Development Project Manager - Fire Protection & Fire Alarm Subject Matter Expert (SME)

qtsdatacenters; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

QTS Data Centers seeks a Development Project Manager - Fire Protection & Fire Alarm SME to lead technical guidance on life safety projects for critical data-center facilities. You will interact with facilities, engineers, vendors, AHJs, and operations staff, traveling ~25% to perform reviews, design assessments, and commissioning activities.

The role requires advanced knowledge of NFPA standards and experience with fire suppression, detection, emergency communications, and integration with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering or related field, with at least 3 years of experience in fire protection, fire alarm design, construction, or operations.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in fire protection, fire alarm, life safety systems, engineering design, construction, commissioning, or facility operations.
• Minimum of 2 years applying NFPA standards, IBC, IFC, FM Global requirements, and local AHJ requirements.
• Experience with fire suppression systems, fire alarm systems, smoke detection systems, life safety systems, and emergency communication systems.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, submittals, and commissioning documentation.

Responsibilities

• Review drawing packages for adherence to fire protection and life safety design standards.
• Collaborate with design teams to evaluate designs for compliance with standards, local codes, insurance, and AHJ requirements.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to define project scope requirements and communicate them to design teams.
• Support project teams in resolving fire protection and fire alarm design issues during construction, testing, commissioning, and operations.
• Review fire protection hydraulic calculations, fire pump analyses, and system acceptance testing requirements.

Skills

NFPA standards knowledge

Fire protection design

Fire alarm design

Life safety systems

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering

Job description

Who we are:

As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be.

The Development Project Manager - Fire Protection & Fire Alarm Subject Matter Expert (SME) is primarily responsible for providing technical expertise and guidance on projects related to fire protection, fire alarm, and life safety systems. The Project Manager will interact daily with Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), Insurance Representatives, and Data Center Operations staff and should possess written and verbal communication skills commensurate with this level of engagement. The position will require approximately 25% travel.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review drawing packages for adherence to fire protection, fire alarm, and life safety design standards.
• Collaborate with internal and external design teams to evaluate designs for compliance with established design standards, local code requirements, insurance requirements, and AHJ requirements.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to define project scope requirements, evaluate deviations from standards, and communicate requirements to design teams.
• Work with construction, commissioning, and risk management teams to answer Requests for Information (RFIs), code interpretations, and value engineering proposals.
• Collaborate with the procurement team to review OFCI equipment submittals for compliance with fire protection and fire alarm design criteria.
• Support project teams in resolving fire protection and fire alarm design issues discovered during construction, testing, commissioning, and operations.
• Work closely with strategic procurement teams on fire protection and fire alarm equipment procurement.
• Review fire protection hydraulic calculations, fire pump analyses, water supply evaluations, and system acceptance testing requirements.
• Review fire alarm system architectures, battery calculations, sequence of operations, cause-and-effect matrices, and integrated testing plans.
• Participate in factory witness testing, site acceptance testing, integrated systems testing, and commissioning activities for fire protection and life safety systems.
• Coordinate with local fire officials, insurance representatives, third-party reviewers, and commissioning teams to support project approvals and occupancy milestones.
• Support the development and maintenance of standardized fire protection and fire alarm designs for mission-critical facilities.
• Provide technical guidance on fire suppression, fire detection, emergency communications, life safety systems, and integrated system performance.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Engineering, or a related technical field, with at least 3 years of additional experience in fire protection, fire alarm design, construction, or operations.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in fire protection, fire alarm, life safety systems, engineering design, construction, commissioning, or facility operations.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience applying NFPA standards, International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), FM Global requirements, and local AHJ requirements.
• Experience with fire suppression systems, fire alarm systems, smoke detection systems, life safety systems, and emergency communication systems.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, submittals, and commissioning documentation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience designing fire protection and fire alarm systems for data centers, mission-critical facilities, industrial facilities, or large commercial developments.
• Project Management or Project Lead experience on large-scale construction projects.
• Direct experience in the construction, testing, commissioning, or operation of data centers, critical medical facilities, industrial facilities, or other mission-critical environments.
• Strong knowledge of NFPA standards, including but not limited to NFPA 13, NFPA 20, NFPA 24, NFPA 72, NFPA 75, NFPA 76, NFPA 101, and NFPA 4, as well as applicable building and fire codes.
• Experience with FM Global Data Sheets, property insurance requirements, loss prevention strategies, and critical facility risk mitigation.
• Experience designing, reviewing, commissioning, or operating double-interlock pre-action sprinkler systems, water-based suppression systems, clean agent suppression systems, and special hazard protection systems.
• Experience with VESDA and aspirating smoke detection systems, very early warning fire detection systems, and integration with bui