Lead Fire & Egress Modeling Engineer
Job Description
At Jensen Hughes, we lead with our Purpose + Principles and value our people. Across our global partnership of experts, clients, and communities, we are recognized worldwide for our leadership in fire protection engineering, a legacy of responsibility we have advanced with pride since 1939. Today, our expertise extends broadly across closely related risk management fields — from accessibility consulting, risk and hazard analysis, process safety and forensic investigations to security risk consulting, emergency management and digital innovation. As we champion best practices, set industry standards and support communities with innovative solutions, we are making the world a better place.
We believe that creating and sustaining a culture of trust, integrity and professional growth fundamentally includes a sustained commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
At Jensen Hughes, diversity is ingrained in our culture -- we accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background. Our differences and uniqueness are celebrated and reflected in our wide range of Global Employee Networks.
Job Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Fire and Egress Modeling Engineer to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and executing fire and egress modeling projects for a variety of structures, including high-rise buildings, industrial facilities, and transportation hubs. This role requires a strong understanding of fire dynamics, egress analysis, computational modeling techniques, and additional responsibilities inspired by the services offered by Jensen Hughes.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
- Develop fire and egress models using advanced computational tools and techniques, ensuring accuracy and reliability in predicting fire behavior and occupant egress patterns.
- Apply performance-based design principles to assess fire and life safety strategies, including smoke control systems, evacuation plans, and structural fire protection measures.
- Interpret and apply relevant building and fire codes, standards, and regulations (e.g., NFPA, IBC, ASCE) to ensure compliance with applicable requirements and guidelines.
- Conduct qualitative risk assessments to evaluate the potential impact of fire events on building occupants, property, and business operations, and recommend risk mitigation strategies as needed.
- Incorporate human behavior modeling into fire and egress simulations to account for variations in occupant response to emergency conditions and optimize evacuation strategies accordingly.
- Collaborate with architects, structural engineers, HVAC designers, and other stakeholders to integrate fire and egress modeling into the overall building design process, facilitating interdisciplinary coordination and design optimization.
- Evaluate the performance of fire protection systems and egress components (e.g., exit widths, travel distances) through sensitivity analysis and optimization studies, identifying opportunities for improvement and efficiency.
- Serve as a technical advisor to clients, providing expert guidance on fire and life safety strategies, code compliance issues, and performance-based design solutions, and addressing client inquiries and concerns throughout the project lifecycle.
- Provide training and mentorship to junior engineers and team members on fire and egress modeling techniques, software tools, and best practices, fostering professional growth and knowledge sharing within the organization.
Job Requirements
Requirements and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in fire protection engineering or a related field, with a focus on fire and egress modeling.
- Proficiency in industry-standard fire and egress modeling software tools, such as FDS, PyroSim, Pathfinder, etc.
- Strong understanding of fire dynamics, egress analysis principles, and relevant building and fire codes and standards (e.g., NFPA, IBC, etc.).
- P.E. License in Fire Protection Engineering.
- Five (5) or more years of experience as a project manager for projects including performance-based design, fire and egress modeling, with the ability to lead and execute multiple projects simultaneously.
- Existing client-base with a willingness to grow in new areas.
- Ability to review smoke control and egress modeling performed by others.
- Ability to prepare thorough technical reports documenting modeling and analysis results.
- Ability to present the information prepared by you and / or others to clients and AHJs.
