Lead Fire Protection Engineer - Mission Critical

LJC; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

LJC Design & Engineering seeks a Lead Fire Protection Engineer to design fire protection systems for mission-critical facilities such as data centers and telecom hubs. You will lead design, calculations, documentation, and on-site commissioning, ensuring highest safety and reliability.

Ideal candidates bring 8–12 years in mission-critical fire protection, PE license, and experience with AutoCAD, Revit, and HydraCAD. Collaboration across disciplines and leadership of junior staff are essential.

Qualifications

• PE license required; CFPS or related certifications highly desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree a plus.
• 8–12 years of professional experience in fire protection engineering for mission-critical facilities (e.g., data centers).
• In-depth knowledge of NFPA standards (NFPA 75, NFPA 76, NFPA 2001), IBC and UL standards.
• Experience with fire protection design software (AutoCAD, Revit, HydraCAD) and BIM.
• Experience with commissioning, testing, and inspections of fire protection systems in mission-critical environments.
• Strong communication and project management skills; ability to lead and mentor junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and coordination of fire protection systems for data centers, telecom hubs, and command centers.
• Design and specify fire suppression, fire alarm, smoke detection, and life safety systems for mission-critical facilities.
• Perform hydraulic calculations and assess system effectiveness, including special hazard systems.
• Develop design criteria, specs, and documentation; ensure compliance with NFPA, IBC, UL, and local codes.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, civil engineers, and architects for integrated designs.
• Conduct risk assessments and system evaluations for mission-critical infrastructure.
• Oversee commissioning, testing, and on-site issue resolution; ensure regulatory compliance.
• Mentor and lead junior engineers; stay updated on industry trends and best practices.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, and deliverables; present reports to clients/regulators.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Risk assessment

Data center experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Master’s degree (plus)

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

HydraCAD

Job description

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $8.1 billion in revenue for 2025, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for mission critical, industrial, life sciences, power & energy, aviation, commercial, institutional, residential and sports & entertainment related building projects.

About LJC

LJC Design & Engineering is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

The Lead Fire Protection Engineer - Mission Critical will play a key role in designing fire protection systems tailored to mission-critical facilities, ensuring the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance. This role requires extensive experience in fire protection engineering, a deep understanding of the unique challenges of mission-critical environments, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, compliant, and cost-effective solutions. The ideal candidate will have experience in the design of fire protection systems for data centers, telecom facilities, and other high-security, high-availability environments.

The Specifics of the Role

• Lead the design, implementation, and coordination of fire protection systems for mission-critical facilities, including data centers, server farms, telecommunications hubs, and command centers.
• Design and specify advanced fire protection systems, including fire suppression (e.g., clean agent systems, pre-action sprinkler systems), fire alarm systems, smoke detection, and emergency life safety systems tailored to mission-critical environments.
• Perform detailed fire protection system calculations, including hydraulic calculations for sprinklers, and assessments of fire suppression system effectiveness, including special hazard systems.
• Develop and maintain fire protection system design criteria, technical specifications, and project documentation, ensuring compliance with industry standards and codes (NFPA, IBC, UL, local building codes, etc.).
• Collaborate with other engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, civil) and architects to ensure seamless integration of fire protection systems into the overall building design.
• Conduct risk assessments, system evaluations, and fire protection system analysis to determine the most effective solutions for mission-critical applications.
• Oversee system commissioning, testing, and inspections to ensure that fire protection systems are installed and functioning correctly, meeting design specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical expertise and support during construction and project implementation phases, addressing any issues or design changes that arise on-site.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and technical staff, providing leadership and fostering professional growth in fire protection engineering practices.
• Stay current with industry trends, new technologies, and emerging best practices in fire protection engineering, particularly as they relate to mission-critical facilities.
• Manage and track project schedules, budgets, and deliverables, ensuring timely and cost-effective completion of fire protection designs.
• Prepare and present detailed reports, technical documentation, and presentations to clients, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies as needed.
• Ensure the highest level of safety, operational continuity, and compliance with all applicable regulations and industry standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 8-12 years of professional experience in fire protection engineering, with a focus on mission-critical facilities (e.g., data centers, telecom facilities, control rooms).
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required; Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) or other fire protection-related certifications are highly desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of fire protection system design for mission-critical applications, including clean agent systems, pre-action sprinklers, and smoke detection technologies.
• Expertise in relevant codes and standards, including NFPA (particularly NFPA 75, NFPA 76, NFPA 2001), IBC, UL standards, and local building codes.
• Proficiency in fire protection system design software (AutoCAD, Revit, HydraCAD, etc.) and hydraulic calculation tools.
• Strong experience with commissioning, testing, and inspections of fire protection systems in mission-critical environments.
• Ability to perform risk assessments and system evaluations tailored to the specific needs of mission-critical infrastructure.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to interact with clients, contractors, regulatory bodies, and internal team members at all levels.
• Strong project management skills, with experience handling multiple complex projects simultaneously while ensuring adherence to budget, schedule, and quality standards.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment to deliver integrated solutions.
• Experience designing fire protection systems for large-scale data centers or other mission-critical facilities, such as server farms, control rooms, or telecommunications buildings.
• Familiarity with advanced fire suppression technologies such as clean agent systems (FM-200, Novec 1230), inert gas suppression systems, and pre-action sprinkler systems.
• Experience with BIM (Building Information Modeling) and its application in fire protection design.
• Knowledge of energy-efficient and sustainable fire protection design solutions for mission-critical facilities.
• Familiarity with global fire protection standards and best practices, including experience working in international markets.

Some Things You Should Know

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco and LJC?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Top 400 – Top Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.