Building Management Systems & Life Safety Engineer

Astrion; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrion is seeking a Building Management Systems (BMS) and Life Safety Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA. You will be the SME for the center’s BMS and life‑safety networks, including DDC automation and fire alarm/mass notification systems.

The role focuses on strategic planning, modernization, safety, and operational resilience, with collaboration across IT security and contractors to ensure compliant, reliable facilities operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field with 5–10 years of experience, or 10+ years in lieu of degree.
• Familiarity with NFPA 72 and NFPA 101, and federal cybersecurity requirements.
• Niagara 4 (N4) certification is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead center‑wide BMS architecture, DDC automation, and mass notification at NASA Ames.
• Develop a 5–10 year modernization master plan and roadmap.
• Drive legacy controls modernization to open‑protocol frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with energy, cybersecurity, and life‑safety standards.
• Oversee testing, maintenance, and certification programs.
• Manage reliability and lifecycle of control and life safety systems.
• Review designs for system upgrades and compliance with NFPA standards.
• Leverage BMS data for energy savings and evaluate submittals for compatibility.
• Provide direction to field crews on sequences, thresholds, and graphics.
• Coordinate with IT security on IoT patching and security controls.
• Perform QA on code and logic changes and prepare compliance reports.
• Lead root‑cause analyses and mitigation actions; support RFIs/quotes.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

BMS Networks

Niagara 4 (N4)

NFPA 72 / NFPA 101

IT/OT Cybersecurity

Verbal & Written Communication

Project Leadership

Data Presentation

Education

B.S. in Electrical/Computer/Mechanical Eng

Tools

Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems

BMS Software

Job description

Overview

Building Management Systems & Life Safety Engineer

LOCATION: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

JOB STATUS: Full-time

CLEARANCE: None

TRAVEL: As Needed

SALARY: $150,000 - $170,000

Astrion has an exciting opportunity for a Building Management Systems (BMS) and Life Safety Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. The engineer serves as the primary technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the site's integrated control networks and life‑safety systems, including the center‑wide BMS architecture, direct digital control (DDC) facility automation, campus‑wide fire alarm networks, and mass notification infrastructure at NASA Ames Research Center. This is an oversight, engineering, and strategic planning role focused on seamless system integration, safety, and operational resilience.

Required Qualifications / Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering or similar technical degree with 5-10 years of experience, or in lieu of formal degree 10+ years hands‑on experience in large‑scale BMS/Fire Alarm networks
• Understanding and working experience of NFPA 72, NFPA 101 and federal cybersecurity requirements
• Current Niagara 4 (N4) certification Qualifications
• Demonstrated experience with integrated control networks and life‑safety systems
• Flexible in adapting to deadlines, changing schedules, competing priorities, and unpredictable events
• Thorough, detail oriented, and organized, with excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize tasks
• Familiar with and able to present data and recommendations to a diverse audience of project managers, engineers, technical staff, and contractors
• Superb verbal and written communication skills
• Self‑motivated problem solver and independent thinker

Preferred Qualifications / Skills

• Experience with modern open‑protocol frameworks, IT and Internet of Things (IT/OT) cybersecurity a benefit
• NASA and/or federal experience highly desired
• Knowledge and experience working within Federal and California facilities and infrastructure a benefit
• Exceptional customer relationship management highly desirable
• You may not check every box or your experience may look a little different from what is outlined, but if you think you can bring BMS & Life Safety Engineering value we encourage you to apply

Responsibilities

• The engineer is the authority for the center‑wide BMS architecture, direct digital control (DDC) facility automation, campus‑wide fire alarm networks, and mass notification infrastructure at NASA Ames Research Center
• Develop a 5-to-10‑year master plan and strategic roadmap for modernization and control migration including cost‑benefit analyses
• Drive the modernization of legacy proprietary controls to open‑protocol frameworks and oversee comprehensive fire alarm lifecycle management
• Ensure that facility automation systems strictly adhere to federal energy conservation goals, IT/OT cybersecurity mandates, and rigorous life‑safety standards (NFPA 72 and NFPA 101)
• Oversee comprehensive testing, maintenance, and certification
• Manage the long‑term reliability and lifecycle of the site's control and life safety architectures
• Review engineering designs for system upgrades
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 72 and NFPA 101, federal cybersecurity requirements
• Leverage BMS data for energy savings and evaluate engineering submittals for compatibility
• Provide technical direction to field crews for sequences of operation, alarm thresholds, and graphics
• Collaborate with IT security for IoT and controller patching
• Quality assurance checks on code and logic changes
• Provide Compliance reports for NFPA 72 inspections
• Provide technical requirements for equipment replacement
• Lead root‑cause analyses for failures and implement mitigation strategies
• Support technical reviews of any equipment replacement RFI's/quotes to ensure compliance with the technical requirements
• Identify, communicate, and deconflict tasks, deliverables and project impacts
• Interface with Government, contractors, and project partner staff for tasks, updates, and status
• Responsible for monthly, annual, and project milestone review assessments and reports