Principal Fire Safety Engineer in Basingstoke

Join us in shaping the future of Fire Safety Engineering. At Tetra Tech, we’re looking for a motivated and ambitious Principal Fire Safety Engineer to join our growing fire safety engineering team. This role offers the chance to work on a diverse portfolio of projects - delivering fire strategy design and hazard analysis across sectors such as nuclear, residential, commercial, office, waste and recycling and other high-hazard environments.

Within the nuclear sector, our projects often involve bespoke, technically complex challenges with limited reference documentation which offers a distinct contrast to the more prescriptive residential sector. Engineers will have the opportunity to apply core fire engineering principles, including modelling and calculations, to deliver innovative, safety-focused solutions. Larger projects may involve developing fire strategies for major new builds, such as regional distribution centres or facilities on nuclear-licensed sites.

You will apply advanced fire engineering expertise in scenarios where standard guidance is limited, using analytical and modelling techniques to develop innovative solutions. This role provides a unique platform to refine and expand the skills that inspire many professionals to pursue a career in fire engineering. As a key member of our consultancy team, you will take responsibility for delivering high-quality fire safety strategies and technical solutions that meet client objectives and regulatory requirements.

Your Impact in this Position: In the first year, you will have the opportunity to contribute to complex and innovative fire engineering projects across multiple sectors. The role involves working on high-profile assignments where you will apply your technical expertise in a dynamic and technically challenging environment. Current projects include one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure sites, providing exposure to large-scale nuclear work and the chance to develop skills in stakeholder engagement, technical design, and regulatory interaction.

We support career growth through progression toward chartership and access to CIPD-accredited training. For nuclear fire engineering roles, some projects may require understanding the nuclear safety case. While not essential initially, training will be provided to develop this capability.

Fire Safety Engineering Expertise: The role involves applying fire safety engineering principles to develop innovative, compliant building designs. You will create fire strategies, conduct hazard analysis and address complex risks. A strong knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework for fire-safe design, including guidance such as Approved Document B, BS 9999 and BS 9991 is essential. You will bring working knowledge of fire safety engineering principles, including the PD 7974 suite of standards. Experience with fire modelling software such as CFAST or FDS is advantageous, though not essential, as we provide opportunities to develop these skills.

Regulator Interaction: You will manage client-facing responsibilities which include attending meetings and conducting site visits to assess existing fire safety measures and building conditions. Acting as a key representative of the Consultancy, you will ensure fire safety considerations are fully addressed throughout the project lifecycle. The role also involves regular interaction with regulatory bodies across different sectors, requiring confidence and experience in leading these engagements to achieve compliance and maintain strong professional relationships.

Technical Report Writing: The role requires the ability to produce clear, accurate and technically robust written reports that articulate fire protection requirements and underpin project decisions. These reports must translate complex fire engineering principles into practical, actionable guidance for clients and stakeholders, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and standards. The role involves reviewing and refining work produced by junior team members, providing feedback, ensuring technical accuracy and integrating their contributions into cohesive, high-quality project documentation.

Proposals and Project Management: This role combines technical expertise with strong client engagement. You will take ownership of client requests, which may range from clearly defined scopes of work to more exploratory assignments requiring specialist guidance. This includes working closely with clients to clarify requirements, shape project objectives and develop tailored fee proposals. Once a project is secured, you will maintain proactive communication with the client to ensure progress aligns with expectations, delivering high-quality fire safety documentation to support the agreed scope.

Stakeholder Engagement: Internally, you will collaborate closely with the Fire Engineering Team Lead, the Operational Director and other members of the fire engineering team to deliver high-quality solutions. Externally, you will work alongside architects, designers and key stakeholders throughout the design and delivery process, ensuring fire safety requirements are seamlessly integrated into complex projects.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience: You will bring experience in practical fire engineering, with a proven track record of developing fire safety strategies and undertaking fire risk analysis across complex engineering projects. You will possess strong technical expertise in fire engineering principles, modelling and calculations, alongside the ability to produce clear, detailed and accurate technical documentation. You will be confident engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, and have excellent communication skills that enable effective collaboration with architects, designers and project teams throughout the design and delivery process.

Our team embraces flexibility in every aspect of the role, including project focus across nuclear and non-nuclear sectors, work location between office, client site and home and opportunities for personal development. While proximity to our Warrington, West Cumbria or Basingstoke office is preferred, remote working is also considered. For office-based staff, we operate a hybrid model of three days in the office and two days working from home.