentation in accordance with VA Program Guide PG-18-15 and applicable A/E submittal requirements.
• Conduct review milestones throughout the design process, including intermediate and final design submissions.
• Perform a comprehensive backcheck of all 65% design review comments against the 100% design submission to verify all comments have been adequately addressed.
• Complete a final design review confirming compliance with all applicable codes, standards, VA criteria, and project requirements.
• Prepare and issue a final certification letter stating the completed design complies with the latest applicable codes, standards, VA TIL requirements, and Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC).

Field Inspections & Technical Support

• Conduct on-site inspections of fire protection and life safety systems during construction or post-installation.
• Verify installed systems conform to approved design documents and project specifications.
• Document findings and prepare detailed inspection reports for submission to the VA.
• Identify design deficiencies, code conflicts, and constructability issues while providing practical recommendations for resolution.
• Participate in technical meetings with project teams, clients, architects, engineers, and government representatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Fire Protection Engineering or another engineering discipline with significant fire protection experience.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Minimum 5 years of fire protection engineering experience, preferably supporting federal healthcare or government facilities.
• Demonstrated experience performing fire protection and life safety design reviews.
• Strong knowledge of:
• VA Technical Information Library (TIL)
• Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC)
• VA Program Guide PG-18-15
• NFPA Codes and Standards
• NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
• International Building Code (IBC)
• International Fire Code (IFC)
• Experience interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and technical reports.
• Excellent written communication skills with experience preparing formal technical review comments and compliance documentation.
• Ability to travel to project sites as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) projects.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD) projects.
• Healthcare facility engineering or hospital design experience.
• Experience performing independent design reviews for government clients.
• Familiarity with federal design review and quality assurance processes.
• NICET certifications or additional fire protection credentials are a plus.
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one is preferred.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Bi-Weekly 401(k) Company Contribution (3% of Salary)
• Annual Profit-Sharing contribution to 401(k)
• 10 Paid Federal Holidays
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off

Optional Benefits

• Accident Coverage
• Short Term Disability
• Term Life Insurance
• Medical Bridge
• Critical Illness

Any and all job offers are contingent pending work status eligibility and passing a federal government background check.