Principal Fire Engineer

Why CDC is a great place to work

CDC has been delivering high quality engineering services for over 12 years. As a small, privately owned company, we are not beholden to external investors whose focus is often exclusively on profit through fast growth, but rather seek steadier, more consistent, organic growth by investing in quality over quantity. Some of the reasons why CDC is a great place to work include:

• As a smaller company, our focus is on personalised support of each staff member, meeting them where they are and helping them develop from there.
• Whilst teamwork is at our core, and we encourage in-person work, we understand that life happens, and therefore support hybrid working that delivers a balance between remote working and in-person office attendance.
• At CDC, our focus is mastery by delivering high quality work, purpose by making a positive difference in the world we live in, and autonomy in delivering work which aligns with these. We aim to support and develop the successful candidate in aligning with, developing, and embodying these values.
• We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus performance‑related bonus/benefits.
• Support for professional development, chartership and relevant training and development.
• CDC is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We support flexible working arrangements where possible.

Why you may be right for this role

• You live around the South-East and are able to travel to Colchester.
• You hold a degree in Fire Engineering or a closely related engineering or science discipline (e.g. Mechanical, Civil, Structural, Building Services, Physics).
• You have substantial experience in fire engineering within a consultancy, design practice or similar environment, typically 7+ years of relevant post‑graduate experience.
• You have a strong, up‑to‑date knowledge of UK fire safety legislation and guidance.
• You have excellent report‑writing, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly to non‑specialists.
• You have proven experience in undertaking review/quality assurance activities for technical work and advice, including up‑skilling staff to deliver work of a high quality.
• You are experienced in preparing fire strategies and providing design advice for complex buildings across one or more sectors (e.g. residential, commercial, mixed‑use, healthcare, education, transport).
• You have demonstrable experience liaising with clients, design teams and approving authorities, and representing your organisation in meetings and workshops.
• You are a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or very near to chartered status with the Engineering Council, ideally via the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or another relevant institution.
• You hold Member grade (MIFireE) or above (or equivalent in a related professional body).
• You are familiar with fire and smoke modelling (e.g. FDS, SmartFire) and/or evacuation tools (e.g. Pathfinder), and the ability to interpret modelling outputs.
• You have experience in performance‑based fire engineering using qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• You are proactive, self‑motivated and able to take ownership of project deliverables with appropriate autonomy.
• You work collaboratively with team members and can build strong working relationships internally and externally.
• You have strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a pragmatic and solutions‑focused mindset.
• You have an unwavering commitment to continuing professional development and staying current with evolving legislation, standards and best practice in fire engineering.

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