Design Project Manager; Fire Protection Engineer

Compensation Grade: S22 | Salary Range: $-$ | Opening Date:
June 12, 2026 | Closing Date:
June 27, 2026.

Please note:

All job announcements close at 11:59 p.m. of the day before the posted closing date.

As a Design Project Manager (Fire Protection Engineer), you will manage a wide variety of multi-disciplinary projects to construct landside and airside improvements under the Aviation Enterprise Capital Construction Program (CCP), as well as projects under the Aviation Enterprise Capital, Operating, and Maintenance Investment Program (COMIP) at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Serves in the Design Department in the Office of Engineering locations at IAD and DCA.

As the Principal Staff Technical Advisor for CCP and COMIP projects, you manage multi-disciplinary fire protection engineering projects on airside and landside, coordinating with various stakeholders and ensuring compliance with contracts, safety, and regulatory standards.

• Conduct and manage design projects involving fire suppression, and fire detection and alarm systems routinely associated with airport work, e.g., Central Utilities Plant, Hydrant Fueling Distribution System, Fuel Farm, Building HVAC, Dedicated Fire Service, etc.
• Manage assigned capital improvement projects, including supervision and oversight of contractors and/or consultants for scope, quality, schedule, and budget management.
• Review the work of contract design firms and monitor fire protection engineering aspects of the CCP, COMIP, and tenant projects at IAD and DCA.
• Ensure projects are held to high Quality Control Standards and minimize changes during construction.
• Consult and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including engineers, architects, management officials, code officials, and others, on airport mechanical engineering-related projects.
• Present information and provide recommendations to the Office of Engineering leadership and other staff.
• Prepare or recommend engineering studies, designs, and improvements to design efforts.
• Develop and maintain the Airports Authority's design standards/guidelines for fire protection engineering.
• Conduct meetings with various stakeholders to establish and refine system standards, requirements, and design criteria.
• Collaborate with the Airports Authority Safety Program and Buildings Codes Managers to integrate safety requirements and ensure compliance with the Airports Authority’s MWAA codes and standards prior to project execution.
• Provide advice that feeds into decisions on the safe building occupancy levels, fire evacuation plans, and egress.
• Establish or approve functional criteria, performance requirements, and related specifications during the development phase.
• Specify or advise on regulatory requirements, design standards, and related issues (e.g., site configurations, adjacent construction, environmental permitting) for design criteria.
• Conduct site investigations and analyses, and provide design management support during the planning, design, and construction phases to monitor progress, inspect field conditions, and evaluate the quality control work of others.
• Review construction progress reports, shop drawings, material lists, and samples.
• Review with the engineer/architect of record on contractor‑submitted items to confirm design intent and project requirements have been satisfied.
• Assist with and witness testing of building fire protection systems, hydrant flow tests, and generate reports as required.
• Serve as a contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR) on airside and landside mechanical engineering-related projects and studies.
• Confirm that work has been completed in accordance with contracts, quality standards, and the Airports Authority’s goals for Small Local Business Enterprises (SLBEs).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in fire protection engineering and life safety. A master’s degree may substitute for two years of required experience.
• Knowledge in designing, inspecting, and testing fire alarm/detection systems, water-based…