Fire Protection Engineer (Data Centers)

Jacobs; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 233,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase program

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Fire Protection Engineer to support its rapidly growing Data Center practice across the United States. You will collaborate with clients, architects, engineers, contractors, AHJs, and leadership to develop innovative fire protection designs that meet stringent reliability and code requirements.

You will work on large-scale campus master planning and hyperscale data center developments, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure successful project delivery and client

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of fire protection engineering experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (preferred).
• NICET certifications (preferred).
• Experience with NFPA codes and standards, IBC/IFC, FM Global data sheets, OSHA and local fire codes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Fire Protection Engineer for Data Center and Mission Critical projects.
• Provide fire protection system design, code analysis, and life safety engineering.
• Establish design criteria, basis of design reports, and technical standards.
• Coordinate with clients, AHJs, and project teams to ensure code compliance and project success.
• Assist project managers with scope development, staffing, budgets, and schedules.

Skills

Leadership

Written communication

Verbal communication

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Fire Protection Engineering

Tools

Revit

BIM coordination

AutoSPRINK

HASS

HydraCALC

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

This job opportunity is available at ANY location in the United States. Ideally, selected candidates will be near a JACOBS U.S. based office, but we intend to hire the "best" candidates.

In our Mechanical Data Center team, we elevate our clients by delivering cost-effective and transformative projects. We understand that the success of our clients is about more than well-designed facilities; it’s about well-designed strategies tailored for every market and every location.

We are seeking a Fire Protection Engineer to support our rapidly growing Data Center practice. This position will support the fire protection engineering across multiple projects and programs, and ensure technical excellence for complex mission-critical facilities.

In this role, you will collaborate with clients, architects, engineers, contractors, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), and internal leadership teams to develop innovative fire protection designs that meet stringent reliability, operational, and code requirements. You will work with the project teams that contribute to business development efforts, and help shape the future direction of our fire protection capabilities within the Data Center market.

Highlights of your contributions will include

• Serve as the Fire Protection Engineer for Data Center and Mission Critical projects
• Provide fire protection system design, code analysis, and life safety engineering
• Establish project fire protection design criteria, basis of design reports, and technical standards
• Participate in design reviews and quality assurance/quality control efforts across multiple projects
• Conduct code evaluations and interpretations using applicable NFPA, IBC, IFC, FM Global, and client-specific standards
• Develop suppression system concepts, including
• Water-based sprinkler systems
• Fire pumps and fire water storage systems
• Pre-action systems
• Clean agent systems
• Special hazards protection systems
• Perform and oversee hydraulic calculations for site fire water distribution networks, fire pumps, water storage tanks, and sprinkler systems
• Coordinate fire protection designs with mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, and architectural disciplines
• Interface directly with clients, insurance carriers, code officials, and AHJs to obtain approvals and resolve technical issues
• Support large-scale campus master planning efforts and establish fire protection strategies for hyperscale and AI-focused data center developments
• Assist project managers with scope development, staffing plans, budgets, schedules, and risk management
• Support proposal development, interviews, and business development activities within the Data Center market
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, codes, and industry trends impacting mission-critical facilities

Bring your curiosity, talent for multi-tasking and collaboration, and extreme organizational skills, and we’ll help you grow, pursue, and fulfill what drives you – so we can make big impacts on the world together

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of fire protection engineering experience

Extensive knowledge of

• NFPA Codes and Standards
• International Building Code (IBC)
• International Fire Code (IFC)
• FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets
• OSHA requirements
• Local and state fire codes
• Experience designing fire suppression systems for large industrial, commercial, mission critical, or Data Center facilities
• Strong understanding of fire pumps, water-based suppression systems, water supply analysis, and hydraulic calculations
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and mentor developing staff
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage executive leadership, clients, and AHJs

Ideally, You’ll Also Have

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Fire Protection Engineering
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• NICET certifications
• Significant Data Center and Mission Critical facility experience
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, and AI-focused Data Center developments
• Experience with battery energy storage systems (BESS), lithium-ion battery protection, and emerging fire protection technologies
• Familiarity with fire alarm systems, smoke detection systems, emergency communication systems, and life safety analysis
• Experience developing engineering standards, specifications, and best practices
• Working knowledge of Revit, BIM coordination, and hydraulic calculation software such as AutoSPRINK, HASS, HydraCALC, or similar tools
• Experience supporting global project delivery teams and multi-office engineering organizations

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $169,500.00 to $233,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on August 05, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.