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
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.
We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a Fire Protection Engineer (Grade 6) to support the design, analysis, and implementation of fire protection systems across a range of projects. This role will work under the guidance of senior engineers while independently delivering defined work packages and contributing to project success.
ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Support the design and development of fire protection systems including:
- Sprinkler systems
- Fire alarms
- Clean agent/suppression systems
- Special Hazards Systems
- Perform fire risk assessments and hazard analyses
- Prepare engineering drawings, specifications, and technical reports
- Review building plans and ensure compliance with fire codes and standards (e.g., NFPA, FM Global, IFC, IBC, UFC)
- Conduct site visits, inspections, and field assessments
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, architectural)
- Assist with system testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting
- Support senior engineers with project delivery, coordination, and client communication
- Contribute to continuous improvement of fire safety strategies and design solutions
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- Typically 2+ years of relevant experience in fire protection engineering
- Working toward or holding:
- EIT required
- PE preferred (or in progress)
- Experience with:
- Fire protection system design, codes and calculations
- Codes and standards (NFPA 13, 14, 20, 22, 24, 30, 72)
- Design tools (AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, HydraCad, SprinkCad FDT or similar)
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
WHY ARCADIS?
We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.
You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.
Together, we can create a lasting legacy.
Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING
We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Arcadis offers benefits for full time and part time positions. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. We offer nine paid holidays and 15 days PTO that accrue per year. The salary range for this position is $76,000 - $105,000. Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors, such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project and location.
INTRODUCTION
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.
We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a Fire Protection Engineer (Grade 6) to support the design, analysis, and implementation of fire protection systems across a range of projects. This role will work under the guidance of senior engineers while independently delivering defined work packages and contributing to project success.
ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Support the design and development of fire protection systems including:
- Sprinkler systems
- Fire alarms
- Clean agent/suppression systems
- Special Hazards Systems
- Perform fire risk assessments and hazard analyses
- Prepare engineering drawings, specifications, and technical reports
- Review building plans and ensure compliance with fire codes and standards (e.g., NFPA, FM Global, IFC, IBC, UFC)
- Conduct site visits, inspections, and field assessments
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, architectural)
- Assist with system testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting
- Support senior engineers with project delivery, coordination, and client communication
- Contribute to continuous improvement of fire safety strategies and design solutions
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- Typically 2+ years of relevant experience in fire protection engineering
- Working toward or holding:
- EIT required
- PE preferred (or in progress)
- Experience with:
- Fire protection system design, codes and calculations
- Codes and standards (NFPA 13, 14, 20, 22, 24, 30, 72)
- Design tools (AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, HydraCad, SprinkCad FDT or similar)
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
WHY ARCADIS?
We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.
You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.
Together, we can create a lasting legacy.
Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING
We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Arcadis offers benefits for full time and part time positions. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. We offer nine paid holidays and 15 days PTO that accrue per year. The salary range for this position is $76,000 - $105,000. Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors, such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project and location.
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.