Job Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Position Objectives:
- Serve as the single-point technical authority for Fire Protection & Life Safety (FLS) systems across data center projects.
- Ensure full compliance with applicable NFPA standards, Civil Defense requirements, local codes, and client data center standards.
- Protect mission-critical assets and ensure life safety through robust, risk-based fire detection and suppression strategies.
- Govern FLS design to eliminate single points of failure and support data center availability and resilience objectives.
- Assure constructability, maintainability, and operational readiness of all fire fighting and life safety systems.
- Lead quality assurance of FLS installations, testing, and commissioning across all project phases.
- Drive successful authority approvals and third-party inspections with minimal rework or delay.
- Ensure seamless integration of FLS systems with BMS, DCIM, security, HVAC, and emergency power systems.
- Deliver fully compliant, tested, and operations-ready FLS handover documentation and training.
Job Description & Responsibilities:
- Act as the single-point technical authority for all Fire Protection & Life Safety (FLS) systems across data center projects.
- Review, validate, and approve FLS designs from concept to IFC, ensuring compliance with NFPA standards, Civil Defense requirements, local codes, and client specifications.
- Ensure fire detection, alarm, and suppression strategies are risk-based and aligned with mission-critical availability and life safety objectives.
- Govern the design and performance of fire pumps, water storage, sprinklers, pre-action/deluge systems, hydrants, hose reels, and clean agent suppression systems.
- Manage technical RFIs, NCRs, deviations, and design changes, ensuring timely resolution without impacting schedule or compliance.
- Enforce high installation quality standards for all FLS systems, including accessibility, labeling, valve management, and firestopping at penetrations.
- Lead and witness FAT, SAT, and site testing of fire alarm, releasing panels, pumps, and suppression systems.
- Own commissioning readiness, including cause & effect matrices, interlocks, zoning verification, and test procedures.
- Coordinate and manage authority inspections, third-party reviews, and approvals, ensuring first-pass success where possible.
- Ensure seamless integration of FLS systems with BMS, DCIM, security, HVAC shutdowns, and emergency power systems.
- Drive full compliance during high-risk activities and impairment management to maintain life safety at all times.
- Deliver complete, compliant, and operations-ready FLS handover documentation, training, and final certifications.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering, or equivalent (mandatory).
- 10–15+ years of experience in fire protection and life safety systems for large-scale or complex projects.
- Minimum 5+ years of direct experience in mission-critical facilities or data center environments (Tier III / Tier IV preferred).
- Proven expertise in fire alarm systems, releasing panels, fire pumps, sprinklers, pre-action and deluge systems, hydrants, hose reels, and clean agent suppression systems.
- Strong hands-on experience with commissioning, integrated systems testing, cause & effect validation, and authority witnessing.
- In-depth knowledge of NFPA standards (13, 14, 20, 72, 2001), Civil Defense requirements, and local fire codes.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), third-party reviewers, and insurers (e.g., FM Global where applicable).
- Ability to review hydraulic calculations, system zoning, interlocks, and performance criteria for mission-critical applications.
- Professional certifications preferred: CFPS, NICET (where applicable), NFPA credentials; PMP is an added advantage.
- Strong technical reporting, documentation control, stakeholder management, and site problem-solving skills under schedule pressure.
