Fire Protection Engineer

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is seeking a curious, committed, and enthusiastic Fire Protection Engineerto join our dynamic and diverse team of engineers and designers. This position can be located in either our Downtown Chicago officeor at WJE company headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois.

Building on the industry experience you bring to WJE, our team will commit to your development into a well-rounded consultant; facilitating your continued deepening of technical expertise and project management skills, encouraging your participation in industry professional development opportunities, and supporting your desire to make a meaningful impact in your field.

If you are enthusiastic about solving problems, curious about how things work, and not afraid to get your hands dirty, we want you on our team!

Responsibilities:

• Assume responsibility for the day-to-day success of multiple projects, including acting as the primary point of contact for clients, contractors, and project teams; training and mentoring teammates; and managing small-to-medium projects, as appropriate
• Perform on-site investigations, condition assessments, and inspections, which may include surveying, documenting deficiencies, field testing, collecting data and samples, and preparing site visit reports
• Develop fire growth, smoke movement, and egress zone models
• Analyze field data, interpret model results, and perform research and review of construction documents, governing codes, and design guidelines to facilitate analysis, problem-solving, and development of alternative designs for a variety of Fire Protection systems, building code issues, and life safety objectives
• Prepare conceptual, preliminary, and final client deliverables, including written reports, calculation packets, construction documents, and project specifications
• Contribute to company-wide objectives through involvement in office and company development initiatives, in-house Technical Resource Groups (TRGs) and research projects, and relevant industry committees and professional organizations (e.g., SFPE)

Qualifications/Competencies:

• Three or more years of relevant experience, which may include designing and evaluating various Fire Protection systems; conducting building code analysis and code consulting; developing equivalencies for alternative methods and materials; writing Fire Protection building code programs; and/or building and analyzing complex fire, smoke, and egress models
• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering or related field; master's degree preferred
• Licensed Professional Engineer (FPE); EIT in pursuit of PE may be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Effective technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with drafting, analysis, and modeling software (e.g., AutoCAD, REVIT, Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), PyroSim, Smokeview, Pathfinder, and CFAST)
• Proactive, team player mindset with willingness to take on various responsibilities, tackle new challenges, and learn new skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing demands, while maintaining productive interpersonal relationships and a high standard of excellence, integrity, and attention to detail

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, with or without a reasonable accommodation. This position requires visual acuity and listening ability. Individuals must have the dexterity to be able to operate office and field equipment such as computer, printer, fax, copier, telephone, voice mail system, and other office and field equipment. Requirements may also include:

• Ability to travel and attend meetings at various office, field, and construction sites
• Ability to perform inspections of buildings and other structures, both visually and with instruments
• Ability to safely work at heights, in confined spaces, and in a variety of occupationally hazardous locations, including outdoors with exposure to temperature extremes
• Ability to safely use and/or operate ladders, scaffolds, lifts, and other access equipment
• Ability to lift and carry materials, tools, and other heavy equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Medically fit to utilize respiratory protection devices and other forms of Personal Protective Equipment
• Ability to drive and safely operate a motor vehicle

Why Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE):

With more than 65 years of experience in the forensic structural, materials, and architectural engineering field, WJE Associates have the opportunity to learn from and grow alongside industry-leading experts (locally and company-wide) in a challenging yet collaborative environment, supported by our collective technical knowledge and state-of-the-art laboratory and testing capabilities.

WJE is an employee-owned company that employs a diverse group of C2E2 people—people with outstanding Character, unwavering Commitment to our core and culture, strong Expertise, and genuine Enthusiasm for their work. Our extraordinary people enjoy a fulfilling and flexible work environment: one that is inclusive and genuinely values and fairly treats every employee; one that is based on trust and personal responsibility; one that encourages open communication, continued learning, innovative thinking, excellence, and teamwork; and one that provides each employee a combined opportunity for personal, professional, and financial growth that is unsurpassed in our business. Learn more at www.wje.com/about

Annual starting base salary (gross): $93,000 to $122,000. Actual salaries will vary and will be based on several factors including consideration for a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. Base salary is one component of our total compensation package for employees. WJE offers an industry-leading total rewards package that enables our employees to grow and thrive with comprehensive health and financial benefits including robust and affordable health plans, generous 401(k) matching and bonus programs, time off to care for yourself and others, and investments in employees’ professional development, to name a few. More information on WJE’s total rewards package can be found at https://www.wje.com/careers/employment-benefits.

WJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants to apply including individuals with disabilities, minorities, women, and protected veterans (VEVRAA federal contractor).

WJE will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Fair Chance Ordinances.

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)