STEM OPT Fire Protection Engineer Jobs
Fire Protection Engineer roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, letting you work for up to 36 months after graduation if your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Your engineering degree qualifies under STEM CIP codes, and the 24-month extension gives you a meaningful runway to build U.S. experience while pursuing long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Procon Consulting is seeking a skilled Fire Protection Engineer to join our team focused on federal sector projects. With over 25 years of expertise in construction management and technology consulting, Procon offers an excellent opportunity to work on high-impact federal projects while shaping fire protection and life safety systems. The successful candidate will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with federal regulations and the highest standards of fire protection engineering.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related engineering discipline required
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification preferred
- 2-5 years of experience in fire protection and life safety (FP&LS) design, design reviews, field surveys, inspections, or related engineering services
- Working knowledge of NFPA standards, ICC Fire and Building Codes, and other applicable fire protection and life safety regulations
- NICET and/or NFPA certifications preferred
- Demonstrated field experience with fire and life safety systems, including fire alarm testing, construction inspections, and technical assessments related to fire protection, safety, health, and risk mitigation
- Experience reviewing fire protection system designs, sprinkler plans, hydraulic calculations, and life safety documentation
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret codes, standards, and engineering requirements
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and regulatory authorities
- Ability to travel up to 50% to project sites for inspections, audits, surveys, and construction observations
RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
- Review project drawings, specifications, and construction documents for compliance with applicable fire protection and life safety codes, standards, and best practices
- Perform technical reviews of building and development plans to ensure compliance with the Life Safety Code, NFPA standards, ICC codes, and other adopted regulations
- Conduct fire protection and life safety surveys, audits, and assessments at existing facilities and construction sites
- Perform field inspections and construction site walk-throughs to verify contractor materials, installation methods, and workmanship comply with approved plans and applicable requirements
- Review sprinkler system designs and hydraulic calculations for accuracy and code compliance
- Evaluate and verify compliance of fire alarm systems, gaseous fire suppression systems, smoke control systems, and other fire protection features
- Prepare technical reports, inspection findings, survey documentation, and project records
- Respond to client and stakeholder inquiries regarding fire prevention, fire protection systems, and life safety requirements
- Support project teams across K-12, federal, and commercial facilities throughout design, construction, testing, and commissioning phases
- Collaborate with registered Professional Engineers serving as Responsible Engineers-in-Charge to develop fire protection and life safety deliverables
- Lead and support fire protection and life safety initiatives, programs, and project activities
- Provide technical guidance and oversight to junior fire protection personnel when required and assist with departmental leadership activities in the absence of senior fire protection staff
- Identify deficiencies, recommend corrective actions, and work with project stakeholders to ensure issues are resolved effectively
- Gain progressive engineering experience under the supervision of licensed Professional Engineers, contributing toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure requirements
BENEFITS
Salary commensurate with experience. Interested and qualified candidates please submit a cover letter and a resume. Procon offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including full medical/dental insurance and 401(K) plan.
Procon is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.
INTRODUCTION
Procon Consulting is seeking a skilled Fire Protection Engineer to join our team focused on federal sector projects. With over 25 years of expertise in construction management and technology consulting, Procon offers an excellent opportunity to work on high-impact federal projects while shaping fire protection and life safety systems. The successful candidate will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with federal regulations and the highest standards of fire protection engineering.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related engineering discipline required
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification preferred
- 2-5 years of experience in fire protection and life safety (FP&LS) design, design reviews, field surveys, inspections, or related engineering services
- Working knowledge of NFPA standards, ICC Fire and Building Codes, and other applicable fire protection and life safety regulations
- NICET and/or NFPA certifications preferred
- Demonstrated field experience with fire and life safety systems, including fire alarm testing, construction inspections, and technical assessments related to fire protection, safety, health, and risk mitigation
- Experience reviewing fire protection system designs, sprinkler plans, hydraulic calculations, and life safety documentation
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret codes, standards, and engineering requirements
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and regulatory authorities
- Ability to travel up to 50% to project sites for inspections, audits, surveys, and construction observations
RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
- Review project drawings, specifications, and construction documents for compliance with applicable fire protection and life safety codes, standards, and best practices
- Perform technical reviews of building and development plans to ensure compliance with the Life Safety Code, NFPA standards, ICC codes, and other adopted regulations
- Conduct fire protection and life safety surveys, audits, and assessments at existing facilities and construction sites
- Perform field inspections and construction site walk-throughs to verify contractor materials, installation methods, and workmanship comply with approved plans and applicable requirements
- Review sprinkler system designs and hydraulic calculations for accuracy and code compliance
- Evaluate and verify compliance of fire alarm systems, gaseous fire suppression systems, smoke control systems, and other fire protection features
- Prepare technical reports, inspection findings, survey documentation, and project records
- Respond to client and stakeholder inquiries regarding fire prevention, fire protection systems, and life safety requirements
- Support project teams across K-12, federal, and commercial facilities throughout design, construction, testing, and commissioning phases
- Collaborate with registered Professional Engineers serving as Responsible Engineers-in-Charge to develop fire protection and life safety deliverables
- Lead and support fire protection and life safety initiatives, programs, and project activities
- Provide technical guidance and oversight to junior fire protection personnel when required and assist with departmental leadership activities in the absence of senior fire protection staff
- Identify deficiencies, recommend corrective actions, and work with project stakeholders to ensure issues are resolved effectively
- Gain progressive engineering experience under the supervision of licensed Professional Engineers, contributing toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure requirements
BENEFITS
Salary commensurate with experience. Interested and qualified candidates please submit a cover letter and a resume. Procon offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including full medical/dental insurance and 401(K) plan.
Procon is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.
See all 42+ STEM OPT Fire Protection Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Fire Protection Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Fire protection engineering falls under STEM-designated CIP codes, but your DSO must confirm your specific degree program is listed. Pull up your I-20 and cross-check your CIP code against the official STEM Designated Degree Program list before accepting any offer.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
STEM OPT is invalid without an E-Verify-enrolled employer. Ask recruiters directly whether the hiring entity, not just the parent company, is enrolled, since subsidiaries and joint ventures sometimes hold separate E-Verify accounts from their parent organizations.
Target AHJ-facing roles to strengthen your I-983
Roles involving authority having jurisdiction inspections, code compliance reviews, or fire suppression system design map clearly to engineering training objectives. A well-scoped I-983 training plan tied to specific project deliverables is harder for USCIS to question during an audit.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified STEM OPT employers
Search Migrate Mate to surface fire protection engineering employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and prior STEM OPT or H-1B visa filing history, so you spend time applying to employers who already understand work authorization rather than educating hiring managers from scratch.
Raise H-1B timing early in final-year interviews
Fire protection engineering roles often sit with mid-size specialty contractors who have filed H-1B before but infrequently. Confirm their intent to sponsor before your 36-month clock runs out, since USCIS registration opens in March and a missed cycle means a full additional year of waiting.
Document PE licensure progress in your training plan
Many employers expect candidates to pursue a Professional Engineer license. Listing FE exam completion or PE application milestones in your I-983 training objectives demonstrates a concrete professional development trajectory, which supports both your OPT compliance and future H-1B specialty occupation arguments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a fire protection engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree program is listed under a STEM-designated CIP code on the official STEM Designated Degree Program list. Fire protection engineering and closely related engineering disciplines typically qualify, but your DSO must confirm your specific CIP code before filing the extension request. If your program is listed, you're eligible for the additional 24 months of work authorization beyond your initial OPT period.
Does my STEM OPT employer have to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes, E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT. The specific legal entity that employs you, not just the corporate parent, must be enrolled. Before accepting an offer, ask the recruiter or HR contact to confirm enrollment using the employer's E-Verify company ID. If the company acquired or restructured recently, their enrollment status may not reflect the current hiring entity, so verify directly rather than assuming.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a fire protection engineer role?
Your I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your engineering degree. For fire protection engineers, that means listing concrete training goals such as conducting fire hazard analyses, designing suppression systems to NFPA standards, interpreting building codes for AHJ submissions, or developing egress plans. Generic descriptions like 'gain engineering experience' are insufficient. USCIS expects measurable outcomes aligned with your STEM field, and your supervisor must sign off on progress evaluations every 12 months.
What happens to my work authorization if my H-1B is selected in the lottery before my STEM OPT expires?
If your H-1B petition is filed before your STEM OPT end date and your status would otherwise expire before October 1, cap-gap protection automatically extends your OPT work authorization through September 30. You can continue working for the same employer without interruption. If your petition is denied or withdrawn, that cap-gap protection ends. USCIS confirms cap-gap eligibility, and your DSO can update your I-20 to reflect the extended authorization period.
Where can I find fire protection engineer jobs where employers are already open to STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate filters fire protection engineering roles by employers with E-Verify enrollment and prior work authorization filing history, which removes the uncertainty of approaching employers who have never sponsored before. Fire protection engineering demand is concentrated in construction, government contracting, and specialized consulting, so targeting employers in those verticals with documented sponsorship experience significantly shortens your job search timeline.