Lead Fire Protection Engineer – Facility Design

We are Olsson. We engineer and design solutions that improve the world around us. As a company, we promise to always be responsive, transparent, and focused on results – for our people, our clients, and our company. We’re a people-centric firm, so it’s no surprise our greatest asset is our people. The impact this creates is an environment that encourages our people to grow and be creative with their talents, building a culture that is uniquely Olsson.

About the role

Join Olsson’s South Facilities Engineering and Design team as a Senior Fire Protection Engineer, where you’ll take the lead on complex, mission-critical projects, including hyperscale data centers and secure facilities. This is a highly visible role within a multidisciplinary team known for delivering innovative, high-performance building systems. You’ll provide technical leadership on fire protection strategies that safeguard infrastructure, protect assets, and meet the most rigorous code and client requirements. You’ll collaborate with architects, MEP engineers, and security professionals across sectors such as data centers, healthcare, higher education, commercial, industrial, and federal facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of fire protection systems for secure and mission-critical facilities
• Develop and review fire suppression, alarm, and life safety system designs to meet client and code requirements (NFPA, IBC, IFC, UFCs, etc.)
• Serve as the technical expert and client liaison for fire protection scopes on data center and secure facility projects
• Coordinate across disciplines to ensure fully integrated system design
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to internal knowledge-sharing
• Support proposal development and contribute to project scope and scheduling
• Occasionally travel to project sites or other Olsson offices as needed (approximately 10% or less)

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection, Mechanical, or a related engineering discipline
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required; FPE preferred
• 8+ years of experience in fire protection engineering
• 4+ years of experience supervising and/or mentoring technical personnel
• Experience with hyperscale data centers, government, or other secure facilities
• Strong working knowledge of NFPA standards, IBC, IFC, UFCs, and client specifications
• Proficiency with relevant design and modeling tools preferred (e.g., REVIT, AutoSPRINK, HydraCAD, or similar)

Skills

• Strong communication skills
• Ability to contribute and work well with a team
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills

Benefits

• Competitive 401(k) match
• Tailored development paths to build your career
• Possibility for flexible work arrangements
• Wellness program promoting balanced lifestyles
• Traditional benefits package (health care, vision, dental, paid time off, etc.) for full-time employees
• Opportunity to participate in a bonus system that rewards performance
• Engage in work that has a positive impact on communities