Lead Fire Protection and Life Safety Engineer

Why join us

• The Pace: You will manage projects moving faster than anywhere else in the industry.
• The Impact: You are the person who turns "concepts" into "contracts" and "permits."
• The Team: Work with a world-class group of engineers defining the future of AI infrastructure.

What you'll do

As Lead Fire Protection Engineer, you'll serve as the technical authority for all life safety and fire suppression systems across Giga's manufacturing and data center product lines. You'll own the Fire Protection Plan of Record (POR), ensuring that our standardized designs for high-density compute environments are compliant with NFPA and IBC while optimizing for asset protection and business continuity.

This role requires deep expertise in special hazard suppression, complex alarm sequencing, and battery energy storage safety. You'll design fire protection systems that protect billions of dollars in critical AI infrastructure while enabling the rapid deployment model that sets Giga apart.

You'll navigate the unique challenges of modular data centers—from Double-Interlock Pre-Action systems to clean agent gaseous suppression, from lithium-ion battery risks to complex mechanical and electrical interlocks. Your designs will be replicated across hundreds of facilities, making standardization, reliability, and code compliance absolutely critical.

Where you'll work

If based outside of our Houston, Long Beach or San Francisco hubs, this role will be based remotely from your home office. You must be willing to occasionally travel to one of our hub offices 3 days out of the month.

Responsibilities

• Define standardized fire protection designs for Giga's modular data center product line, ensuring compliance with NFPA and IBC across all deployments
• Design and specify critical environment suppression including Double-Interlock
• Pre-Action systems and Clean Agent gaseous suppression (FK-5-1-12/NOVEC 1230) for high-value compute areas
• Execute rigorous hydraulic calculations to size piping, pumps, and standpipes, ensuring adequate water supply and pressure for high-challenge fire loads
• Develop suppression and containment strategies for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Lithium-Ion risks, ensuring compliance with NFPA 855 and managing explosion control requirements
• Engineer detection strategies for modular environments ranging from spot-type smoke detectors to linear heat detection or beam detection, balancing cost, reliability, and code compliance
• Create Cause and Effect matrices (I/O Matrix) for Fire Alarm Control Panels, coordinating complex interlocks with Mechanical (AHU shutdown, damper closure) and Electrical (EPO, shunt trip) systems
• Engineer audible/visual notification appliance layouts meeting NFPA 72 intelligibility and visibility requirements in high-noise industrial environments
• Execute egress modeling and occupant load calculations per NFPA 101 and IBC Chapter 10, validating exit widths, travel distances, and emergency lighting for modular and campus layouts
• Interpret and apply NFPA 75 (IT Equipment), NFPA 76 (Telecommunications), NFPA 13, and NFPA 72 across all fire protection design work
• Conduct technical discussions with Fire Marshals and insurance carriers (FM Global/AXA XL), negotiating performance-based design alternatives when prescriptive code limits innovation
• Generate fire protection drawing sets, hydraulic calculation reports, fire alarm sequence matrices, life safety plans, and code compliance report

Requirements 

• Professional Engineer (PE) in Fire Protection Engineering required
• 7+ years of experience in mission-critical, industrial, or semiconductor facility design
• Expert-level command of NFPA 13 (Installation of Sprinkler Systems) 
• Deep knowledge of NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) Strong understanding of NFPA 75/76 (Protection of IT/Telecommunications Facilities)
• Experience with NFPA 855 (Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems)
• Proficiency in hydraulic calculation software (HydraCAD, AutoSPRINK, or HASS)
• Experience with Revit MEP for fire protection design and coordination
• Proven ability to design Double-Interlock Pre-Action and clean agent suppression systems
• Track record coordinating fire alarm sequences with mechanical and electrical systems
• Strong understanding of egress modeling and life safety code requirements Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
• Excellent communication skills for engaging with Fire Marshals and insurance carriers

Bonus points

• Experience with FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator) or Pathfinder for egress modeling
• Background in data center or high-density compute facility fire protection
• Specific experience with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) fire protection Knowledge of FM Global or similar insurance carrier standards and requirements
• Experience with modular construction or prefabricated fire protection systems
• Understanding of performance-based fire protection design methodologies
• Track record creating standardized fire protection solutions for mass production
• Startup or high-growth company experience
• Experience with design-build or fast-track project delivery
• Background in both sprinkler hydraulics and special hazard suppression
• Familiarity with lithium-ion battery thermal runaway and suppression strategies

Benefits

• Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• Significant equity in a profitable, IPO-bound company
• 401(k) with 4% employer match
• Unlimited PTO
• Parental leave
• FSA/HSA options
• Commuter benefits
• Monthly team onsites across all offices

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Giga Energy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. Giga Energy complies with all applicable labor laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other relevant state and federal regulations. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage applicants who require accommodations during the hiring process to contact us.