Fire Protection Engineer

OpenAI

. Develop and maintain fire protection and life-safety design criteria, technical standards, and review requirements for self-build data center campuses .

Posted 10/28/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesSeniorLead💰 $177,000 - $285,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in Fire Protection Engineering with a strong focus on developing and maintaining fire safety design criteria, technical standards, and compliance with building codes. Proficient in integrating life-safety systems with various engineering disciplines and managing project execution from design through operational readiness.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Fire Protection Engineering ExperienceKnowledge of IBC, IFC, NFPA CodesFire Alarm and Detection SystemsProfessional Engineer LicensureExperience with Data Centers

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Fire Protection DesignHydraulic CalculationsSmoke Control SystemsIntegrated Life-Safety SystemsCommissioning RequirementsCode ComplianceTesting ProceduresEgress DesignSpecial-Hazard SuppressionField Issue Resolution

Soft Skills

Strong Written CommunicationStrong Verbal CommunicationSound Engineering Judgment

Certifications & Qualifications

Professional Engineer Licensure in Fire Protection Engineering

Industry Keywords

Data CentersIndustrial FacilitiesEnergy InfrastructureHigh-Density ComputeBattery Storage SystemsGenerator PlantsPerformance-Based DesignFire Hazard AnalysisIntegrated TestingMulti-Site Infrastructure Programs

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and maintain fire protection and life-safety design criteria, technical standards, and review requirements for self-build data center campuses
Review fire protection drawings, specifications, code analyses, fire and life-safety narratives, hydraulic calculations, equipment submittals, and sequences of operation across project phases
Provide owner-side engineering direction for fire detection and alarm, automatic suppression, fire pumps and water storage, smoke control, emergency communication, and related life-safety systems
Integrate fire protection requirements with architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, controls, security, hardware, and operational systems
Partner with code officials, authorities having jurisdiction, insurers, consultants, contractors, and equipment vendors to resolve code interpretations and approval risks
Support constructability reviews, RFIs, submittals, field inspections, deficiency resolution, and change management during construction
Define commissioning, integrated-system testing, acceptance, turnover, and operational-readiness criteria
Assess fire and life-safety risks involving high-density compute, battery and energy-storage systems, generators, fuel systems, utility infrastructure, cooling systems, hazardous materials, and construction activities
Support incident response, root-cause reviews, corrective actions, and lessons learned
Maintain records of design decisions, code positions, approvals, testing results, open risks, and turnover requirements
Travel regularly to project sites for design reviews, field execution, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent practical experience delivering fire and life-safety systems
8+ years of fire protection engineering experience supporting data centers, industrial facilities, advanced manufacturing, energy infrastructure, or other mission-critical environments
Strong knowledge of applicable building and fire codes and standards, including IBC, IFC, NFPA requirements, and local authority approval processes
Technical depth in fire alarm and detection, water-based suppression, special-hazard suppression, fire pumps and water supply, smoke control, egress, and integrated life-safety systems
Experience reviewing fire protection designs, specifications, hydraulic calculations, equipment submittals, testing procedures, and commissioning results
Ability to work with authorities having jurisdiction, engineering consultants, contractors, insurers, vendors, and internal stakeholders
Experience resolving field issues and design changes while maintaining code compliance, safety, quality, schedule, and documentation
Strong written and verbal communication and sound engineering judgment
Professional Engineer licensure in Fire Protection Engineering, or ability to obtain licensure in relevant jurisdictions
Preferred: experience with hyperscale data centers, high-density compute environments, or global multi-site infrastructure programs
Preferred: experience with battery rooms, energy-storage systems, generator plants, fuel systems, high-voltage substations, or campus utility infrastructure
Preferred: familiarity with performance-based design, fire and smoke modeling, quantitative risk assessment, or fire-hazard analysis
Preferred: experience leading integrated testing and coordinating fire alarm, suppression, controls, security, mechanical, and electrical interfaces
Preferred: experience developing reusable standards, design templates, commissioning requirements, and incident-prevention programs across multiple sites

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity
Performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
Employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expense accounts
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave: up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents
Paid medical and caregiver leave: up to 8 weeks
Flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays
Multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year
Paid sick or safe time
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend
Daily meals in offices and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Charitable donation matching and wellness stipends may be provided