Fire Engineer

Purpose of the Role

• The Fire Engineer is responsible for providing professional advice, expertise and technical engineering guidance in various environments, including commercial, residential, industrial, and infrastructural settings.
• The Fire Engineer plays a crucial role in safety and compliance by undertaking assessments of major new and proposed buildings by applying relevant safety codes and other measures to ensure adequate standards of fire safety.
• Their primary purpose is to mitigate the risk of fire and its impacts through design, analysis, and management practices. The Fire Engineer reviews, develops and reports on technical standards and fire regulations.

Core Accountability and Responsibilities

Analyses

• Analyses technical and engineering submission, plans and specifications to access fire safety compliance with appropriate regulations and standards and to ensure proposals meet appropriate performance criteria.

Monitors

• Monitors industry practices, standards, technology and other fire safety measures to ensure A-1 Engineering provides its clients with sound advice.

Research

• Research as required to provide technical advice to assist with the interpretation of legislative requirements relating to fire safety engineering.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:

• Assesses the use and application of computer modelling programs and used in fire safety submissions and reports.
• Reviews and assist in the development of A-1 Engineering policies and guidelines
• relevant to structural fire safety issues ensuring they meet regulatory and fire service operational requirements.
• Maintains currency of professional knowledge by participating in a professional development and keeping abreast of fire engineering trends and principles. Ensure current and relevant professional fire engineering services are provided to the department.
• Assists with the planning and implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars.
• Liaise with industry and government agencies on technical issues of fire safety engineering.
• Consults with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) when considering effective fire services intervention and fire fighter safety.
• Actively engage with internal and external stakeholders and facilitate opportunities to promote and provide fire engineering services.
• Researches, reviews and interprets technical engineering papers on fire protection matters.
• Engages with and contributes to fire engineering team projects, as and when required.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned.

Performance & Reporting:

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for departmental success and regularly assess performance.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and data analysis for building inspections and reports.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and industry regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Engineering or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Building Services, Engineering.
• Or post-graduate qualification (minimum Graduate Diploma) in Fire Engineering or equivalent.

Experience

• At least 4 Years of experience demonstrating experience using building fire safety
• systems, design, performance criteria and fire engineering concepts and principles to
• achieve effective fire safety outcomes.
• Knowledge of and ability to use and review fire safety (CFD and Zone) and Egress modelling computer programs and fire engineering calculations (e.g. FDS, Pyrosim, CFAST, Brisk, Pathfinder).
• Proven experience applying relevant Australian Fire Safety Standards, Australian and International Building Codes, Statutory Acts and Regulations to fire safety engineering assessments and plans in a performance-based context.
• Demonstrated ability to assess major building project plans, particularly those involving Fire Engineered Performance Solutions and clearly communicate expert technical advice in relation to building fire safety matters to both external and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Active member of the professional engineering community (Engineer Australia) or volunteering with the Society of Fire Safety, IFE or SFPE.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Monday Work Management, Workspace and Sharepoint.
• Exceptional knowledge and ability in the use of Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook and Powerpoint.

Required Competencies

• Strong communication and problem solving capabilities.
• Knowledge of Fire Science, building codes and fire safety regulations and industry standards.
• Identifying non-compliance with BCA DtS provisions, developing Fire Engineering Briefs (FEBs), and liaising with stakeholder.
• Key collaborative skills.
• Ability to conduct fire modelling, hazard analysis and risk assessment.
• High attention to details.
• Confident decision making.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Developing and implementing fire safety strategies for buildings.
• Staying up to date with advancements in fire science and engineering.
• Expertise in fire detection, alarm systems, suppression systems and smoke control systems

Desirable Competencies

• Understand WH&S obligations and ensure risk management is integrated by relevant consultants (e.g. Safety in Design).
• Inspecting sites to ensure fire engineering requirements are met and supporting Building Surveyors with compliance certificates.
• Eligible for registration on the National Engineers Register (NER).