Exponent

Senior Fire Protection Engineer (MS/PhD)

Job Description

Posted on: 
June 6, 2026

US-MD-Bowie

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges.  

We are committed to engaging multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower our clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.  

Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning. Thanks for your interest in joining our team!  

Key statistics:

  • 950+ Consultants
  • 640+ Ph.D.s
  • 90+ Disciplines
  • 30+ Offices globally

Our Opportunity

We are currently seeking a Senior Fire Protection Engineer for our Thermal Sciences Practice in Bowie, MD; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Warrenville, IL; Menlo Park, CA; Los Angeles, CA; or Natick, MA.  

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for

  • Working in teams on complex interdisciplinary problems, often with tight deadlines
  • Performing outstanding technical work for clients to include:
  • National, state, and local fire and building code reviews
  • Analysis of active and passive fire protection systems
  • Laboratory experimental design, construction, and coordination of testing
  • Fire and explosion investigations including hands on experience in the field
  • Preparing proposals and technical reports, and presenting findings to clients

Job Requirements

You will have the following skills and qualifications

  • M.S., M.Eng., M.E., or Ph.D. in Fire Protection Engineering
  • Strong technical background in thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and combustion
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong desire and ability to tackle a wide variety of problems within and outside direct area of expertise
  • Demonstrated leadership skills and proven ability to work in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment
  • Prior experience with prescriptive and/or performance-based analysis and application of codes and standards published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Code Council (ICC), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and similar
  • Industry experience, including co-op, work study or internship related to Fire Protection Engineering strongly preferred
  • Hands-on experience in fire protection system design, installation, inspection, testing and maintenance preferred
  • Successfully taken and passed Fundamentals of Engineering (F.E.) exam (preferred)

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