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Principal Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California

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 ...

Fire Protection Consultant

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$86K - $129K/yr

... in fire protection engineering - a legacy of responsibility we have proudly upheld since 1939 ... Our engineers and consultants collaborate to solve complex safety and security challenges, ensuring ...

Summary The Fire Protection Design Engineer is responsible for supporting the design and analysis of fire protection and life safety systems across a diverse range of projects. This mid-level role is ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Fire Protection Engineer information

What is a principal fire protection engineer?

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 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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution.

Fire Protection Engineer | 10+ years

Wje

San Diego, CA โ€ข On-site

$101K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Re-posted 26 days ago


Job description

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 designers. This position is located in our San Diego office.

Building on the industry experience you bring to WJE, our team will commit to your development into a well-rounded consultant; facilitating your continued deepening of technical expertise and project management skills, encouraging your participation in industry professional development opportunities, and supporting your desire to make a meaningful impact in your field.

If you are enthusiastic about solving problems, curious about how things work, and not afraid to get your hands dirty, we want you on our team!

Responsibilities:

  • Assume responsibility for the day-to-day success of multiple projects, including acting as the primary point of contact for clients, contractors, and project teams; training and mentoring teammates; and managing small-to-medium projects, as appropriate

  • Perform on-site investigations, condition assessments, and inspections, which may include surveying, documenting deficiencies, field testing, collecting data and samples, and preparing site visit reports

  • Develop fire growth, smoke movement, and egress zone models

  • Analyze field data, interpret model results, and perform research and review of construction documents, governing codes, and design guidelines to facilitate analysis, problem-solving, and development of alternative designs for a variety of fire protection systems, building code issues, and life safety objectives

  • Prepare conceptual, preliminary, and final client deliverables, including written reports, calculation packets, construction documents, and project specifications

  • Contribute to company-wide objectives through involvement in office and company development initiatives, in-house Technical Resource Groups (TRGs) and research projects, and relevant industry committees and professional organizations (e.g., SFPE)

Qualifications/Competencies:

  • Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience, which may include designing and evaluating various fire protection systems; conducting building code analysis and code consulting; developing equivalencies for alternative methods and materials; writing fire protection building code programs; and/or building and analyzing complex fire, smoke, and egress models

  • Bachelor's degreein fire protection engineering or related field;master's degree preferred

  • Licensed Professional Engineer (FPE); EIT in pursuit of PE will be considered on a case-by-case basis

  • Effective technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills

  • Familiarity with drafting, analysis, and modeling software (e.g., AutoCAD, REVIT, Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), PyroSim, Smokeview, Pathfinder, and CFAST)

  • Proactive, team player mindset with willingness to take on various responsibilities, tackle new challenges, and learn new skills

  • Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing demands, while maintaining productive interpersonal relationships and a high standard of excellence, integrity, and attention to detail

Culture, Compensation, and Benefits:

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is a global firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists. Clients worldwide seek our expertise to solve the most significant, interesting, and challenging problems in the built world. Our applied experience from more than 175,000 projects combined with unparalleled laboratory and testing capabilities have made WJE a leader in providing innovative yet practical solutions to the clients we serve.

Working at WJE is a team endeavor characterized by a culture of trust and personal responsibility. We encourage open communication, continuous learning, innovative thinking, ongoing mentoring, and free-flowing collaboration. We seek highly talented and hard-working individuals who want to be challenged, who want hands-on work, who want to set a higher standard, and who want to be mentored by the industry's most accomplished experts. People with outstanding Character, unwaveringCommitment to our core and culture, strongExpertise, and genuineEnthusiasm for their work.

Learn more about the Extraordinary People we hire at WJE at www.wje.com/careers

WJE offers a robust, total compensation structure composed of base salary, incentive pay, and industry-leading benefits:

  • Base salary is determined through consideration of a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role while remaining mindful of our commitment to internal equity.

  • Employees receive variable compensation based on personal and company performance, typically resulting in above-market total compensation.

A good faith estimate of the annual starting base salary (gross) is in the following range:

$101,550.00 - $169,250.00

WJE's industry-leading, total rewards package enables our employees to grow and thrive with comprehensive health and financial benefits, including:

  • Robust and affordable health plans for employees and their families, including HSA as well as low and high-deductible PPO options

  • Generous 401(k) matching of 110% for the first 6% of eligible pay, vesting immediately

  • Time off to care for yourself and others

  • Investments in employees' educational assistance and professional development

Learn more about WJE's total rewards package here.

WJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

WJE will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Fair Chance Ordinances.