Fire Protection Engineer (1343)

About this role

ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a Fire Protection Engineer to join our team supporting the Naval Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) at their Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL)! This position is full-time and will be based out of Niskayuna, NY with 20% hybrid flexibility. Responsibilities - Perform fire protection design reviews for new construction and major renovation projects to ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and internal requirements. - Review architectural and engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and design narratives for compliance with IBC, IFC, NFPA standards, and organizational criteria. - Evaluate the design and layout of passive fire protection features, including fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, fire doors, fire dampers, firestopping, and penetrations. - Review automatic sprinkler and other water-based fire suppression systems, including standpipes, fire pumps, and water supply systems. - Evaluate fire alarm, detection, and notification systems, including initiating devices, notification appliances, control units, annunciation, and building system interfaces. - Review hydraulic, flow, and demand calculations, device spacing and coverage, equipment sizing, and system configurations to verify performance, reliability, and maintainability. - Assess the integration of fire protection systems with HVAC, electrical, security, emergency power, elevators, and building automation systems to ensure proper response during fire and emergency conditions. - Identify fire protection design deficiencies, code non-conformances, and performance risks and develop recommendations for corrective action. - Collaborate with design teams, project managers, engineers, construction personnel, and other stakeholders to resolve fire protection issues prior to construction and occupancy. - Develop and review commissioning and acceptance testing plans for fire protection and life safety systems in accordance with NFPA 3, NFPA 25, NFPA 72, NFPA 80, and organizational requirements. - Witness and/or perform functional and acceptance testing of fire protection and life safety systems. - Conduct or oversee sprinkler and water-based system testing, including flow tests, valve operation, alarm transmission, and supervisory signal verification. - Witness and evaluate fire pump performance testing, including start-up, rated load, and overload conditions as applicable. - Perform or oversee fire alarm and detection system testing, including initiation, notification, signal routing, annunciation, and system interface testing. - Inspect and functionally test fire door assemblies, passive barriers, firestopping, and related components for proper installation, operation, and labeling. - Verify that fire protection systems and passive barriers are installed and configured in accordance with approved design documents, applicable standards, and manufacturer requirements. - Document design reviews, commissioning activities, test results, deficiencies, and corrective actions. - Track identified deficiencies and corrective actions through closure and verify systems are fully operational and ready for service and occupancy. - Support the preparation, review, and maintenance of as-built drawings, system narratives, design calculations, and operations and maintenance documentation. - Maintain accurate fire protection system documentation and configuration control. - Provide technical fire protection engineering guidance to project managers, facility engineers, operations and maintenance personnel, and other stakeholders. - Support periodic inspections, audits, and assessments of fire protection systems and passive barriers to verify continued compliance and system performance. - Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of fire protection design, review, commissioning, inspection, and testing processes, procedures, checklists, and templates. Requirements - Education & Years of Experience – Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Protection Engineering (or closely related discipline with a designated fire protection engineering major/concentration) and at least 5 years of relevant fire protection engineering experience; OR Bachelor's degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Chemical) and at least 7 years of directly related fire protection engineering experience in the fire protection field and 5+ years of relevant experience. - Citizenship – To be considered, you must be a United States (U.S.) citizen due to the federal nature of the work. - Clearance – To be considered, you MUST be able to obtain and maintain a government issued clearance before you can start. - Candidates with an active DOE "L" Clearance or DOD "Secret" clearance are HIGHLY DESIRED. - Solid understanding of passive fire protection systems, including design intent, code requirements, installation practices, and inspection/testing methods for fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, fire doors, fire dampers, and firestopping. - Solid knowledge of automatic sprinkler and water-based fire suppression systems, including system types, coverage requirements, hydraulic principles, water supplies, and functional testing. - Solid understanding of fire alarm, detection, and notification systems, including initiating devices, notification appliances, control panels, circuits, and building system interfaces. - Ability to read and interpret architectural, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection drawings, specifications, and technical calculations. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate fire protection system performance, identify deficiencies, and develop practical, code-compliant solutions. - Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to prepare technical reports, design review comments, commissioning documentation, and recommendations. - Ability to effectively communicate tec