Location
Hybrid WFH / Costain Office (target 60% in office/site) London or Manchester, with visits to projects across the UK, especially aviation sites such as Heathrow and Gatwick.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
We are seeking a highly skilled Fire Chief Engineer to join our Technical Excellence Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Group Chief Engineer. This high-profile role involves driving all aspects of fire expertise across the business, including construction operations, compliance, risk, design management, and upskilling. With significant growth expected in this technical discipline, agility, vision, leadership, and accountability are essential.

The Technical Excellence team supports the entire project lifecycle across all sectors, working within an engineering-led team that promotes a right first and safe by design ethos. The role focuses on engineering and requires a Chartered Fire Engineer or a candidate very close to achieving this status. A delivery mindset is critical to support projects and clients, ensuring excellence in all aspects of fire safety.

You will develop and own corporate processes, play a key role in determining supplier and staff competence, and respond to priority events. As the lead technical expert in fire at Costain, this Designated Individual (Fire) role will drive understanding and competence in fire across design, construction operations, built works, and legacy projects. Embedded within the Group Chief Engineer’s team, you will support multiple projects, sectors, and developments.

This leadership role reflects the increased focus on all aspects of fire safety and ensures the competency to deliver. You will own all Costain fire-related processes and provide proactive, hands-on support, leadership, and guidance across Costain and its supply chain.

Experience
- Recognised expertise in fire engineering including built environment, passive fire protection, active systems, temporary conditions, and construction sites
- Knowledge of the UK construction and building sector
- Agile and flexible approach to support a wide range of project types and topics
- Detailed knowledge of UK fire regulations, Building Safety Act, and industry best practice
- Skilled in auditing and risk assessment
- Experience delivering training and confident presentation skills
- UK safety training records such as CSCS or equivalent

About You
- Strong leadership and accountability
- Ability to work collaboratively with SHE design, temporary works, and construction delivery teams
- Ability to establish and deliver assurance frameworks and identify fire-related trends
- Confident representing the company at industry groups and events
- Proactive in developing and delivering fire-related training and upskilling across the business and supply chain
- Capable of leading fire-related investigations including fire events and design or construction failings

Qualifications
- Degree qualified in an appropriate technical subject
- UK Chartered Fire Engineer, ideally a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)
- Eligibility for UK Security Clearance (SC level) desirable
- Risk management training and line management skills are advantageous
- Budget awareness is beneficial