Senior Plumbing and Fire Protection Engineer

Senior Plumbing and Fire Protection Engineer – Newton, MA

Our office in Newton, MA is seeking a Senior Plumbing and Fire Protection Engineer to work in a fast-paced multi-discipline team environment. Our Plumbing and Fire Protection Engineers are responsible for designing building plumbing and fire protection systems for institutional, educational, industrial, and commercial projects, including college campuses, hospitals, labs, and central plants.

Essential Job Functions and Primary Responsibilities

As a Senior Plumbing and Fire Protection Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• Plumbing and piping system design including domestic/potable water system design, domestic hot water systems design, sanitary sewer system design, storm water system design, medical and specialty gas system design, pure water system design, and natural gas system design.


• Fire Protection and piping system design including system selection, service sizing, preliminary hydraulic calculations, piping and head layouts, standpipe design, fire pump design, and specialty fire protection systems.


• Plumbing and Fire Protection engineering calculations, equipment sizing and selection, system layout and coordination.


• Reading and understanding construction documents, floor plans, specifications and equipment details.


• Drawing production and Building Information Modeling (BIM).


• Applying knowledge of building codes and industry standards.


• Writing and editing specifications, reports, narratives and surveys.


• Attending external meetings to obtain design input information and ensuring that all facets of the plumbing systems are correctly coordinated.


• Performing site visits and issuing reviews and reports, surveying existing buildings and identifying plumbing and fire protection systems and components, reviewing equipment submittals, and responding to contractor questions.

Your Background

To succeed in this role, you need to meet the following basic requirements:

• Minimum of 8 to 10 years of experience in plumbing and fire protection design.


• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent science/technology degree preferred.


• Licensed/certified Professional Engineer, EIT, and/or CPD or ability to achieve licensing/certification preferred.


• Ability to design and coordinate in Revit.


• Detailed knowledge of building codes and industry standards.


• Efficient in MS Office, Outlook, and engineering calculations.


• Excellent oral and written communication skills.


• Creative thinker with effective teamwork skills.


• Ability to work in a fast-paced multi-discipline team environment.


• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively in the face of shifting projects and deadlines.


• A confident and positive attitude with colleagues and clients.

Compensation & Benefits:

The expected base salary range for this role is $1140,000 - $140,000 USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.

This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance


• 401(k) with company match


• Paid time off and company holidays


• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources


• Professional development support

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.

About Us: 

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.  

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.  

Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges. 

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.  

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.  

Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals and in which personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military service status, citizenship, or other protected characteristic.