Fire Protection Engineer

Overview

San Francisco Fire Department established in 1866, with history including the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 and the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989. Serves approximately 1.5 million people within San Francisco’s 49 square miles, providing fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical services.

Application Opening: July 2, 2025 to Continuous

Final date to receive applications: Friday, January 9, 2026

Compensation Range: $163,644 - $198,900 Annually

Recruitment : C00357

Exam Analyst: Deana Kwan deana.kwan

Under general direction, performs challenging and responsible professional engineering review and inspection work in the specialized field of fire prevention and safety, and advises fire inspection personnel engaged in fire prevention work. The 5215 Fire Protection Engineer is distinguished from other inspector classes as a licensed professional engineer specializing in fire protection and safety standards and procedures with expertise to inspect and test fire protection and suppression systems.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, duties below are representative of the range of duties for this job code/class and are not inclusive.

• Reviews fire protection plans and systems, equivalency proposals, permit applications, subdivision and parcel maps, etc., to ensure compliance with codes, ordinances and standards; reviews site permits, architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans for code compliance; ensures fire code provisions are included where hazardous processes and/or dangerous chemicals or radioactive materials are involved; submits recommendations to the Fire Marshal for approval or disapproval of plans or specifications.
• Advises and provides training to Fire Department personnel regarding applicable codes, technical engineering aspects of fire prevention work, plan review, and technical research; prepares technical documents; assists the Chief, Division of Fire Prevention and Investigation in training Fire Department Personnel.
• Inspects and witnesses acceptance tests for fire protection systems; participates in inspections of buildings and other structures during construction to ensure compliance with approved fire protection plans and testing procedures.
• Interacts with contractors, architects, engineers, building managers and owners regarding fire code issues; gives lectures and life-safety demonstrations; represents the Fire Department on fire code and technical issues as necessary.
• Reviews codes and standards from other jurisdictions for local applications; assists in developing and revising codes, ordinances, standards and Fire Department Administrative Bulletins; reviews new products and equipment for local use.
• Provides professional guidance to the department in design, testing and potential of new fire-fighting apparatus, equipment and fire-retardant materials.
• Investigates fire sites and determines possible failures in structural, mechanical, alarm, extinguishing or other safety systems; prepares reports as required.
• Evaluates performance-based analyses to determine acceptability of proposed fire protection systems; communicates results to Fire Department officials and analyzes hydraulic water flow tests.
• May act for the Senior Mechanical Engineer in absence.

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree in fire protection, mechanical, electrical, chemical, or civil engineering, or a related engineering field, from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two (2) years of professional experience in fire protection analysis including building design, specification writing, construction inspection, and plan review (including reading and interpreting architectural plans, computer fire modeling, and review of fire protection and life safety systems).

License and Certification:

• A valid California Driver License.
• Possession of a valid Fire Protection Engineer license issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

Substitution: A degree in fire protection engineering from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of the…