Fire Protection Engineer

Job Title: Fire Protection Engineer

Job Description

Join a collaborative and supportive team working on-site at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. This role offers a hybrid schedule, promoting strong work-life balance while contributing to projects that directly impact public health and safety. You’ll work across a complex campus environment with minimal travel and strong team collaboration.

Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates if needed.



Responsibilities

• Review architectural, engineering, and fire protection system shop drawings across 50+ NIH buildings

• Conduct construction inspections and issue final occupancy permits

• Witness and evaluate acceptance testing for fire alarm and sprinkler system modifications

• Perform life safety and hazard analysis surveys of existing buildings

• Provide technical guidance in compliance with NFPA and IEC codes (including IEC 30 and 35)

Required Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Fire Protection

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (any discipline)

• Minimum 5+ years of fire protection engineering experience

• Strong experience interpreting and applying NFPA codes and IEC codes (including 30 & 35)

• Proficiency with Revit and AutoCAD

• Experience reviewing fire alarm, sprinkler system, and building design drawings

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in hospital, laboratory, or similar regulated environments

• Familiarity with hazardous materials/chemical safety systems

• Experience mentoring or leading junior engineers

• Knowledge of additional NFPA codes and permitting processes

Work Environment

• Based on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD

• Work across a portfolio of ~50 buildings

• Collaborate closely with program managers, engineers, and the NIH Fire Marshal

• Hybrid schedule with on-site and remote flexibility

This is a great opportunity to apply your expertise in a mission-driven environment while working on complex and meaningful projects.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Bethesda, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $57.69 - $64.90/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Bethesda,MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 13, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.