Job Description

Great Platform for Talent

Lead Fire Protection and Life Safety (FLS) design and authority coordination for HSR stations and rail tunnels (and associated back-of-house facilities), covering suppression systems, detection and alarm, smoke control strategies, egress coordination, and operational/commissioning requirements. The role is expected to manage high-risk interfaces typical to rail assets (stations, underground spaces, tunnel systems, plant rooms, and egress routes) and deliver authority-compliant designs for Middle East projects, including Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) requirements where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the FLS Basis of Design, performance requirements, and design assumptions for stations and tunnels, aligned with project fire strategy and operational philosophy.
• Design and coordinate fire suppression systems, including as applicable:
  • Automatic sprinklers (wet/dry/pre-action), standpipe/hose reels, hydrants, foam systems, and clean agent / inert gas systems for critical rooms (OCC/UPS/server/telecom rooms), water mist where specified
  • Fire pumps and pump rooms (duty/standby/jockey), water storage tanks, zones, pressure reducing valves, and sectionalization
• Lead design of fire detection and alarm systems and interfaces: initiating devices, notification, voice alarm interface, cause & effect, fireman’s controls, and integration with BMS/SCADA, access control, smoke control, lifts/escalators, tunnel systems (as applicable).
• For tunnels and underground environments: coordinate/define tunnel fire-life-safety philosophy and interface with:
  • Ventilation / smoke management (longitudinal/transverse, pressurization of egress, smoke extraction where required)
  • Emergency egress provisions (cross-passages, emergency exits, refuge areas, signage/wayfinding), fire-rated separation, and emergency lighting interfaces
  • Fixed firefighting systems (where required) and operational response requirements
• Perform and/or review hydraulic calculations (sprinkler/standpipe/hydrant networks) including demand and water supply verification; produce calculation reports and calculation submissions as required.
• Support and coordinate fire/smoke scenario studies as required (e.g., smoke modelling basis, tenability criteria, evacuation interface), managing inputs to specialist CFD/FDS consultants when applicable.
• Prepare project deliverables: design reports, drawings, specifications, datasheets, MTO/BOQ, and tender/IFC packages; ensure alignment with BIM deliverables and coordination models (LOD requirements).
• Lead multi-disciplinary coordination with Architecture (compartmentation, fire ratings, egress/evacuation), MEP/HVAC (smoke control, pressurization, damper logic), Electrical (power supplies, fire-rated cabling, controls, generator/UPS interfaces), ICT/Security (interfaces to PA/VA, ACS), and Civil/Structural (fire water tanks, pump rooms, penetrations).
• Support authority engagement and approvals, including:
  • Preparation of Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) submission packages (where applicable) and coordination of comments/responses
  • Coordination with other relevant approving entities as project-specific (municipality, rail operator, independent checker)
• Support procurement and delivery: technical bid evaluations, vendor clarifications, shop drawing review support, site queries/RFIs, inspection and commissioning planning.
• Develop/review testing and commissioning documentation: inspection and test plans (ITPs), flushing/chlorination, hydrostatic tests, pump performance tests, integrated cause & effect testing, and readiness for authority witnessing.
• Ensure compliance with project QA/QC processes, design governance, risk identification/mitigation, and change management impacting FLS systems.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering / Fire Protection Engineering (or equivalent).
• 14–16 years relevant experience delivering Fire Protection and Life Safety for major projects, with strong preference for rail/metro/HSR stations and tunnel/underground environments (or similarly complex critical facilities).
• Proven experience with Middle East authority processes, including Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) submissions/approvals and typical regional documentation expectations (comment resolution, resubmissions, witness testing requirements).
• Strong working knowledge of relevant codes/standards, including (as applicable to project):
  • NFPA 13, 14, 20, 24, 72, 101, and related standards for pumps, water-based systems, and fire alarm
  • Familiarity with NFPA 130 (rail transit stations/tunnels) and NFPA 502 (tunnel road tunnels) concepts where applicable to the project type and authority acceptance
  • IBC and commonly referenced international FLS frameworks; ability to map compliance to local authority requirements
• Experience producing coordinated design deliverables to LOD 300–350 (and higher where required) and providing contractor support through construction and commissioning.
• Demonstrated capability in leading complex interfaces, managing specialist subconsultants (CFD/FDS), and driving multidisciplinary design decisions.

Additional Information

Software

• Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks (model review / clash coordination), ACC/Autodesk Construction Cloud.
• Sprinkler / hydraulic calculation and design tools (as applicable):
  • HydraCALC, HASS, Elite Fire / SprinklerFitter, or equivalent hydraulic calculation software
  • AutoSPRINK / Revit add-ins (where used for sprinkler layout productivity)
• CFD / smoke modelling exposure preferred: FDS + Smokeview, PyroSim, or equivalent; ability to manage inputs/outputs and coordinate with specialists.