Fire Protection Engineer (Subject Matter Expert)
Job Description
Position Description & Qualifications
Serco is seeking a highly experienced Fire Protection Engineer (SME) to work in our Washington DC Navy Yard location and to support U.S. Navy research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) programs focused on ship and submarine survivability. This position will provide technical leadership in fire survivability testing, fire hazard analysis, and passive fire protection technologies supporting Naval ship structures and components.
The selected candidate will play a critical role in advancing material development, improving fire protection systems, and ensuring compliance with Navy, ASTM, NFPA, and ISO standards. This role requires deep technical expertise, program leadership capability, and the ability to manage emerging technologies across the Naval Enterprise.
Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Provide engineering leadership for complex fire protection engineering initiatives and RDT&E programs.
- Conceive, propose, plan, execute, and report on complex technical and engineering issues.
- Develop and manage emerging fire protection technologies for Naval applications.
- Clearly communicate technical results and program findings both orally and in writing to senior Navy leadership and stakeholders.
- Apply knowledge of program management, material development, structural concepts, and testing and evaluation processes in support of Navy ship structures and components.
- Utilize standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics) to support reporting and analysis.
- Maintain and uphold a DoD SECRET clearance.
- Serve as a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) in:
- Fire survivability testing
- Fire hazard analysis
- Provide expert guidance on ASTM, NFPA, and ISO fire test methods and calibration procedures.
- Lead the development and evaluation of passive fire protection methodologies.
- Provide technical expertise related to ship and submarine fire protection and survivability systems.
- Identify and direct investments in advanced fire protection materials and technologies for insertion into the Naval Enterprise.
- Provide technical oversight for fire protection engineering programs and associated testing activities.
- Review and evaluate written technical documentation related to engineering processes and compliance requirements.
- Adjudicate requests for waivers and deviations to engineering specifications.
- Apply advanced knowledge of fire protection engineering principles and related disciplines (chemical, mechanical, materials engineering).
- Participate in national regulatory and rulemaking organizations relevant to fire protection standards.
- Analyze technical data using established data analysis procedures and processing systems.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams of engineers and technicians in execution of fire protection program tasks.
Job Requirements
To be successful in this role, you will have:
- Bachelor’s Degree (minimum) in Fire Protection Engineering (or related field of study) from an accredited institution.
- Possess a minimum 8 years of relevant work experience
- Demonstrated expertise in fire survivability testing and fire hazard analysis.
- Expert knowledge of ASTM, NFPA, and ISO fire test standards.
- Experience supporting Navy ship or submarine programs
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to lead technical teams and manage complex engineering programs.
- Requires at minimum an Interim security clearance to start.
- Ability to travel up to 10%.
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Fire Protection Engineering or related discipline.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- Experience supporting Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) programs.
- Prior participation in national fire protection regulatory bodies.
- Experience with advanced materials insertion into defense platforms.
- Demonstrated success managing RDT&E investments and technology transition efforts.
