Development Program Manager (FA/FP Protection Engineering)

Quality Technology Services•Irving, TX

About The Position

It's pretty exciting to find yourself standing in a pivotal moment in time. It’s even more exciting to be out front leading it. At QTS, our world-class data centers are supporting our customers’ most strategic growth initiatives, positioning us at the forefront of today’s dynamic digital transformation. As AI and cloud drive the demand for increased speed, capacity and capability, QTS has emerged as the global digital infrastructure leader, committed to connecting the world for good. Driven by purpose and fueled by a spirit of innovation, QTS designs, builds and operates some of the world’s most advanced, forward-thinking data centers. QTS is a portfolio company of Blackstone. Who You Are: The Program Manager (FA/FP Protection Engineering) is responsible for providing technical leadership and strategic direction for fire alarm and fire protection (FA/FP) engineering across mission‑critical development projects. This role operates within the Design and Engineering team and serves as a key technical authority supporting the design, construction, and commissioning of data center facilities. The Senior Manager interacts daily with Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, and Data Center Operations teams, requiring strong written and verbal communication skills commensurate with executive‑level engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management, or equivalent professional experience
8–10+ years of professional experience in design engineering or the construction industry, related to fire alarm and fire protection design of data centers
4–8+ years of experience managing mission‑critical design, implementation, and project management
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, specifically: PowerPoint for executive‑level communication Excel for summarizing engineering deliverables and calculations
Demonstrated interest in a long‑term career within property design, engineering, development, or construction
Ability to travel up to 50% of the time (typically every other week for 2–3 days)
U.S. Citizenship required due to federal customer contracts

Nice To Haves

8–10+ years of experience designing fire alarm and fire protection systems for data centers, construction, operations, and facility maintenance
Project Management or Project Lead experience on large‑scale projects
Direct experience with construction of: Data centers Critical medical facilities Industrial, oil & gas, or large‑scale mechanical and power systems
Expert‑level knowledge of fire alarm and fire protection industry standards, procedures, and methodologies
Experience with performance‑based alternatives to prescriptive designs
Expert knowledge of fire alarm and fire protection systems and their integration into mission‑critical environments
Advanced multidisciplinary understanding of mission‑critical systems, design processes, pre‑construction, and construction execution
Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to senior leadership and non‑technical audiences
Professional Engineering (PE) license preferred, not required
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interface across all organizational levels
Proven team player who fosters strong internal and external collaboration
Strong problem‑solving skills at both tactical and functional levels
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Responsibilities

Manage a group of project managers and engineers responsible for reviewing drawing packages for adherence to established design standards
Oversee multiple design and engineering efforts across projects nationwide
Create and communicate development engineering program updates and milestone status on a monthly basis, suitable for executive‑level reviews
Present technical information clearly to support efficient and informed decision‑making
Collaborate with internal and external design teams to ensure designs meet company standards, local codes, and AHJ requirements
Partner with stakeholders to define project scope, manage deviations from standards, and communicate requirements to design teams
Support construction, commissioning, and risk management teams by resolving RFIs and value engineering inquiries
Collaborate with procurement teams to review OFCI equipment submittals for compliance with standard design criteria
Support direct reports and project teams in resolving design issues identified during construction and commissioning
Work with consultants to develop and review fire alarm, fire protection, and life safety calculations for compliance with design standards
Make decisions impacting regional projects and overall team direction
Drive best practices across the engineering team
Mentor junior engineers and new hires
Promote simplicity and innovation in solving complex technical challenges
Develop scalable, maintainable, and efficient engineering solutions
Drive engineering standards, quality, and consistency
Influence priorities and system architecture decisions
Actively develop team members and perform onboarding functions regularly