Fire Research Engineer
BRANZ is looking for a Fire Research Engineer to undertake industry-good fire research, as part of the Better Buildings Research team.
About the company -
We are the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ). Through building with science, we provide practical research, testing, quality assurance and expertise to improve New Zealander’s lives.
Our aspiration is to deliver affordable, resilient, sustainable and quality buildings for Aotearoa New Zealand.
At our heart, we’re a team of scientists, engineers and professionals committed to ensuring that buildings are the best they can be.
Our research and testing facilities in Porirua can simulate fire, earthquakes and extreme weather at scale and in close-to-realistic conditions, and can accelerate the impacts of decades of weather, UV, corrosion and daily use. This work is essential in keeping New Zealanders safe for generations to come.
For over 50 years, BRANZ has been based in Judgeford, half an hour from central Wellington. They employ more than 100 highly-qualified scientists, researchers and professionals and have well-equipped laboratories which support both their research programmes and commercial testing work.
About the role –
BRANZ are looking for a Fire Research Engineer to undertake industry-good fire research, as part of the Better Buildings Research team.
The BRANZ fire research team undertakes a variety of collaborative research activities within the “Building Fire-Safe Densified Housing” Programme. Project activities in this programme include “Fire safety quality processes in the New Zealand built environment” and “Fire risks associated with lithium batteries” to more interdisciplinary research areas such as the “Potential unintended consequences of high performance construction”.
A key part of the role is to work with industry and other stakeholders and transfer research outputs to them to gain research impact and effect behaviour change in line with the BRANZ strategy. To achieve this, you will be driven to understand the needs and dynamics of these stakeholders within the wider building sector system.
A range of activities will be undertaken in the role including modelling and analysing data, through to designing, building and burning fire research experiments. Expect to invest time on stakeholder engagement and knowledge transfer for a variety of audiences (e.g. peer-reviewed scientific papers, industry publications, seminars and webinars). You will need to keep current with international fire safety trends and understand how they may apply to New Zealand. You will also be involved with BRANZ-wide initiatives and champion BRANZ science innovation.
You will work alongside other internationally renowned engineers, scientists and researchers as part of the wider BRANZ team.
What we need from you -
· A post-graduate academic qualification in fire engineering
· Expertise and experience in fire engineering research (theoretical and experimental) relevant to the built environment
· Knowledge and understanding of scientific developments in fire research
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present to both technical and non-technical audiences.
· Proven track record in delivering projects and building effective networks of industry stakeholders
· A practical approach and enthusiasm to make a difference
What we can offer -
BRANZ has a large modern complex in Judgeford, a rural area only 5 minutes from the Transmission Gully Pāuatahanui interchange, and half an hour from Wellington city. The successful candidate may have to travel from time to time to visit stakeholders in other parts of New Zealand.
We have a collaborative environment that provides support and encourages personal development. We also have an active social club and there are numerous opportunities for outdoor activities on our doorstep including walking, running, biking and golf.
This role is for ongoing permanent employment, with a salary range of $90,000 to $115,000, dependent on skills and experience, based on a normal working week of 37.5 hours.
Skills & Experience
