Principal Fire Engineer

The Keegans Group is looking for a Principal Fire Engineer to join the Compliance and Safety Team. This is a senior role with technical authority, leadership responsibility, and a strong client‑facing focus. You’ll be leading the delivery of fire engineering services, shaping strategy, and mentoring engineers across the business. This role reports to the Director of Compliance and Safety and you will be expected to collaborate with other members of the C&S Division. This is a full‑time/permanent position with a preference for someone in London but will consider applications nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Providing technical leadership on complex fire engineering projects, acting as the principal point of contact for internal teams and external clients.
• Leading and contributing to project meetings and workshops, delivering authoritative fire safety advice and influencing key design and compliance decisions.
• Reviewing and approving design information, including drawings, specifications, and stage reports, ensuring robust, compliant fire safety solutions.
• Authoring, reviewing, and signing off fire safety strategies, technical reports, and guidance notes for new and existing buildings.
• Leading qualitative and quantitative fire risk assessments and presenting outcomes to senior stakeholders and clients.
• Undertaking and overseeing PAS 9980 External Wall assessments, including peer review and technical assurance.
• Driving research into emerging fire safety risks, new technologies, materials, and regulatory change, translating findings into practical guidance and best practice.
• Acting as a technical mentor to Fire Engineers and Senior Fire Engineers, supporting development, capability building, and professional progression.
• Contributing to and maintaining internal standards, best practice documentation, and quality assurance processes.
• Supporting business development through proposal generation, scope definition, and fee negotiation for fire engineering and research services.
• Delivering CPD sessions, technical briefings, and Group Knowledge Café presentations.
• Managing project delivery, fees, forecasting, and performance using the Deltek project management system.
• Supporting the Director of Compliance and Safety with strategic planning, technical governance, and growth of the fire engineering function.

Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant Degree and/or Master’s Degree in Fire Engineering, Fire Safety Engineering, or a related construction/engineering discipline.
• Chartered professional membership (or working towards) with RICS, CABE, IFE or IFSM.
• Extensive experience in fire engineering, including leading complex, high‑risk or high‑profile projects.
• Strong knowledge of façade fire engineering and external wall systems (desirable).
• Advanced experience with BIM, AutoCAD, or similar design and review tools.
• Experience in CFD‑based modelling and quantitative analysis, including FDS or equivalent software.
• In‑depth knowledge of UK fire safety legislation and guidance, including Building Regulations, Building Safety Act, Fire Safety Act, BS 9991, BS 9999, and PAS 9980.
• Proven ability to manage workload, priorities, and competing deadlines across multiple projects.
• Demonstrable leadership, mentoring, and stakeholder management experience.
• Actively working towards or holding Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status with the Engineering Council via the IFE (desirable).

About Us

Keegans is an award‑winning consultancy specialising in procuring, designing, managing and maintaining all aspects of the built environment, with a focus on sustainability. As an RICS registered consultancy, we deliver project management, cost consultancy, building surveying, retrofit, fire safety and principal designer services to all areas of the construction and property industry. We support our clients in creating buildings that are environmentally responsible, cost‑effective and comfortable for occupants. By integrating sustainable design principles into our delivery process, we help reduce energy and water consumption, minimise waste and pollution and promote a healthier living and working environment. We believe in providing exceptional service to our clients and pursue a flexible and innovative approach to the challenges we encounter on their behalf. We are committed to a sustainable, ethical business practice, from interacting with clients, championing our people and respecting and mitigating the environmental impact of our projects.

Keegans is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then. At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees. Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues’ growth. We’re committed to preserving RSK’s people‑first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company. By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office‑based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities. If you’re passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all.