Principal Fire Engineer in Colchester

Play a pivotal role in shaping the safety of some of the UK’s most critical nuclear and energy infrastructure projects. This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team supporting major programmes across the UK nuclear sector. With demand increasing across New Build, Generation, Life Extension and Defueling projects, you’ll have the opportunity to influence complex, high-profile programmes while developing innovative fire safety solutions within highly regulated environments. If you’re passionate about safety, engineering excellence and making a meaningful impact, this role offers outstanding career development and variety.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop fire safety strategies to support compliance with Building Regulations and fire safety legislation.
• Design fire protection solutions covering means of escape, detection, suppression and firefighting facilities.
• Conduct fire risk assessments and fire safety assessments for complex facilities.
• Undertake fire modelling using hand calculations, CFAST and CFD software.
• Support ALARP demonstrations and safety case development.
• Interpret and apply fire engineering principles to performance-based design solutions.
• Audit buildings and facilities to assess fire safety compliance.
• Produce technical reports and fire engineering documentation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and project teams.
• Support clients across nuclear, defence and other highly regulated sectors.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Proven fire safety engineering experience within a highly regulated industry.
• Experience within nuclear, defence, government, energy, petrochemical, pharmaceutical or other high-hazard environments.
• Strong understanding of fire safety legislation, regulations and industry standards.
• Experience developing fire safety strategies and engineered fire solutions.
• Knowledge of prescriptive guidance including Approved Document B, BS 9999 and related standards.
• Experience undertaking fire risk assessments and compliance audits.
• Understanding of safety cases and ALARP principles.
• Experience using fire modelling tools such as CFAST and CFD is advantageous.
• STEM degree qualified is desirable.
• Membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or similar professional body is desirable.

What’s in it for you?

• The nuclear and energy sectors offer exceptional long-term career prospects, investment, innovation and job security.
• As the UK continues to invest in clean energy generation, life extension programmes and next-generation technologies such as Small Modular Reactors, demand for experienced fire safety professionals continues to grow.
• This is an opportunity to work on nationally significant projects that directly contribute to the UK’s energy future.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Choice of multiple UK office locations.
• Exposure to nationally important nuclear and energy projects.
• Strong career development and progression opportunities.
• Work across diverse and technically challenging programmes.
• Supportive and collaborative engineering environment.
• Ongoing professional development and training.
• Opportunity to contribute to emerging reactor technologies.
• Long-term project pipeline and career stability.

Company Overview

Our client is a leading engineering and technical consultancy delivering complex solutions across the energy sector. With an established reputation for technical excellence, innovation and safety, they support some of the UK’s most important infrastructure programmes. Their teams work across the full project lifecycle, helping clients solve complex engineering challenges while maintaining the highest safety and regulatory standards. With a strong commitment to professional development, collaboration and flexible working, Our Client provides an environment where talented engineers can thrive.

If you’re ready to apply your fire engineering expertise to some of the UK’s most challenging and rewarding projects, apply directly through LinkedIn today.