Medical Engineering jobs in London

Head of Technical – Passive Fire Protection (Complex Existing Buildings)

Fire Doors , Fire Stopping, Fire Engineering & Smoke Control

Location: London & South East (Hybrid/Bermondsey Office)
Salary: £65,000-£75,000 basic
Company: Onyx Fire & Security

Build projects that matter

Real progression to leadership level as the business scales

At Onyx, we don’t do small thinking. We deliver complex passive fire protection projects in live, occupied and sensitive environments, with a proven track record at landmark institutions including the British Museum, Natural History Museum, Barbican, British Library, KPMG, and major live-site environments. Onyx is one of the UK’s leading specialists in fire safety, with a core focus on passive fire protection.

We’re trusted to deliver fire doors, fire stopping and compartmentation works where quality, compliance and operational control really matter. Our portfolio spans commercial offices, residential developments, retail, hospitality, heritage, education, and the crtiical infrastructure, we have delivered projects for some of the UK’s most recognisable institutions and brands.

We are now looking for an Head of Technical to support the delivery of fire door and fire stopping projects across multiple sites, clients and sectors. If you know how to run live projects properly, protect margin, lead teams and keep standards high, we want to hear from you.

Role Purpose

The Head of Technical is responsible for providing expert technical leadership and support across the business, ensuring all passive fire and fire safety works are designed, specified, delivered, and reported in line with current legislation, standards, and best practice.

This is a key role, bridging design, surveying, delivery, and compliance—ensuring technical consistency, quality assurance, and robust reporting across all projects.

Key Responsibilities1. Technical Leadership & Support

• Act as the central technical authority for:
• Passive fire protection
• Fire doors
• Compartment walls & fire stopping
• FRAEW (External Wall Assessments)
• Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs)
• Mechanical smoke control systems (AOVs, dampers, extract systems)
• Provide technical guidance to:
• Surveyors
• Contracts Managers
• Supervisors
• Commercial & estimating teams
• Review and advise on complex or high-risk technical issues

2. Design, Specifications & Compliance

• Review and develop:
• Technical specifications
• Scope of works
• Remedial strategies
• Ensure all works align with:
• Building Regulations & Approved Documents
• Relevant British Standards (BS / EN)
• Industry guidance (BM TRADA, IFC, FIRAS, etc.)
• Provide sign-off on technical approaches before delivery

3. Surveys, Reports & Technical Assurance

• Oversee and quality check:
• Fire door reports
• Compartmentation surveys
• FRA & FRAEW reports (with support from our fire enfineer)
• Smoke control inspections & assessments
• Ensure consistency and defensibility of technical reports
• Support complex site surveys where required

4. O&M Manuals & Handover Documentation

• Take ownership of all:
• O&M manuals
• Handover packs
• Certification documentation
• Ensure all documentation is:
• Accurate and complete
• Aligned with installed systems and works undertaken
• Compliant with client and regulatory expectations

5. Quality Assurance & Technical Governance

• Implement and maintain technical QA processes across the business
• Carry out:
• Spot audits of live projects
• Reviews of completed works
• Ensure:
• “Right first time” delivery
• Minimal defects and rework
• Support continuous improvement across delivery teams

6. Site Support & Inspections

• Attend site 1–2 days per week to:
• Support delivery teams
• Review technical challenges
• Undertake inspections and sign-offs
• Provide practical solutions to site-based issues

7. Training & Development

• Develop internal technical standards and guidance notes
• Support training of:
• Surveyors
• Supervisors
• Project teams
• Act as a mentor and technical escalation point

8. Stakeholder & Client Interface

• Support client meetings where technical expertise is required
• Provide confidence to clients on:
• Compliance
• Technical approach
• Deliverability
• Assist pre-construction and bid teams with technical input

Working Pattern

• 3–4 days office / home-based (technical reviews, reporting, support)
• 1–2 days site-based (inspections, audits, support)

Knowledge & Experience

• Strong background in:
• Passive fire protection & fire doors
• Compartmentation principles
• Fire risk and compliance environments
• Experience with:
• FRA & FRAEW reports
• Mechanical smoke control systems (desirable)
• Proven track record in:
• Technical leadership
• Quality assurance
• Multi-project environments

Qualifications & Accreditation (Desirable)

• FIRAS / BM TRADA / IFC (or equivalent)
• IFE or fire safety qualification
• Relevant NVQ / degree in construction or fire safety
• FRA / FRAEW competency (or working towards)

Personal Attributes

• Highly detail-oriented with strong technical judgement
• Commercially aware (understanding buildability and cost implications)
• Strong communicator—able to translate technical issues into clear actions
• Proactive, solutions-driven mindset
• High standards of quality and accountability

Success Measures (KPIs)

• Reduction in defects and rework
• Consistency and quality of reports
• Compliance across all projects
• Strength of O&M and handover documentation
• Improved technical capability across the business

Position Summary

This role is critical to ensuring Onyx continues to scale while maintaining technical excellence, compliance, and a reputation for delivering high-quality fire safety solutions.

Why join Onyx

• Join a business established in 2008 that is a leading UK specialist in fire safety with a core focus on passive fire protection.
• Work on meaningful projects in live, occupied, high-profile and technically demanding environments.
• Be part of a company that combines site delivery with digital reporting and real-time project visibility through systems including Salesforce, Onetrace, Procore and cloud-based reporting.
• Help shape projects that demand genuine leadership, not just admin. This is consistent with the senior-delivery emphasis in your job and competency documents
• Company phone
• Laptop
• Vehicle allowance or car

Important (Please Read Before Applying)

This role suits candidates who:

Have passive fire experience
Understand both technical compliance AND real-world delivery
Want to take ownership of standards across a business

May suit someone experienced as a level 4 fire risk assessor or fire engineer who enjoys both desktop and site based work.

This role is not suitable for:

Pure compliance auditors with no site exposure

Pay: £65,000.00-£75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Private medical insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bermondsey SE16