Freelance Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members, and to the clients and communities we serve.

Senior Fire Protection / Chemical Engineers provide financial and commercial project management, lead technical engineering services in projects across markets, and mentor junior staff. Arup is looking for self-initiating problem-solvers who can work as part of a team to apply a wide range of fire and chemical technical skills. The role includes working closely with world renowned architects and building owners to develop code compliant designs and deliver innovative performance-based solutions. The role will involve interactive and collaborative work with our engineers and multi-disciplinary colleagues.

This role is preferred to be based out of our Los Angeles, San Fransico, or Oakland offices; however, consideration will be given placement of this role in Seattle, San Diego, Houston, Dallas, or Austin.

• Project management of multiple concurrent projects including project planning, staffing, financial management, and successful project delivery.
• Provide consulting fire protection engineering services to a variety of potential clients, including but not limited to architects, developers, owners, government, and insurers.
• Provide fire and life code consulting including ICC (IBC, IFC, IMC) codes and NFPA standards.
• Perform hazardous material analysis for code compliance, including but not limited to hazardous material classifications, quantity analysis, and inventory management strategies.
• Develop project-specific performance-based design alternative approaches for hazardous material code requirements.
• Integrate code requirements for control areas, laboratory units, and/or high hazard occupancies into the overall design.
• Perform risk assessments, qualitative or quantitative, for hazardous processes.
• Analyze static ignition hazards for flammable liquids contained in non-metallic materials of construction and develop mitigation strategies.
• Perform hazardous exhaust calculations, including spill and vapor concentration analysis with respect to rate of air change.
• Perform hazardous gas release calculations.
• Conduct Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) and develop mitigations for dust explosion hazards.
• Design special gas and flame detection systems including flammable gas/vapor detection and UV/IR flame detection.
• Develop electrical classification requirements for specific hazardous process areas, including diagrammatic and narrative explanations.
• Review and document site separation requirements for bulk hazardous materials storage.
• Perform site visits and communicate with architects, contractors, and consulting teams.
• Present design approaches to authorities having jurisdiction.
• Contributing to Arup research and technical skill development activities.
• Collaborate with multiple teams, across multiple offices in a multi-discipline environment.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional working experience in Fire Protection Engineering with a minimum of 8 years of professional experience across any engineering field.
• A minimum of 2 years managing projects.
• A P.E. license in fire protection engineering or in the process of achieving this professional credential is preferred.
• Knowledge of specialty codes and standards, including but not limited to NFPA 2, NFPA 30, NFPA 33, NFPA 34, NFPA 45, NFPA 55, NFPA 68, NFPA 69, NFPA 77, NFPA 86, NFPA 484, NFPA 495, NFPA 496, NFPA 497, NFPA 499, and NFPA 660.
• Familiarity with various types of material hazards, including but not limited to flammable & combustible liquids, combustible dusts & powders, reactive metals, compressed gases, cryogenic fluids, explosive materials, corrosive materials, and toxic/highly toxic materials.

• Hazardous exhaust systems
• Explosion control systems
• Spill control and secondary containment methods
• Fire rated compartmentation for hazardous materials storage and processing
• Ignition control / grounding and bonding
• Strong communication skills essential for team-based and team-leading working.
• Excellent planning and organization skills required for our fast-paced environment, and must be highly motivated, proactive, and willing to take on new challenges.
• Solid understanding of relevant software, such as FDS, CONTAM, egress modeling software, AutoCAD, Revit, BlueBeam, and Microsoft Office.

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

Benefits that Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families while keeping costs low. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. As a member of Arup, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance). Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi‑annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match to help you save for your future.

We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available.

The good faith base salary hiring range for this job, if based in Los Angeles/Seattle is $112,250 to $148,500 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of Los Angeles/Seattle will differ.

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference.

Arup is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, spouse of protected veteran, or disability.