Fire Protection Engineer

Job Responsibilities

• Review architectural plans for compliance with Seattle Fire Code and related Building Code requirements. Perform technical reviews of plans for fire protection systems. Perform calculations as required to verify the adequacy of designs. Use the City’s Accela permitting system and BlueBeam software to locate electronic plan submittals and annotate them with corrections and assign fees. Use the Fire Department’s proprietary plan review database to record project information. Identify required fire code operational permits in proposed projects being reviewed. Advise fire inspectors with complex or unusual field inspections. Provide technical and code assistance to members of the Seattle Fire Department, the public, and design and construction professionals. Evaluate requests for code alternates and make recommendations to the Supervising Fire Protection Engineer. Represent the Fire Marshal at meetings with architects, contractors, industry groups, and other City departments. Handle a high volume of work accurately, consistently, and timely. Provide high quality customer service that is professional, consistent, and timely. Understand and consistently follow SFD policies and procedures, particularly those related to plan review, construction inspections, permitting, and compliance enforcement in existing buildings, and records retention. Reliably identify and escalate significant issues to management, reliably meet deadlines, and keep management appraised of your deliverables, accomplishments, and challenges. Communicate effectively internally and externally, orally and in writing. Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Review architectural plans for compliance with Seattle Fire Code and related Building Code requirements.
• Perform technical reviews of plans for fire protection systems. Perform calculations as required to verify the adequacy of designs.
• Use the City’s Accela permitting system and BlueBeam software to locate electronic plan submittals and annotate them with corrections and assign fees.
• Use the Fire Department’s proprietary plan review database to record project information.
• Identify required fire code operational permits in proposed projects being reviewed.
• Advise fire inspectors with complex or unusual field inspections.
• Provide technical and code assistance to members of the Seattle Fire Department, the public, and design and construction professionals.
• Evaluate requests for code alternates and make recommendations to the Supervising Fire Protection Engineer.
• Represent the Fire Marshal at meetings with architects, contractors, industry groups, and other City departments.
• Handle a high volume of work accurately, consistently, and timely.
• Provide high quality customer service that is professional, consistent, and timely.
• Understand and consistently follow SFD policies and procedures, particularly those related to plan review, construction inspections, permitting, and compliance enforcement in existing buildings, and records retention.
• Reliably identify and escalate significant issues to management, reliably meet deadlines, and keep management appraised of your deliverables, accomplishments, and challenges.
• Communicate effectively internally and externally, orally and in writing.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in fire protection, mechanical, chemical, civil engineering or a closely related field that includes significant fire protection engineering coursework and a minimum of three years of experience in building construction and fire protection. A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work may be considered. Additional attributes and skills a successful candidate will possess: Proven technical expertise related to engineering principles and fire protection systems. Ability to work independently and be an effective team member. Ability to work effectively in a diverse environment. Ability to perform work onsite. SFD is providing hybrid schedules for employees who are interested in remote work. Hybrid schedules may include three days in the office and up to two days from a remote location each week. Ability to perform assigned tasks with frequent interruptions. Desire to support SFD’s customer service commitment and the City’s goals of a quick, consistent, and well documented permitting process. Desire to be part of the Seattle Fire Department, supporting the mission of the Fire Prevention Division. Experience as a user of business systems to facilitate plan reviews and approvals processes, such as Accela. State of Washington Professional Engineer License is desirable. If licensed in another state, the successful candidate will be asked to work toward obtaining reciprocity in Washington State. Obtaining certification as an ICC Fire Plans Examiner, Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), or Certified Fire Plans Examiner (CFPE), or equivalent within the first year of employment, with recertification every three years, is desirable.
• Requires a bachelor’s degree in fire protection, mechanical, chemical, civil engineering or a closely related field that includes significant fire protection engineering coursework and a minimum of three years of experience in building construction and fire protection. A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work may be considered.
• Additional attributes and skills a successful candidate will possess:
• Proven technical expertise related to engineering principles and fire protection systems.
• Ability to work independently and be an effective team member.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse environment.
• Ability to perform work onsite. SFD is providing hybrid schedules for employees who are interested in remote work. Hybrid schedules may include three days in the office and up to two days from a remote location each week.
• Ability to perform assigned tasks with frequent interruptions.
• Desire to support SFD’s customer service commitment and the City’s goals of a quick, consistent, and well documented permitting process.
• Desire to be part of the Seattle Fire Department, supporting the mission of the Fire Prevention Division.
• Experience as a user of business systems to facilitate plan reviews and approvals processes, such as Accela.
• State of Washington Professional Engineer License is desirable. If licensed in another state, the successful candidate will be asked to work toward obtaining reciprocity in Washington State.
• Obtaining certification as an ICC Fire Plans Examiner, Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), or Certified Fire Plans Examiner (CFPE), or equivalent within the first year of employment, with recertification every three years, is desirable.

Additional Information

Benefits

• The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: Benefits - Human Resources | seattle.gov

Supplemental Questions