Research Engineer - Wildfire

Why This Role Matters

The Research Engineer helps advance IBHS’s understanding of how wildfire exposures affect homes, businesses, and communities. Further, how practical mitigation strategies can reduce those risks. This position supports the design and execution of experimental, field-based, and analytical research focused on wildfire behavior, structure ignition, fire spread, building materials, and the performance of mitigation solutions.

Working closely with IBHS scientists, engineers, laboratory teams, external research partners, and industry stakeholders, this role translates complex research questions into well-designed projects and actionable findings. The position contributes directly to the development of science-based guidance that strengthens the resilience of the built environment.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Wildfire Research

• Plan and execute research projects examining how buildings, components, materials, landscaping, and surrounding conditions perform when exposed to wildfire hazards.
• Conduct research involving wildfire exposures, including wind-blown embers, radiant heat, direct flame contact, structure-to-structure fire spread, and other relevant ignition pathways.
• Support research that improves understanding of fire spread during wildland-urban interface fire events.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of wildfire mitigation strategies, construc