Development Project Manager – Fire Protection & Fire Alarm Subject Matter Expert (SME) at QTS Data Centers in Atlanta, GA

Job description

• 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.

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.
• This position will require approximately 25% travel.

Requirements

• 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.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interface with all levels of the organization.
• Must be a capable, proven team player who fosters and operates effectively within internal and external team environments.
• Ability to solve complex technical and operational problems at both tactical and functional levels.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of fire protection, fire alarm, life safety, and regulatory compliance requirements within mission-critical facilities.
• Ability to review, interpret, and communicate complex engineering designs, calculations, commissioning plans, and testing requirements.
• Strong understanding of risk management principles and fire protection strategies for high-availability and mission-critical environments.
• Ability to balance code compliance, operational reliability, maintainability, and business requirements when evaluating technical solutions.
• 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 building management and monitoring systems.
• Experience reviewing and validating fire alarm sequences of operation, cause-and-effect matrices, integrated system testing plans, and emergency response strategies.
• Experience evaluating performance-based fire protection designs, alternative means and methods, and equivalency reviews.
• Advanced knowledge of fire protection, fire alarm, and life safety system integration within mission-critical environments.
• Basic multidisciplinary knowledge of electrical, mechanical, controls, commissioning, pre-construction requirements, and construction processes.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical issues to senior leadership, insurers, AHJs, contractors, consultants, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Professional Engineering (PE) License, Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), NICET Certification, or equivalent industry credential preferred but not required.

Skills

Required

• Fire protection engineering
• Fire alarm systems
• Life safety systems
• NFPA standards
• International Building Code (IBC)
• International Fire Code (IFC)
• FM Global requirements
• Local AHJ requirements
• Engineering drawing review
• Specifications review
• Calculations review
• Submittals review

Preferred

• Data center fire protection design
• Mission-critical facility design
• NFPA 13, 20, 24, 72, 75, 76, 101, 4
• FM Global Data Sheets
• Property insurance requirements
• Loss prevention strategies
• Water-based suppression systems
• Clean agent suppression systems

Benefits

• This role is also eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and HSA accounts; paid holidays; paid time off; paid volunteer days; employee assistance program; tuition assistance; parental leave; military leave assistance; QTS scholarship for dependents; wellness program, and other company benefits.
• This position is Bonus eligible.