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 roles31
Top employerSimpson Gumpertz & Heger
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring19
Work type62% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 31+ Fire Protection Engineer jobs

E
Fire Protection Technician
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E
Added 5d ago
Fire Protection Technician
Edison Fire Protection
Stockton, California
Maintenance & Repair
Quality Control
Skilled Trades
$20 - $35/hr
On-Site

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SpaceX
Fire Protection Engineer
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SpaceX
Added 1w ago
Fire Protection Engineer
SpaceX
Hawthorne, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Maintenance & Repair
Specialized Engineering
$100k - $160k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering
1,001-5,000

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Arup
Senior Fire Protection Engineer / Chemical Engineer
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Arup
Added 1w ago
Senior Fire Protection Engineer / Chemical Engineer
Arup
Los Angeles, California
Specialized Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Chemical Engineering
Project Management
$112k - $149k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Burns & McDonnell
Senior Fire Protection Specialist - Aviation & Federal (California Region)
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Burns & McDonnell
Added 1w ago
Senior Fire Protection Specialist - Aviation & Federal (California Region)
Burns & McDonnell
Brea, California
Communications
Content & Communications
Public Relations (PR)
$150k - $210k/yr
Associate's degree
5,001-10,000

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is International Services
BESS Fire Protection Engineer I
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is International Services
Added 2w ago
BESS Fire Protection Engineer I
is International Services
San Francisco, California
Compliance & Risk
Engineering (Non-Software)
Remote (US)
Master's degree
11-50

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See All 31 Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in California

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Fire Protection Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
6 jobs
Brea
3 jobs
San Diego
3 jobs
San Francisco
3 jobs
Irvine
2 jobs
Auburn
1 job
Orange
1 job
Concord
1 job
Fremont
1 job

Fire Protection Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger3 open roles
AECOM
AECOM2 open roles
Tesla
Tesla2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • 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 Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, AECOM, and Tesla, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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, Brea, and San Diego. 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 38% of fire protection engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 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 31 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