Fire Protection Engineer I

Our client is an ISO 9001 company and part of the Angus International Safety Group of companies that design, manufacture, and sell fire prevention equipment, fire protection equipment, and firefighting foam concentrates. As one of the industry’s premier brands, the company manufactures one of the fire protection industry’s broadest portfolios of specialty firefighting products, including firefighting foams, foam systems, and associated hardware. Our client and its sister companies are experts at designing, manufacturing, and fielding equipment solutions for special hazard risks across a broad cross-section of markets that must protect property, assets, lives, and critical infrastructure.

The company’s business model is unique in that it is the only “fully-integrated” fire systems and solutions company in the industry that offers firefighting foam, fixed fire systems, and mobile fire system components to its customer base integrated into proven engineered systems. The company’s value model leverages the knowledge base of its over 100 years of history in formulating firefighting foams and then designing and manufacturing the equipment to proportion, store, transport, and deliver that foam. These completely integrated systems (foam and foam equipment) are specified and selected as the brand of choice by hundreds of customers globally who demand the very best technology and products to protect their critical assets. Many major oil and gas companies use our client's equipment and foam, as well as hundreds of other customers in the defense, marine, aviation, industrial, chemical, petro-chemical, and pipeline markets worldwide.

Position Description:

The FPE-I will be a key contributor to the goals and objectives of the Engineering Team. This team, in turn, supports all other functional groups within the organization, including sales, product management, training, operations, supply chain, and research and development. Broadly, the team manages, engineers, supports, tests, and develops a comprehensive range of fire protection and prevention products and custom-engineered systems solutions.

FPE-I Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

• System Assessment and Engineering:

  • Develop the capability to assess existing foam systems in the field, culminating in detailed System Engineering Assessment Reports and Conversion/Upgrade proposals.
  • Specify foam/water systems conversion strategies using company products and “Best Practice” evolutions for systems design, retrofit, and conversion.
  • Conduct on-site system replacement/conversion evaluations and provide engineering recommendation reports for customers relating to specific facilities.

• Product and System Design:

  • Support continuing design and value engineering activities on current products, including hardware, fixed systems/equipment, mobile systems/equipment, and proportioning systems/equipment.
  • Develop custom engineered and designed fire protection systems focusing on “Special Hazards” involving protection for facilities with solvents, hydrocarbon fluids, organic chemicals, and other fluids/chemicals at risk.
  • Collaborate with other engineering team members to develop commercial proposals for engineered systems and actively support sales efforts to secure those opportunities.
  • Focus on becoming a Subject Matter Expert in Foam Systems Engineering.

• Product Testing and Qualification:

  • Participate in product qualification testing programs for UL/FM agencies, which require flow testing, foam testing, and live fire extinguishment testing.

• Fieldwork and Client Engagement:

  • Contribute to and present at engineering seminars, marketing events, and the company's Fire School.
  • Engage in direct project management and client management, both domestically and globally.
  • Conduct fieldwork to support firefighting systems at customer sites.
  • Participate in key customer/product demonstrations and/or major project/installation sites as necessary.

How You Will Succeed in This Role:

• Skills and Attributes:

  • Strong communication and organizational skills.
  • Self-starter, confident, and goal-oriented.
  • Thrives in a dynamic, frequently moving but controlled environment.
  • Applies classic engineering training combined with on-the-job training to develop into a foam system SME.
  • Willing to work in prototype design and test environments necessary to develop and qualify designs for new products as well as custom products for specific customers.
  • Capable and confident in engaging customers and suppliers at all levels (from technician level to senior management) and with all functional groups.

• Technical Proficiency:

  • Perform technical activities associated with projects using engineering process tools such as:
    • Gated project management process
    • Cost tracking
    • Technical analysis
    • Root cause analysis
    • Mechanical design and calculation
    • Product testing and evaluation

• Team Collaboration:

  • Strong team skills with a focus on collaboration in multi-disciplinary functional teams.
  • Driven to follow and meet reporting deadlines.

Required Education and Qualifications:

• Education:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering OR Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with a documented background in fire protection.

• Experience:

  • One to three (1-3) years of experience in an engineering and/or engineering process discipline.
  • Fire protection systems design experience, with a specific focus on special hazards, OR general working/field knowledge of fire protection systems is preferred.
  • Experience in mechanical systems related to fluids engineering, pumps, engines, and hydraulic theory.

• Skills and Interests:

  • Familiarity and interest in fire protection methods, systems, and their design (NFPA, FM, UL).
  • Excellent project management skills.
  • Strong problem-solving and conceptual skills.
  • Cooperative decision-making and teaming skills.
  • Willingness to conduct all manner of “out-of-office” fieldwork in support of on-site customer support, training, seminars, forensic engineering, and project and client management.
  • Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.