1

Principal Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California

The Sr Fire Protection Engineer will play a lead role in design, testing, and inspection of fire protection and life safety systems and act as the Design Lead for LA28 . LA28 & AECOM: Transforming ...

The Sr Fire Protection Engineer will play a lead role in design, testing, and inspection of fire protection and life safety systems and act as the Design Lead for LA28 . LA28 & AECOM: Transforming ...

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) , an employee-owned firm, is seeking a curious, committed, and enthusiastic Fire Protection Engineer to join our dynamic and diverse team of engineers and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Principal Fire Protection Engineer information

What are Principal Fire Protection Engineers?

Principal Fire Protection Engineers are senior professionals who lead the design, implementation, and management of fire protection systems in buildings and industrial facilities. They ensure that structures comply with fire safety codes and standards, conduct risk assessments, and develop solutions to prevent and mitigate fire hazards. In addition to technical expertise, they often supervise teams, consult with clients, and guide projects from concept through completion. Their role is critical in safeguarding lives and property through proactive fire safety engineering.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Fire Protection Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Fire Protection Engineer, you need an in-depth understanding of fire protection engineering principles, building codes, and extensive experience, typically supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering and a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Mastery of technical tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, hydraulic calculation software, and familiarity with NFPA standards is essential. Exceptional leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help you manage teams and liaise with clients and regulatory bodies. These skills ensure the design and implementation of fire protection systems that safeguard lives, property, and comply with legal requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by a Principal Fire Protection Engineer when managing large-scale projects?

Principal Fire Protection Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple disciplines, ensuring compliance with evolving fire codes, and managing tight project timelines. They must balance technical requirements with client expectations and frequently lead teams through complex problem-solving scenarios. Effective communication and proactive risk management are essential for overcoming these obstacles and delivering safe, code-compliant designs on schedule.

What is the difference between Principal Fire Protection Engineer vs Fire Protection Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Fire Protection EngineerFire Protection Engineer
CredentialsPE license, fire safety certificationsPE license, fire safety certifications
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, project oversightDesign, analysis, and implementation
Industry UsageSenior projects, complex systemsDesign and support roles

The Principal Fire Protection Engineer typically holds senior responsibilities, overseeing complex projects and leading teams, while the Fire Protection Engineer focuses on designing and implementing fire safety systems. Both roles require similar credentials but differ in scope and level of responsibility.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Fire Protection Engineer jobs in California? For Principal Fire Protection Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Fire Protection Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Fire Protection Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Principal Fire Protection Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Principal Fire Protection Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Principal Fire Protection Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Fire Protection Engineer (2+years)

Fire Protection Engineer (2+years)

Coffman Engineers, Inc.

Auburn, CA โ€ข Hybrid

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Company Description

At Coffman Engineers, we serve as both prime consultant and sub consultant on projects large and small, including commercial, retail, institutional, government, industrial, and project/construction management. Incorporated in 1979, we have employees in more than 23ย locations serving clients across the United States and overseas.
To meet client objectives and to integrate our many disciplines, we can create teams comprised of civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and corrosion control, as well as project/construction managers and professionals in a variety of specialty services. This ability has made us a leader in the engineering and construction communities, and has strengthened our reputation as being progressive, innovative, and a great place to work.

Job Description

Our mission is simple: To empower our team to deliver innovative engineering solutions focused on our clientsโ€™ success. As a Fire Protection Engineer at Coffman Engineers, youโ€™ll be part of a collaborative, creative, and high-performing team that believes in making a difference for our clients and our communities. Youโ€™ll experience a culture where your growth and contributions truly matter.

Coffman Engineers is seeking a highly skilled, self-motivated, Fire Protection Engineer with two or more years of experience.ย  This individual will have an interest in working with professionals on challenging projects providing our clients with automatic suppression system design; fire detection, alarm and mass notification system design; code analysis; egress analysis; fire resistant construction analysis; smoke control analysis; as well as general fire protection and life safety concepts and research.

Qualifications
  • Bachelorโ€™s degree (B.S.) in engineering from accredited college or university or Fire Protection specific degree (preferred)
  • Registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) is preferred, an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or ability to take the FE exam within the next six months is also considered.ย 
  • 2+ years of working experience
  • Experience with the current version of AutoCAD and Revit (preferred)
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Required Duties and Skills:

  • Computer skills necessary for daily activities, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, simple graphics, and a working knowledge of computer aided drafting
  • Managing day-to-day contacts with internal and external clients while utilizing experience and technology to meet expectations
  • Performing research and documenting for internal and external distribution
  • Analysis of existing fire protection systems; design new fire protection systems including suppression systems, fire detection, fire alarm and mass notification systems
  • Building and fire code analysis and interpretation
  • Utilization of FDS, Pyrosim, CONTAM programs to execute performance-based design efforts
  • Project management skills for managing internal projects as well as external client needs

Compensation:

  • Approximate Base Salary โ€“ย $75k-115k based on experience
  • Paid overtime at 1.0 times hourly rate
  • Competitive end of year discretionary bonus based on company/team/personal performance
  • Hybrid Work Scheduleย (subject to change)
  • 401k with maximum of 5% Contribution Matching for 9% Employee Contribution


This position is not eligible for sponsorship.


Additional Information

Why You Want to Work Here

You could choose to work anywhere, so why work at Coffman Engineers? Because we are different โ€“ our culture sets us apart. Simply stated, we are a group of creative, high-performing people who like working together and believe that what we do makes a difference. Employees say that it feels like working with a group of friends in a small office while enjoying the benefits and perks of working for a large firm. Our culture isnโ€™t the only thing that makes us different, but it drives everything we do.

Coffman offers comprehensive benefits, including a flexible PTO program and a fun environment with family-friendly policies. We support and encourage individually tailored professional and technical advancement as well as personal growth.

Don't take our word for it. Check out what others are saying:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Coffman-Engineers-Reviews-E409809.htm

Coffman at a Glance:

  • 47 years in businessย 
  • 850+ employees serving clients throughout the U.S. and overseas from more than 23 locations
  • Multi-discipline engineering services plus corrosion control, commissioning and project/construction management
  • 70+ employees in 9 offices, providing Fire Protection services since 2014
  • #34 Top 80 Engineering Firms, Building Design + Construction, 2022
  • #29 Zweig Group Hot Firm List, Zweig Group, 2021
  • #161 Top 500 Design Firms, Engineering News-Record, 2023

Applying

You must apply online for this position. If you are unable to complete our online application process, or if you need assistance to do so, let us know andย we willย provideย reasonable accommodation.

Ifย you are experiencing problems applying through our system, please tryย using a different browser or an updated version of your current browser. If that doesn't work, please contact us directly.

Thisย position is direct with Coffman Engineers; we are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected under federal, state, or local law. ย 

Follow us!

www.coffman.com

Twitter:ย @CoffmanEngineer

Instagram:ย @CoffmanEngineers

LinkedIn:ย https://www.linkedin.com/company/coffman-engineers

Facebook:ย @CoffmanEngineers