Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California

Fire Protection Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in commercial construction, technology campuses, healthcare facilities, and state and local government infrastructure across the full seniority range from entry-level analyst through principal engineer. The largest hiring hubs are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where firms such as Jensen Hughes, Arup, and WSP maintain significant California offices and ongoing project pipelines. The most in-demand specialties are performance-based design, high-rise and wildland-urban interface fire systems, and code compliance consulting. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles40
Top employerCoffman Engineers
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring22
Work type50% Hybrid
Top industryConstruction

Showing 5 of 40+ Fire Protection Engineer jobs

Coffman Engineers
Fire Protection Engineering Intern (Structural)
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Coffman Engineers
Added 3d ago
Fire Protection Engineering Intern (Structural)
Coffman Engineers
San Diego, California
Corporate Training
Educational Administration
Learning & Development
$25 - $30/hr
501-1,000

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Coffman Engineers
Fire Protection Engineering Intern
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Coffman Engineers
Added 3d ago
Fire Protection Engineering Intern
Coffman Engineers
San Diego, California
Corporate Training
Educational Administration
Learning & Development
$25 - $30/hr
501-1,000

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Mott MacDonald
Graduate Fire Protection Engineer - 2026
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Mott MacDonald
Added 5d ago
Graduate Fire Protection Engineer - 2026
Mott MacDonald
San Diego, California
Account Management
Customer Service
Customer Service & Support
Sales
$77k - $86k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Western States Fire Protection Company
Fire Protection Project Manager and Designer
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Western States Fire Protection Company
Added 1w ago
Fire Protection Project Manager and Designer
Western States Fire Protection Company
Campbell, California
Business Operations
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$30 - $45/hr
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies
1,001-5,000

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JENSEN HUGHES
Intern, Fire Protection Engineering
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JENSEN HUGHES
Added 1w ago
Intern, Fire Protection Engineering
JENSEN HUGHES
San Diego, California
Business Development
Customer Success
Program Management
Project Management
$20 - $30/hr
1,001-5,000

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Fire Protection Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
8 jobs
San Diego
5 jobs
Brea
3 jobs
El Segundo
3 jobs
Irvine
2 jobs
Riverside
2 jobs
San Francisco
2 jobs
Auburn
1 job
Orange
1 job

Fire Protection Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Coffman Engineers
Coffman Engineers5 open roles
Code Consultants
Code Consultants3 open roles
Western States Fire Protection Company
Western States Fire Protection Company3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Consumer Goods
  • Government & Public Sector

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in fire protection engineer jobs across California.

  • California Professional Engineer (PE) license in fire protection or mechanical engineering required or preferred
  • Bachelor's degree in fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field
  • Experience with NFPA codes, California Fire Code, and Title 19 California Code of Regulations
  • Proficiency in hydraulic calculation software such as HydraCAD or AutoSPRINK
  • Experience designing suppression, detection, and alarm systems for commercial or industrial projects
  • Strong written communication skills for code reports, plan reviews, and client deliverables

Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a fire protection engineer in California?

You become a fire protection engineer in California by earning a bachelor's degree in fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field, then obtaining a California Professional Engineer license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Candidates typically pass the NCEES FPE or PE exam and complete the required work experience. The Society of Fire Protection Engineers also offers the CFPS credential, which California employers frequently list as a competitive advantage alongside the PE.

How much do fire protection engineers make in California?

Fire protection engineers in California earn a median of about $131,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $83,210 for the lowest 10% to over $175,940 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire fire protection engineers in California?

Employers hiring fire protection engineers in California right now include Coffman Engineers, Code Consultants, and Western States Fire Protection Company, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's large volume of commercial high-rise, healthcare, and technology campus construction keeps both national engineering consultancies and in-house corporate facilities teams consistently active in their hiring.

Which California cities have the most fire protection engineer jobs?

The cities with the most fire protection engineer openings in California are Los Angeles, San Diego, and Brea. Los Angeles and San Francisco drive the bulk of demand through high-rise commercial construction and large tech and healthcare campuses, while San Diego adds consistent volume through its defense facilities, biotech industry, and major medical center projects.

Are there remote fire protection engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're limited. Fire protection engineering involves regular site walks, plan reviews, and authority-having-jurisdiction coordination that generally require in-person presence. About 58% of fire protection engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in code consulting, peer review, and preliminary design work rather than construction administration or field inspection roles.

How can I get hired as a fire protection engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying for a junior or associate fire protection engineer role at a California-based engineering consultancy such as Jensen Hughes, Arup, or WSP, which regularly bring on new graduates for code analysis and system design support work. Candidates who have passed the NCEES FPE exam or earned an EIT certification stand out immediately. Lateral moves from mechanical or electrical engineering roles on fire alarm and suppression projects are a common bridge, and completing a California state agency internship through programs like CalFire or a large county fire authority builds applied experience that consultancies value.

Where can I find and apply to fire protection engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to fire protection engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring for the role. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 40 Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Fire Protection Engineer Jobs