The Role:
The Forensic Fire Protection Engineer supports YA's Forensic Engineering team in the evaluation of fire rated assemblies and components in addition to the investigation of fires, explosions, and fire suppression system failures to determine origin, cause, and extent of loss or defect. Working on behalf of insurance carriers, legal counsel, and property owners across both public and private sectors, this role applies fire science, engineering principles, and knowledge of codes and standards to analyze physical evidence, evaluate fire protection equipment, fire rated assemblies and produce objective, defensible technical findings.
The position requires field investigation, evidence documentation, laboratory analysis, and clear written communication of complex technical conclusions.
In This Role, You Will:
- Conduct fire origin and cause investigations in accordance with NFPA 921
- Document scenes through photography, field sketches, and evidence collection
- Analyze fire patterns, burn indicators, char depth, and smoke deposition to determine origin
- Investigate electrical systems, appliances, HVAC, and other potential ignition sources
- Assess the role of building construction, fire-rated assemblies, fuel load, and ventilation in fire spread
- Evaluate the performance of sprinklers, fire alarms, and suppression systems against applicable NFPA standards
- Perform fire safety inspections and code analysis to identify contributing deficiencies
- Review hydraulic calculations and sprinkler system designs as part of loss assessments
- Collect and preserve physical evidence, maintaining proper chain of custody
- Coordinate lab analysis for accelerant detection, electrical failure, and equipment examination
- Prepare clear and well-supported technical reports documenting findings and opinions
- Perform fire simulation modeling
- Support depositions, mediations, and litigation as needed
What You Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of fire protection engineering experience, with 5+ years in forensic investigations
- Active PE license required
- Working knowledge of NFPA 921, NFPA system standards, and fire-rated construction requirements
- Experience evaluating fire alarm systems, suppression systems, and conducting fire safety inspections
- Familiarity with both public and private sector clients, including insurers, attorneys, and property owners
- Experience with fire dynamics modeling tools (e.g., FDS)
- Background in electrical failure analysis or equipment investigations
- Candidates in the Seattle area must be able to work in a hybrid arrangement and report to our Seattle office regularly; those located outside WA/OR should expect moderate to frequent travel, primarily within WA, OR, CA, and HI
Who We Are:
YA Group is an international professional services organization providing forensic consulting, engineering, risk mitigation, and related services. Founded over 25 years ago as a property damage consulting firm, YA has expanded through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Today, YA has over 800 professionals dedicated to excellence, partnership, and driving innovation.
YA Engineering Services (“YAES”) is a national forensic multi-disciplinary consulting firm. YAES provides immediate response to new assignments, performs investigations in a timely manner, and provides comprehensive reports that are clear, concise, and backed by reasonable analyses and recommendations. YAES offers a team of highly qualified, technically excellent engineering professionals who work seamlessly together to service the needs of our clients in the model of an engineering cooperative.
What We Offer:
- Employee-focused culture
- Strong commitment to work-life balance
- Remote & Hybrid opportunities
- Flexible vacation & Paid holidays
- Paid family care/sick leave
- Parental leave
- Comprehensive benefits
- 401k w/match
Fraudulent Recruitment Alert:
Please be vigilant against fraudulent recruitment attempts. YA will never ask for personal financial information (such as bank account numbers or identification numbers) via social media or chat-based apps. We also will not request money for the purchase of business equipment, post job opportunities on Craigslist or conduct interviews solely via text message.
All official email communications regarding your application will come from [email protected] or directly from a member of our talent team using an @yagroup.com domain name.
If you suspect any fraudulent activity, please contact us directly at [email protected].
Disclosures:
As part of our recruitment process, we may use AI-assisted tools to support candidate screening and evaluation. These tools are designed to assist—rather than replace—human decision-making, and all employment decisions are made by our recruiting team in accordance with applicable laws and our commitment to equal employment opportunity.
Where required by law, we will provide additional information about the use of these tools, including their purpose, and offer alternative processes or accommodations upon request.
