Fire Engineering Graduate Scheme

Fire Engineering Graduate Scheme

(Fire Engineering - Designing solutions, eliminating the risks, igniting confidence.)

Fun Fact

What do a new Road Tunnel, Electric Batteries, Sustainability and Art on the Underground all have in common?They could be part of your new Fire Engineering career at Transport for London.

Salary

£32,250, rising to £33,500 in the second year

Location

London/ Hybrid

Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50% of time split between the office and home over a 4 week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements. However, there may be placements where you are required to come into the office more often for site visits etc.

What we offer

You will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the business area but mostly include:

• Free travel on the TfL network for you and a nominee who lives in the same household
• Final salary pension scheme
• Discounted national rail and Eurostar travel
• Minimum 30 days Annual leave (Pro rata dependent on role) plus public and bank holidays.
• Private healthcare discounted scheme
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers & many more

Duration

2 years

Entry requirements

A minimum of [2:2] accredited by [a body registered with the Engineering Council (e.g. IFE/IEI/CIBSE) or EU equivalent.] degree in [Fire Engineering/Fire Safety Engineering] or a closely related subject like [Structural or Mechanical Engineering with fire specific modules or fire related subjects].

Successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the scheme, as at the start date. This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa scheme. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, or only have a right to work here for a limited time which is lesser than the duration of the scheme, you should be aware that TfL will be unable to sponsor you for this role.

Please Note: We only allow one application for any of our Graduate schemes per year. Any subsequent applications will be withdrawn.

Proposed start date

7th September 2026

Job overview

Our Engineers focus on the assets that form the foundation of our transport system. Our Engineers focus on the assets that form the foundation of our transport system.

London never stops and the engineering challenge which we face in modernising and upgrading our systems has been likened to undertaking open heart surgery on a patient while they are running a marathon! Our network plays a massive role in ensuring London can become a Net Zero Carbon city and as Engineers we help shape the decisions that will lead to this carbon reduction.

Your work in the fire engineering team will span multiple transport modes, working in multi-disciplinary teams from across TfL with customers, local government, suppliers, consultants and contractors to deliver city-defining programmes and cutting-edge innovations. You will support reliable operation of one of the world's leading transport networks and shape London’s future transport network.

Graduates could be working on fire strategy reports, helping to install new systems, carrying out inspections, completing fire risk assessments and reviewing project designs. This could be on any part of the TfL network, from DLR to the Victoria Line to commercial properties.

What will I be doing?

As a graduate, your two-year development programme will be made up of up to eight placement rotations. Our aim is to equip you with the range of skills and experience you need for your successful career.

Projects will vary but can include design within multi-disciplines including fire, mechanical, electrical, comms & system design including fire interfaces. The programme will provide you first-hand experience working on sites with construction teams to learn about emergency management, installation of fire related systems and fire interfacing systems. Additionally, you will gain exposure to business operations, procedures network management and emergency procedures throughout the TfL network.

Some example projects which our graduates have previously worked on include:

• Bank Station Capacity Upgrade – A project which is seeing a whole new platform and station box built under the City of London
• Crossrail– Europe’s most complex railway infrastructure project - fire strategy and fire assurance
• Silvertown Tunnel – a new road tunnel under the Thames - Design of Active and Passive Fire protection systems.
• Electric Bus Fire Risk Analysis
• Victoria Coach Station – Upgrade of fire safety systems

We also understand that everyone’s career is different, so every graduate’s journey is unique. Here’s an idea of what yours could look like:

Asset Operations – 3 months - This will expose graduates to the guidance/standards on fire protection systems and equipment (detection, suppression, and compartmentation) on TfL premises, usually London Underground (LU) premises. It provides site-based and desktop-based approaches on how these systems interact and are managed to ensure that TfL premises are safe from the impact of potential fire outbreaks. Graduates will also represent the team during periodic site inspections with the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

Fire Precautions and Compliance – 3 months - Fire plans are integral features of all buildings and play a vital role in providing visual cues of the fire safety strategy. This placement offers graduates a thorough understanding of fire safety measures for various structures based on their use and description.

Places for London – 1.5-3 months - TTLP is the commercial property side of TfL and you will help move London forward with thriving connected places, enhancing the commercial property portfolio and drive revenue for the rest of the organisation. This placement will enable graduates to develop skills in reviewing and producing technical documents such as Fire Strategy Reports, Fire Risk Assessments, DSEAR and more, that set the basis for fire safety requirements control measures for TfL Commercial Property.

During the program, graduates are required to complete three core placements, two of which are recommended for a duration of 3 months each. The third one is suggested to take place within a period of 1.5 to 3 months. In addition to these core placements, graduates are given the option to choose from a range of other placements based on their preferences and area of specialization throughout the scheme.

Sustainability

Sustainability is intrinsic to TfL’s work ethos, and we ensure that we operate in a sustainable way to protect and regenerate the natural world.

As a TfL Graduate Fire Engineer, you would support with the inclusion of new systems and materials to meet TfL’s Sustainability targets and strategy.

Where can this career take me?

The aim of the programme is to equip you with the range of skills and experience you need for your successful fire career. Upon completing the scheme we would expect you to move into one of our fire engineering teams, where you will then continue to develop your career as a fire engineer through your assignments across TfL, progressively taking on more challenging roles as you build your core competence.

Within five years, we would expect you to be taking on increasing responsibility, leading engineering delivery and liaising with internal and external stakeholders to deliver complex engineering solutions. This will in turn facilitate your application for Chartered Engineer status. Graduates go on to undertake engineering management roles on multi-discipline projects of national importance or to lead discipline engineering teams, directly improving the experience of the travelling public and transforming how London moves and how TfL operates.

What training and support will you get?

Our award-winning teams will support your ongoing development, through a wide range of on-the-job practical experience and placements. We'll support your professional development through a combination of training, mentoring, and networking.

You'll also receive one-to-one guidance throughout the programme from your:

• Placement manager: Responsible for your day-to-day management and support with your development
• Scheme sponsor: A senior manager who acts as a technical and professional adviser and has line manager responsibility
• Buddy: Usually an apprentice or graduate who gives support to you and ensure that you feel welcomed in the organisation
• Development adviser/Mentor: Supports your professional development through providing career coaching and career progression at TfL

What do we look for?

Our core values are extremely important to us, and we desire candidates who are:

• Caring about our colleagues, our customers and our work
• Open to each other, to new ideas and to working together
• Adaptable to diverse needs and willing to innovate

Application process

The application process consists of 5 steps, including online assessments which will need to be completed within an allocated time frame. We highly recommend that you read through this document thoroughly so that you can familiarise yourself with the process.

If you already hold your qualification certificates, please upload copies of these to your application. If you are due to sit final exams or need to replace any certificates, these must be provided at a later stage.

You will receive information and guidance around each assessment stage as you progress through your application.

Please pay close attention to emails and deadlines provided noting you have 1 week to complete online assessments and we cannot re-issue these tests once the deadline passes.

Assessment centres for graduates and intern roles will take place from December-January, please note that many roles only have 1 assessment day and we are unable to guarantee alternative dates. We are conducting assessment centres in person and virtually (role dependent).

Our city. Made better by you.

TfL is a place that’s open to your ideas. Where you can make a tangible impact and see the positive results of your work on the people and places around you. It’s a place where you can thrive and achieve. Where you’re encouraged and enabled and empowered to feel pride in the work you do. The clue is in the name, really. We work together for a better London. A better place for everyone. Constantly improving and enhancing how we operate to shape a city of the future.

Inclusive recruitment process

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

In High Volume campaigns including Graduate, Apprentice and Intern recruitment the minimum criteria we set is achieving a pass mark in our first stage assessments, adopting a proportionate approach as part of the Disability Confident scheme.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments for any stages of the application process.

What Qualifications will I gain?

You will be developing your professional portfolio for Chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers. The expectation is that you will have signed-off 80% of the experience required for Chartership by the end of your 3-year scheme and be ready to sit for your Chartership review within 2-4 years after you finish on the Graduate scheme.

Contact us

Phone: 0203 005 1680 (Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17.30)

Email: EarlyCareersCampaigns@tfl.gov.uk

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.