Fire Protection Engineer

Job Summary

A Fire Protection Engineer is needed for a direct hire opportunity in Downers Grove, IL, supporting the design, engineering, and development of fire protection systems for commercial and industrial projects. This role is ideal for an engineering professional with 3-5 years of experience who enjoys technical design work, code review, problem solving, and cross-functional project coordination.

This opportunity offers a collaborative engineering environment where you can work closely with project managers, contractors, architects, engineers, and other trades to deliver safe, compliant, and constructible fire protection solutions. The role provides strong exposure to the full project lifecycle, from design and documentation through permitting, approvals, and field support. Candidates who value teamwork, technical growth, supportive project leadership, and the ability to contribute to meaningful life-safety systems will find this to be a strong next step in their career.

Key Responsibilities

- Design and engineer fire protection and fire sprinkler systems for commercial and industrial projects.
- Review project plans, specifications, drawings, and applicable fire protection codes and standards.
- Perform hydraulic calculations, system layouts, and technical design documentation.
- Prepare drawings, specifications, submittals, and related engineering deliverables.
- Coordinate fire protection designs with project managers, contractors, architects, engineers, and other trades.
- Support permitting, approvals, constructability reviews, and resolution of design or field-related issues.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary range: $80,000 to $120,000 per year.
- Direct hire opportunity.
- Office-based role in Downers Grove, IL.
- Potential for hybrid or remote flexibility depending on experience and business needs.

Required Qualifications and Skills

- Design and engineer fire protection and fire sprinkler systems.
- Perform hydraulic calculations and support system design development.
- Review drawings, specifications, codes, and standards for compliance and constructability.
- Coordinate technical deliverables with project teams and external stakeholders.

- 3-5 years of relevant fire protection engineering or fire sprinkler system design experience.
- Degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred.
- Knowledge of NFPA codes and applicable building and fire codes.
- Experience preparing technical drawings, specifications, calculations, and engineering documentation.
- Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, or related design software preferred.
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with internal teams, clients, contractors, and project stakeholders.
- Ability to manage design details, deadlines, and code requirements in a fast-paced project environment.

Preferred Qualifications

- NICET certification related to fire protection systems.
- Professional Engineer license.
- Experience supporting commercial and industrial fire protection projects.
- Experience assisting with permitting, authority having jurisdiction reviews, and approval processes.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

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We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.