Giga Energy · 8 hours ago
Lead Fire Protection and Life Safety Engineer
Reno, NV
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
7+ years expGiga Energy builds the electrical infrastructure that powers the modern world, manufacturing transformers, switchboards, and modular data centers. The Lead Fire Protection and Life Safety Engineer will serve as the technical authority for fire suppression systems, ensuring compliance with safety standards and optimizing designs for high-density compute environments.
Electrical DistributionEnergyEnergy Management
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
Qualification
Required
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
Preferred
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
Company
Giga Energy
Energy Infrastructure to Power the Modern World
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Giga Energy has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$3.4MKey Investors
Magic Internet MoneyTen31
2022-03-01Seed· $2.3M
2021-08-01Pre Seed· $1.1M
Leadership Team
Brent Whitehead
Co-Founder
Recent News
Seattle TechFlash
2025-12-17
Company data provided by crunchbase