Principal Fire Engineer in Colchester

The opportunity has become available for a highly motivated individual to join our Fire Engineering team as a Principal Fire Engineer. £65,000 to £85,000 (depending on experience).

Are you frustrated by the box you’re placed in the corporate environment? Seeking a space where you are appreciated for the skills you have, whilst being truly supported and assisted in your development in becoming a high quality fire engineer? Eager to be mentored and coached along your path to chartership and beyond in an environment with personal focus and input? Keen to share your learnings on your journey in fire engineering to date, give back and develop your leadership skills? Keen to work on a variety of projects and project types, rather than developing into a “one trick pony”? Excited at the prospect of taking on a more senior role in taking the lead on larger, more complex projects across technical delivery and commercial success, all whilst being supported and gaining skills on the way? Energised by the prospect of working in a smaller company where you can develop into a more rounded fire engineer, acquiring skills to supplement your technical fire engineering skills not available in many larger organisations, such as commercial, risk management, business development and more?

If you feel you meet most of the above criteria and are excited by the opportunity, you’re probably just the person we are looking for!

Why CDC is a great place to work

CDC has been delivering high quality engineering services for over 12 years. As a small, privately owned company, we are not beholden to external investors whose focus is often exclusively on profit through fast growth, but rather seek steadier, more consistent, organic growth by investing in quality over quantity.

• As a smaller company, our focus is on personalised support of each staff member, meeting them where they are and helping them develop from there.
• Whilst teamwork is at our core, and we encourage in-person work, we understand that life happens, and therefore support hybrid working that delivers a balance between remote working and in-person office attendance.
• At CDC, our focus is mastery by delivering high quality work, purpose by making a positive difference in the world we live in, and autonomy in delivering work which aligns with these.
• We aim to support and develop the successful candidate in aligning with, developing, and embodying these values.
• We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus performance-related bonus/benefits.
• Support for professional development, chartership and relevant training and development.
• CDC is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
• We support flexible working arrangements where possible.

Why you may be right for this role

You may be just the person we are looking for if:

• You live around the South-East and are able to travel to Colchester.
• You hold a degree in Fire Engineering or a closely related engineering or science discipline (e.g. Mechanical, Civil, Structural, Building Services, Physics).
• You have substantial experience in fire engineering within a consultancy, design practice or similar environment, typically 7+ years of relevant post-graduate experience.
• You have a strong, up-to-date knowledge of UK fire safety legislation and guidance.
• You have excellent report-writing, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly to non-specialists.
• You have proven experience in undertaking review/quality assurance activities for technical work and advice, including up-skilling staff to deliver work of a high quality.
• You are experienced in preparing fire strategies and providing design advice for complex buildings across one or more sectors (e.g. residential, commercial, mixed‑use, healthcare, education, transport).
• You have demonstrable experience liaising with clients, design teams and approving authorities, and representing your organisation in meetings and workshops.
• You are a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or very near to chartered status with the Engineering Council, ideally via the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or another relevant institution.
• You hold Member grade (MIFireE) or above (or equivalent in a related professional body).
• You have experience in performance‑based fire engineering using qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• You are familiar with fire and smoke modelling (e.g. FDS, SmartFire) and/or evacuation tools (e.g. Pathfinder), and the ability to interpret modelling outputs.
• You are proactive, self‑motivated and able to take ownership of project deliverables with appropriate autonomy.
• You work collaboratively with team members and can build strong working relationships internally and externally.
• You have strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a pragmatic and solutions‑focused mindset.
• You have an unwavering commitment to continuing professional development and staying current with evolving legislation, standards and best practice in fire engineering.