OPT Fire Investigator Jobs
Fire Investigator jobs on OPT require STEM or criminal justice backgrounds, and most roles sit with local fire departments, insurance carriers, or federal agencies. Your OPT work authorization is employer-specific, so you'll need a role that matches your degree field and supports your 12-month authorization window.
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Get Access To All JobsMake a difference, protect lives, and achieve your dreams. Build your career with the industry-leading fire, life safety and security company.
This position is responsible for the proper installation, operation, and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems. Responsibilities include inspecting, testing, and performing system checks. This position will assist in identifying system deficiencies and preparing accurate and timely inspection reports.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Conduct routine preventative maintenance on sprinkler fire suppression systems
- Service and inspections of wet, dry and pre-action fire suppression systems
- Installs, maintains, repairs, or replaces fire sprinkler equipment and systems in strict accordance with applicable codes and standards
- Servicing of wet based fire sprinkler systems
- Interact with customers in a mature and professional manner
- Install or upgrade fire sprinklers in commercial and residential buildings
- Test and repair alarm systems already in place
- Perform inspections to ensure alarms are installed according to code
- Complete detailed inspection reports, documenting any issues and report results of work completed in an accurate, timely manner
- Protect and maintain company equipment
- Inspect and maintain the truck and all related equipment, putting in repair requests as necessary to maintain safe operation
- Operate warehouse equipment, including vehicles, in a way that facilitates the loading and unloading of the truck while observing all safety regulations and manufacturer’s safety instructions for that equipment
- Work in a safe manner as outlined by company safety procedures including driver safety and personal protective equipment
- Respond to emergency service calls
- Maintain a clean and safe workspace
- Ability to follow direction and work independently when needed
- Perform other duties assigned by management
Education/Qualification:
- At least 2 years of experience with fire sprinkler systems preferred
- Experience with commercial and residential systems
- Troubleshooting skills
- Must have good interpersonal skills and be able to work in a team environment as well as work independently
- Must have a clean driving record and reliable transportation to/from the office or job site
- Must be flexible with scheduling requirements that occasionally will require evening, weekend and/or out-of-town assignments
- Requires the ability to display knowledge of principles and practices of fire safety
- Requires the ability to display knowledge of codes and regulations related to the work
- Requires the ability to display knowledge of basic practices of reviewing official documents for completeness and accuracy
- Requires the ability to act in a lead capacity
- Requires the ability to recognize and report deviations through inspection programs
- Requires the ability to interpret, apply, and explain applicable laws, codes, and regulations
- Requires the ability to maintain accurate records and reports
- Requires the ability to understand and follow oral and written directions
- Requires the ability to use or repair small/light equipment, such as power tools, ladders, medium equipment and machinery
Other Duties:
- Adheres to the Code of Conduct, Confidentiality Agreement, and Company Safety Policy
- Performs other duties as assigned
Physical Requirements:
- While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and is occasionally required to lift and/or move heavy objects
- The work also requires the following physical abilities in order to perform the essential job functions: balancing, climbing, grasping, hearing, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, repetitive motion, speaking, talking, and visual acuity
Benefits and Perks:
- Excellent pay
- Medical, dental, vision
- Company paid life insurance
- Company paid short-term disability
- 401K with employer match
- Paid vacation and company holidays
- Training and Career Development
- Company vehicle (if job applicable)
- Immediate qualification for the ALL In Ownership Plan for all eligible full-time employees
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Make a difference, protect lives, and achieve your dreams. Build your career with the industry-leading fire, life safety and security company.
This position is responsible for the proper installation, operation, and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems. Responsibilities include inspecting, testing, and performing system checks. This position will assist in identifying system deficiencies and preparing accurate and timely inspection reports.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Conduct routine preventative maintenance on sprinkler fire suppression systems
- Service and inspections of wet, dry and pre-action fire suppression systems
- Installs, maintains, repairs, or replaces fire sprinkler equipment and systems in strict accordance with applicable codes and standards
- Servicing of wet based fire sprinkler systems
- Interact with customers in a mature and professional manner
- Install or upgrade fire sprinklers in commercial and residential buildings
- Test and repair alarm systems already in place
- Perform inspections to ensure alarms are installed according to code
- Complete detailed inspection reports, documenting any issues and report results of work completed in an accurate, timely manner
- Protect and maintain company equipment
- Inspect and maintain the truck and all related equipment, putting in repair requests as necessary to maintain safe operation
- Operate warehouse equipment, including vehicles, in a way that facilitates the loading and unloading of the truck while observing all safety regulations and manufacturer’s safety instructions for that equipment
- Work in a safe manner as outlined by company safety procedures including driver safety and personal protective equipment
- Respond to emergency service calls
- Maintain a clean and safe workspace
- Ability to follow direction and work independently when needed
- Perform other duties assigned by management
Education/Qualification:
- At least 2 years of experience with fire sprinkler systems preferred
- Experience with commercial and residential systems
- Troubleshooting skills
- Must have good interpersonal skills and be able to work in a team environment as well as work independently
- Must have a clean driving record and reliable transportation to/from the office or job site
- Must be flexible with scheduling requirements that occasionally will require evening, weekend and/or out-of-town assignments
- Requires the ability to display knowledge of principles and practices of fire safety
- Requires the ability to display knowledge of codes and regulations related to the work
- Requires the ability to display knowledge of basic practices of reviewing official documents for completeness and accuracy
- Requires the ability to act in a lead capacity
- Requires the ability to recognize and report deviations through inspection programs
- Requires the ability to interpret, apply, and explain applicable laws, codes, and regulations
- Requires the ability to maintain accurate records and reports
- Requires the ability to understand and follow oral and written directions
- Requires the ability to use or repair small/light equipment, such as power tools, ladders, medium equipment and machinery
Other Duties:
- Adheres to the Code of Conduct, Confidentiality Agreement, and Company Safety Policy
- Performs other duties as assigned
Physical Requirements:
- While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and is occasionally required to lift and/or move heavy objects
- The work also requires the following physical abilities in order to perform the essential job functions: balancing, climbing, grasping, hearing, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, repetitive motion, speaking, talking, and visual acuity
Benefits and Perks:
- Excellent pay
- Medical, dental, vision
- Company paid life insurance
- Company paid short-term disability
- 401K with employer match
- Paid vacation and company holidays
- Training and Career Development
- Company vehicle (if job applicable)
- Immediate qualification for the ALL In Ownership Plan for all eligible full-time employees
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
See all 342+ OPT Fire Investigator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Fire Investigator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Fire Investigator
Match your degree to the role explicitly
Fire investigation draws from forensic science, chemistry, and engineering programs. When applying, map your coursework directly to the job description. Employers unfamiliar with OPT respond better when the degree-to-role connection is obvious and requires no explanation from them.
Target agencies with prior OPT hiring history
Federal and state fire marshal offices, ATF, and large municipal fire departments have HR infrastructure familiar with work authorization. Smaller private investigators may lack that familiarity. Prioritizing institutional employers reduces friction during the hiring process significantly.
Address OPT early and directly
Don't wait for an offer to raise your work authorization status. Mention it in your cover letter in one clear sentence. Employers appreciate transparency, and it filters out roles where authorization would be a dealbreaker before you invest interview time.
Highlight certifications alongside your degree
IAAI-CFI or NFPA certifications signal professional credibility and reduce employer hesitation around OPT. If you're still pursuing certification, note your progress. Credentials specific to fire investigation carry weight beyond your academic background in this field.
Pursue STEM OPT extension if your degree qualifies
Forensic science, chemistry, and engineering degrees typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of work authorization. Employers are far more willing to invest in training when your authorization window extends meaningfully beyond one year.
Lead with field experience in applications
Internships with fire departments, insurance carriers, or forensic labs demonstrate practical exposure that classroom training alone cannot. Even volunteer or observation hours with a licensed investigator strengthen your application and reassure employers that you understand the operational realities of the role.
Fire Investigator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Fire Investigator on OPT?
Yes, if your degree field is directly related to the role. Forensic science, chemistry, fire protection engineering, and criminal justice degrees commonly support fire investigator positions. Your OPT authorization is tied to your major, so the employer will want to see a clear connection between your coursework and the investigative responsibilities of the job.
Do Fire Investigator roles typically require U.S. citizenship or security clearances?
Some do. Positions with federal agencies like the ATF or Department of Homeland Security often require U.S. citizenship or at minimum permanent residency, which disqualifies OPT students. Roles with municipal fire departments, private insurance firms, and forensic consulting companies generally do not carry that restriction and are more accessible on OPT.
Where can I find Fire Investigator jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists fire investigator and related forensic roles filtered for candidates on OPT and other nonimmigrant work authorization. Searching there saves time compared to filtering through generalist boards where work authorization requirements aren't disclosed upfront. Most listings on Migrate Mate include sponsorship and authorization details directly.
Does the STEM OPT extension apply to Fire Investigator roles?
It depends on your degree. If you graduated in forensic science, chemistry, or fire protection engineering, your degree is likely on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, making you eligible for a 24-month extension beyond your initial 12 months. Criminal justice degrees generally do not qualify for STEM OPT, so your total authorization window would remain 12 months.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change employers mid-authorization?
You can change employers on OPT, but you must report the change in your SEVIS record through your designated school official within 10 days. Your new position still needs to be directly related to your degree field. If you're on STEM OPT, you'll also need to update your formal training plan with the new employer before starting work.