Sr. Fire Protection Engineer - Nuclear Codes & NRC Compliance

Company Overview

Throughout our worldwide network of experts, clients and communities, we are renowned for our leadership in fire protection engineering – a legacy of responsibility we have proudly upheld since 1939. Today, our expertise extends broadly across closely related security and risk-based fields – from accessibility consulting and risk analysis to process safety, forensic investigations, security risk consulting, emergency management, digital innovation and more.

Our engineers and consultants collaborate to solve complex safety and security challenges, ensuring our clients can protect what matters most. For over 80 years, we have helped mitigate risks that threaten lives, property and reputations. Through technology, expertise and industry-leading research, we remain dedicated to our purpose of making our world safe, secure and resilient.

At Jensen Hughes, we believe that creating and sustaining a culture of trust, integrity and professional growth starts with putting our people first. Our employees are our greatest strength, and we value the unique perspectives and talents they bring to our organization. 

Our wide range of Global Employee Networks connect people from across the organization, supporting career development and providing forums for individuals to share experiences on topics they're passionate about. Together, we are cultivating a connected culture where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed together.

Job Overview

Jensen Hughes is seeking a Senior Fire Protection Engineer – Nuclear Codes & NRC Compliance. This position will serve as a technical leader in the development, evaluation, and implementation of fire protection strategies and regulatory compliance programs for commercial nuclear power plants, advanced reactor projects, Department of Energy facilities, and other nuclear-related infrastructure.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in nuclear fire protection engineering, with strong expertise in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements, nuclear industry codes and standards, fire hazard analyses, licensing basis evaluations, and risk-informed engineering approaches. This individual will work closely with plant engineering organizations, regulatory affairs teams, project managers, and clients to ensure compliance with applicable federal regulations and industry standards while supporting safe, reliable plant operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex nuclear fire protection engineering projects from proposal development through project execution and closeout.
• Perform and oversee Fire Hazards Analyses (FHAs) for operating nuclear power plants, advanced reactors, and nuclear facilities.
• Evaluate compliance with NRC regulations including:
• 10 CFR 50 Appendix R
• 10 CFR 50.48
• NFPA 805 Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Fire Protection Programs
• NRC Regulatory Guides and associated guidance documents
• Conduct engineering analyses related to:
• Fire area assessments
• Safe shutdown requirements
• Circuit analysis
• Fire barrier evaluations
• Post-fire operator actions
• Risk-informed decision-making
• Develop technical justifications, exemption requests, licensing basis modifications, and alternative compliance strategies.
• Interpret and apply industry standards including NFPA, IEEE, ASME, ANS, and other applicable nuclear industry requirements.
• Support plant modifications involving fire suppression, fire detection, fire barriers, and life safety systems.
• Prepare and review engineering calculations, technical reports, design basis documents, and regulatory submittals.
• Interface directly with utility clients, NRC personnel, project stakeholders, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and project staff.
• Support business development activities, proposal preparation, technical presentations, and client relationship management.

Participate in plant walkdowns, field assessments, inspections, and outage support activities as required.

Requirements and Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 8–12 years of progressively responsible experience in nuclear fire protection
• Minimum of 5 years supporting a commercial nuclear power plant directly or through nuclear engineering consulting services
• Demonstrated expertise with NRC fire protection regulations and licensing requirements.
• Experience performing Fire Hazards Analyses and compliance evaluations for operating nuclear facilities.
• Strong knowledge of:
• NFPA 805
• 10 CFR 50 Appendix R
• 10 CFR 50.48
• NRC Regulatory Guides
• NUREGs and industry guidance documents
• Experience preparing technical reports, engineering evaluations, and regulatory documentation.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining high-quality technical deliverables.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Degree specialization in Fire Protection Engineering.
• Experience supporting NRC audits, inspections, and licensing activities.
• Familiarity with Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) and Fire PRA methodologies.
• Experience with advanced reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), or Department of Energy nuclear facilities.
• NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) or similar professional certification.
• Project management experience leading large multidisciplinary engineering efforts.

Key Technical Expertise

• Nuclear Fire Protection Programs
• NRC Regulatory Compliance
• NFPA 805 Implementation
• Fire Hazard Analysis (FHA)
• Fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment (FPRA)
• Safe Shutdown Analysis
• Circuit Analysis
• Licensing Basis Evaluations
• Fire Detection and Suppression Systems
• Fire Barrier Design and Evaluation
• Regulatory Interface and Audits
• Performance-Based Fire Protection Design
• Risk-Informed Engineering Analyses
• Nuclear Plant Modifications and Upgrades

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Please note that the salary range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting and not a guarantee of compensation. Final compensation may vary  based on factors, including but not limited to, responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, geographic location, internal equity, alignment with market data.

Jensen Hughes offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a retirement plan, healthcare coverage, and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position and location.

National Pay Range

$127,000—$155,000 USD

Jensen Hughes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

At Jensen Hughes, we embrace innovation and understand that people are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and other generative platforms to learn, prepare and communicate.  We have provided some guidelines regarding the responsible use of AI in the recruitment process.  Please click here to review.

The security of your personal data is important to us. Jensen Hughes has implemented reasonable physical, technical, and administrative security standards to protect personal data from loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction. We protect your personal data against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure, using security technologies and procedures, such as encryption and limited access. Only authorized individuals may access your personal data for the purpose for which it was collected, and these individuals receive training about the importance of protecting personal data.  Jensen Hughes is committed to compliance with all relevant data privacy laws in all areas where we do business, including, but not limited to, the GDPR and the CCPA.  Additionally, our service providers are contractually bound to maintain the confidentiality of personal data and may not use the information for any unauthorized purpose.

*Policy on use of 3rd party recruiting agency for direct placements

Jensen Hughes will occasionally augment a recruiting search through agencies for certain positions when business conditions warrant. Jensen Hughes will not accept resumes, inquiries or proposals from recruiting agencies as an acceptable method to consider a candidate. 3rd party recruiting agencies must sign a standard Jensen Hughes agreement after being evaluated and accepted by a Human Resources or Talent Acquisition manager, or member of the talent acquisition team. Hiring managers and employees of Jensen Hughes are not authorized to accept resumes, engage in fee-based searches through recruiting firms or sign a search agreement. Please note this policy does not apply to “staffing firms” or firms that are involved with hiring temporary staff. Any recruiting agency interested in being considered may contact our recruiting team at jensenhughesrecruiting.com.