Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Fire Protection Engineer jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, concentrated in defense contracting, federal facilities management, and commercial construction, with openings from entry-level designers through senior fire protection engineers and project managers. The largest hiring markets are Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, where employers like Leidos, SAIC, and Jacobs Engineering maintain significant operations. The most sought-after specialties include fire suppression system design, life safety code compliance, and performance-based fire protection analysis. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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At ACI we build our company and our culture not by counting people, but by making our people count!
$0.00 COST FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, SHORT TERM DISABILITY LIFE INSURANCE (EMPLOYEE ONLY) COVERAGE!
Atlantic Constructors is seeking dynamic, motivated, career minded individuals to join our expanding team! Atlantic Constructors has been recognized as an industry leader in the Mid-Atlantic Region for over 50 years.
Benefits:
- Medical Insurance Plan ($0.00 Employee-Only)
- Dental Insurance Plan ($0.00 Employee-Only)
- Short-Term Disability Plan ($0.00 Employee-Only)
- Life Insurance Plan ($0.00 Employee-Only)
- Vision Insurance Plan
- 401(K) Retirement Plan with Generous Company Matching
- Health Savings Plan with Generous Company Matching
- Wellness Programs
- Company Vehicle Gas Card
- Phone Allowance
Atlantic Constructors offers competitive benefits, for more information check out our comprehensive list on our website Acibuilds.com.
Summary/Objective:
Manages day-to-day operations for the new construction fire protection field trade. Provides guidance, supervision, and direction to fire protection staff consisting of journeymen, mechanics, and apprentices/helpers. Ensures safety, job quality, ACI standards, productivity, and customer satisfaction is maintained at every stage regarding fire protection field staff. Strong relationship building skills with management, staff, customers, and vendors to cultivate a positive work environment.
Essential Functions:
- Oversee fire protection field manpower to ensure construction efforts on fire protection projects are constructed in accordance with design, budget, and schedule
- Oversee all day-to-day fire protection field personnel transferring from jobs to ensure quality, standards, and productivity
- Ensures that changes and problems are documented and relayed and serves as a team member and leader
- Communicates with Construction team regarding open issues and progress during planning phases and build process
- Focus on quality of output to meet the goals of the vision of the company
- Establish and maintain standards within the department
- Oversee and responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training fire protection employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems
- Ensures that proper safety and incident reporting procedures are followed and brings problems to supervisor, safety or HR
- Oversee total fire protection field trade construction effort to ensure project is constructed in accordance with design, budget and schedule
- Ensures all company, client, and project policies, procedures, standards, etc., are followed by the fire protection field staff
- Maintain fire protection field personnel log and documentation files
- Provide direction to planning, scheduling, and engineering functions as required
- Performs other duties as assigned
Supervisory Responsibility: Yes
Required:
- 6+ years of commercial fire protection supervision and 10+ years of hands-on fire protection trade work and/or equivalent combination of vocational training and experience
- Proficiency in fire protection field supervision
- High regard for safety standards with organizational skills
- Extensive knowledge of fire protection system installation
- Eagerness to take on challenges and work through adversity is necessary
- Must be able to multi-task, work with minimal supervision, follow written and oral instructions, show attention to detail, and demonstrate problem-solving skills
- Must adhere to all company policy and procedures
- Clean driving record
- Must be available, and have the means to report to multiple job sites as assigned
The work environment and physical demands required would be representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, and may include, but are not limited to the following:
Work Environment:
- May work in varying temperatures; both inside and outside, including inclement weather, heat, humidity, cold, and dampness
- May work in areas with exposure to moderate/high noise levels
- May be exposed to fumes or airborne particles including dust
- May be required to work in confined spaces or from high heights
Physical Demands:
- This role routinely uses construction equipment such as heavy machinery, hand and power tools
- While performing duties of the job the employee may work aloft, climb, bend, pull, reach overhead, stand/walk for long periods of time and lift up to 50 lbs.
- Frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms
- Must be able to correctly identify all colors of a color-coded cable/wires and see close vision, distance vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus
Travel:
- May require travel (typically not overnight)
Preferred:
- OSHA 30 and First Aid/ CPR
- Fire protection Master's License (DPOR)
- Prior military experience
- HS diploma or GED equivalent
Final compensation will be determined based on applicable experience, education, licensure, skills, and other relevant factors.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Fire Protection Superintendent
See All 41 Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Fire Protection Engineer JobsFire Protection Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Fire Protection Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Atlantic Constructors22

- AECOM2

- Clark Nexsen, a JMT Company2

- Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson2

- GHD1

Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in fire protection engineer jobs across Virginia.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license in Virginia or a Virginia-recognized reciprocal state license
- Bachelor's degree in fire protection engineering or closely related engineering discipline
- Proficiency in fire protection design software such as AutoCAD, Revit, or HydraCAD
- Working knowledge of NFPA codes, IBC, and Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code
- Experience preparing fire protection drawings, specifications, and construction documents
- Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance for defense-sector positions
Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a fire protection engineer in Virginia?
You become a fire protection engineer in Virginia by earning a bachelor's degree in fire protection engineering or a related engineering discipline, then obtaining a Professional Engineer license through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Licensure requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, gaining qualifying work experience under a licensed PE, and passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Many Virginia employers also value NICET certifications in fire protection system design alongside PE licensure.
How much do fire protection engineers make in Virginia?
Fire protection engineers in Virginia earn a median of about $104,920 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $63,760 for the lowest 10% to over $162,630 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire fire protection engineers in Virginia?
Employers hiring fire protection engineers in Virginia right now include Atlantic Constructors, AECOM, and Clark Nexsen, a JMT Company, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal agencies and defense contractors in the Northern Virginia corridor makes it one of the more active states for engineers who can work on government facilities and secure installations.
Which Virginia cities have the most fire protection engineer jobs?
The Virginia cities with the most fire protection engineer openings are Suffolk, Richmond, and Arlington. Northern Virginia leads because of the dense cluster of federal agencies, defense contractors, and data center developers headquartered or operating there, while Richmond draws demand from commercial construction and state government facilities, and Hampton Roads from naval installations and shipbuilding operations.
Are there remote fire protection engineer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're limited, since fire protection engineering often requires on-site inspections, field surveys, and coordination with contractors. About 53% of fire protection engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in the design review and code consulting phases of projects rather than construction-phase roles.
How can I get hired as a fire protection engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for junior or associate fire protection engineer roles at Virginia-based engineering and consulting firms, where you work under a licensed PE while logging the experience hours required for your own licensure. Large employers like Jacobs, SAIC, and Leidos in Northern Virginia regularly bring on new graduates for entry-level design and analysis positions. Earning your EIT credential immediately after graduation and pursuing NICET Level I certification in fire alarm or water-based systems gives your application a concrete edge over candidates without those credentials.
Where can I find and apply to fire protection engineer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to fire protection engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across defense contractors, engineering consultancies, and commercial developers. Find the roles that fit your experience and credentials and apply directly to the employer.
See All 41 Fire Protection Engineer Jobs in Virginia
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