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Senior Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA

Manager, Fire Protection Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site +1

$88.60K - $119.50K/yr

CANDIDATE PROFILE Education and Experience Required * BS in Fire Protection Engineering or equivalent experience * 0-2 years of experience in fire protection or recent graduate Preferred

Fire Protection Design Engineer

Rockville, MD

$84.60K - $114.20K/yr

Additionally, this role oversees the implementation of rigorous, repeatable Fire Protection Engineering processes, ensures technical integration, monitors risks, and provides system-level oversight ...

Fire Protection Design Engineer

Rockville, MD · On-site +1

$84.60K - $114.20K/yr

Additionally, this role oversees the implementation of rigorous, repeatable Fire Protection Engineering processes, ensures technical integration, monitors risks, and provides system-level oversight ...

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Showing results 1-20

Senior Fire Protection Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$66.6K

$123.7K

$182.1K

How much do senior fire protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior fire protection engineer in Reston, VA is $123,663.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,100.00 and $161,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Fire Protection Engineer, you need deep expertise in fire protection engineering principles, building codes, and risk assessment, typically supported by a degree in engineering and licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE). Familiarity with fire modeling software (such as FDS), CAD programs, and relevant NFPA standards is essential, and certifications like NICET or CFPS are highly valued. Strong project management, leadership, and communication skills help you collaborate across disciplines and lead teams effectively. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring code-compliant, safe, and innovative fire protection solutions in complex building projects.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Fire Protection Engineers when working on large-scale construction projects?

Senior Fire Protection Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating fire safety requirements with multiple stakeholders, including architects, mechanical engineers, and local authorities. Balancing code compliance with innovative design solutions can be complex, especially in unique or high-risk environments. Additionally, staying updated with evolving fire codes and integrating new technologies into existing systems requires both technical expertise and effective communication skills. These challenges make problem-solving and adaptability essential in this role.

What are Senior Fire Protection Engineers?

Senior Fire Protection Engineers are experienced professionals who specialize in designing, evaluating, and implementing systems and strategies to prevent, control, and mitigate the effects of fire in buildings and other structures. They ensure compliance with fire safety codes and regulations, conduct risk assessments, and often lead teams to develop fire protection solutions. Their work includes selecting fire detection and suppression systems, reviewing building plans, and collaborating with architects, builders, and regulatory agencies. With their advanced knowledge and expertise, they play a critical role in safeguarding lives and property from fire hazards.

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

AspectSenior Fire Protection EngineerFire Protection Engineer
Required CredentialsProfessional Engineer (PE) license, certifications like NICET Level III/IVEntry-level or mid-level certifications, often working towards PE
Work EnvironmentDesign, review, and oversee fire protection systems in complex projectsAssist in design, calculations, and system installation
Employer & Industry UsageConsulting firms, engineering companies, large construction projectsArchitectural firms, construction companies, smaller projects

The main difference is experience and responsibility. Senior Fire Protection Engineers typically hold advanced certifications, lead complex projects, and oversee teams, while Fire Protection Engineers are often in earlier career stages, supporting design and implementation tasks.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Fire Protection Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? For Senior Fire Protection Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Fire Protection Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Fire Protection Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Senior Fire Protection Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Senior Fire Protection Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Fire Protection Engineer job openings in Reston, VA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,663 per year, or $59.5 per hour.
FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER

FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

Washington Navy Yard, DC • On-site

$143.91K/yr

Other

Posted 20 days ago


U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 517 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 46 rated military and defense


Job description

You will serve as a FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER in the NAVSEA 04 of NAVSEA HQ FIELD SUPPORT.Qualifications:Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower pay band level (NH-03) or (GS-13) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: "as a professional engineer overseeing ship and system structures and components related to fire protection to develop fire protection requirements and criteria for mitigating hazards and ensuring fire safety."
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series AND https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.Education:Applicants must meet the following basic education requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual:
Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org
OR
Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.
OR
Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above)
OR
Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
Employment Type: OTHER

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