Fire Safety Engineer

Overview

Our client is a leading force in the North American energy sector, driving innovation in sustainable power generation and storage. They are seeking an experienced Fire Safety Engineer to play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and compliance of cutting-edge utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). This is a 12-month contract position offering a competitive hourly rate and the opportunity to work remotely while contributing to critical renewable energy infrastructure projects.

The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in fire safety engineering, with deep knowledge of codes and standards as they apply to energy storage. You will act as the technical authority, guiding design reviews, conducting safety analyses, and serving as a key liaison with fire authorities and first responders nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Fire Safety Subject Matter Expert (SME) for utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects.
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of UL 9540A test reports at the cell, module, unit, and installation levels, providing critical analysis and direction.
• Analyze, approve, and provide guidance on fire safety system designs from BESS manufacturers and for specific project deployments.
• Review project and product-level designs for BESS safety and code compliance, ensuring adherence to UL, NFPA, IFC, and other applicable standards.
• Oversee and validate safety analyses, including Hazard Mitigation Analysis (HMA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), heat flux analysis, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.
• Build and maintain relationships with national, state, and local fire institutions, Fire Marshals, Fire Departments, and educational bodies.
• Travel to present BESS fire safety information to Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), first responders, and community stakeholders, addressing concerns and providing education.
• Collaborate directly with firefighters and first responders to educate them on BESS hazards, mitigation strategies, and emergency response protocols.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience: 6-10 years of progressive experience in fire safety engineering, with a significant focus on industrial or energy sector applications.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated, hands-on experience with UL 9540A, NFPA 855, NFPA 68/69, IFC, and other relevant fire and electrical safety codes.
• Industry Knowledge: Direct experience with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), lithium-ion battery technology, or related renewable energy storage is highly preferred.
• Analytical Skills: Proven ability to review and interpret complex safety analyses (HMA, FMEA, CFD) and engineering reports.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting technical information to non-technical audiences, regulators, and community groups.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel domestically as needed (estimated 10-25%) for meetings, presentations, and site reviews.
• Certifications (Preferred): Professional Engineer (PE) license, Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), or similar credentials.