Fire Protection Engineer

Markon is seeking a Fire Protection Engineer to support building fire protection design reviews and commissioning activities at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory's Knolls site. This role will ensure fire protection systems and life safety features are properly designed, installed, tested, and documented in accordance with applicable codes, standards, and internal program requirements.

NOTE: This position requires regular onsite work at the Niskayuna, NY location and may be performed remotely up to 20% of the time. Candidates with an active Secret or Top Secret clearance may be considered for this role as well.

Perform fire protection design reviews for new buildings and major renovations, including architectural and engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and design narratives.
• Evaluate the design and layout of passive fire protection barriers, including fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, fire doors, fire dampers, firestopping, and penetrations.
• Review automatic sprinkler and other water-based suppression systems, including standpipes, fire pumps, and water supplies.
• Review fire alarm detection and notification systems, including initiating devices, notification appliances, control units, and interfaces with other building systems.
• Review hydraulic, flow, and demand calculations, device spacing and coverage, equipment sizing, and system configurations to confirm performance, reliability, and maintainability requirements.
• Assess integration of fire protection systems with HVAC, electrical, security, emergency power, elevators, and building automation systems to ensure coordinated responses during fire and emergency conditions.
• Identify design non-conformances and performance risks, develop recommendations, and collaborate with design teams, project managers, and construction personnel to resolve issues prior to construction and occupancy.
• Develop or review commissioning and acceptance test plans for fire protection and life safety systems in accordance with applicable standards and organizational requirements.
• Witness or perform functional and acceptance testing of passive barriers, automatic sprinkler systems, fire pumps, and fire alarm detection and notification systems.
• Inspect and functionally test fire door assemblies and other passive barrier components for proper installation, operation, and labeling.
• Verify fire protection systems and passive barriers are installed and configured in accordance with approved design documents, applicable standards, and manufacturer instructions.
• Document design reviews, commissioning activities, test outcomes, and deficiencies; track corrective actions through closure and confirm systems are ready for service and occupancy.
• Support the preparation, review, and maintenance of as-built drawings, system narratives, design calculations, and operation and maintenance documentation.
• Provide 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.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of internal fire protection design, review, commissioning, and testing processes, checklists, and templates.

Required:

• An active DOE L clearance, though a Secret or Top Secret clearance may be considered as well.
• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, or a 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.
• Solid understanding of passive fire protection barriers, including design intent, code requirements, installation details, and testing/inspection methods.
• Solid understanding of automatic sprinkler system design and testing, including system types, coverage requirements, hydraulics, water supplies, and functional testing principles.
• Solid understanding of fire alarm detection and notification system design and testing, including initiating devices, notification appliances, control panels, circuits, and system interfaces.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection drawings, specifications, and technical calculations.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate fire protection system performance, identify deficiencies, and develop practical, code-compliant solutions.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of technical reports, design review comments, commissioning documentation, and recommendations.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills for tracking review findings, test results, and corrective actions through closure.
• Ability to collaborate with designers, project managers, construction personnel, and facility staff while maintaining independence and objectivity in technical review and approval activities.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, prioritize work, and meet schedule commitments for design reviews and commissioning activities.

Desired:

• Familiarity with the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), and applicable local amendments related to fire protection and life safety.
• Familiarity with relevant NFPA standards, particularly:
  • NFPA 3 - Standard for Commissioning of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems.
  • NFPA 13 - Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
  • NFPA 25 - Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.
  • NFPA 72 - National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
  • NFPA 80 - Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.
• Experience reviewing or developing commissioning plans and test procedures for fire protection and life safety systems in accordance with NFPA and internal requirements.
• Experience conducting or overseeing field inspections, functional testing, and integrated system testing of fire protection and life safety systems in complex or mission-critical facilities.
• Working knowledge of how fire protection systems interface with HVAC, electrical distribution, emergency power, security systems, and building automation systems.
• Familiarity with risk-based approaches to fire protection design and evaluation.
• Experience with internal or organizational fire protection design criteria, processes, and documentation practices.

Eager to join a team where your skills are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your impact is profound? Look no further than Markon, a premier consulting firm deeply dedicated to advancing our nation's most critical missions.

At Markon, we don't just offer jobs - we offer opportunities for personal and professional transformation. Empowering our employees to lead, innovate, and excel, we foster an environment where new ideas are not just welcomed but celebrated. As a perennial Washington Post Top Workplace, we prioritize the well-being and success of our team members, ensuring they can bring their best selves to work.

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Markon has garnered national recognition for our unwavering dedication to excellence in serving the intelligence community, as well as federal civilian and defense agencies. Our growing reach extends across 17 states, 116 countries, and 5 continents, where our team of dynamic professionals collaborates to deliver unparalleled program and project management services.

Markon values people and the tremendous impact each individual can make - which is why we're consistently recognized as one of the best places to work in federal government consulting. Here, you can help solve the nation's most important challenges, surrounded by colleagues who help you grow, advance, and succeed. We are deeply dedicated to what matters - bringing out the best in each other to advance our clients' missions.

Join us and make a meaningful impact.

Markon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Benefits Offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Training and Tuition Assistance, Paid Time Off, and Holidays