Full-Time
Building Management Systems & Life Safety Engineer
Updated on 8/20/2026
Akima
1,001-5,000 employees
Federal contractor delivering facilities, IT, logistics
Compensation Overview
$150k - $170k/yr
Mountain View, CA, USA
In Person
Travel is required as needed.
Bachelor's
 Building Systems & HVAC (2) |
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- A bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a similar technical degree with 5–10 years of experience, or 10+ years of hands-on experience in large-scale building management systems or fire alarm networks in lieu of a formal degree.
- Working knowledge and experience with NFPA 72, NFPA 101, and federal cybersecurity requirements.
- Current Niagara 4 certification.
- Demonstrated experience with integrated control networks and life-safety systems.
- Ability to adapt to deadlines, changing schedules, competing priorities, and unpredictable events.
- Thorough, detail-oriented, and organized, with strong time-management and task-prioritization abilities.
- Ability to present data and recommendations to project managers, engineers, technical staff, and contractors.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Self-motivated problem-solving and independent-thinking ability.
- Serve as the authority for the center-wide building management systems architecture, direct digital control facility automation, campus-wide fire alarm networks, and mass notification infrastructure at NASA Ames Research Center.
- Develop a 5-to-10-year master plan and strategic roadmap for modernization and control migration, including cost-benefit analyses.
- Drive modernization of legacy proprietary controls to open-protocol frameworks and oversee comprehensive fire alarm lifecycle management.
- Ensure facility automation systems adhere to federal energy-conservation goals, information technology/operational technology cybersecurity mandates, and life-safety standards including NFPA 72 and NFPA 101.
- Oversee comprehensive testing, maintenance, and certification.
- Manage the long-term reliability and lifecycle of the site's control and life-safety architectures.
- Review engineering designs for system upgrades.
- Ensure compliance with NFPA 72, NFPA 101, and federal cybersecurity requirements.
- Leverage building management systems data for energy savings and evaluate engineering submittals for compatibility.
- Provide technical direction to field crews for sequences of operation, alarm thresholds, and graphics.
- Collaborate with information technology security on Internet of Things and controller patching.
- Perform quality-assurance checks on code and logic changes.
- Provide compliance reports for NFPA 72 inspections.
- Provide technical requirements for equipment replacement.
- Lead root-cause analyses for failures and implement mitigation strategies.
- Support technical reviews of equipment-replacement requests for information and quotes to ensure compliance with technical requirements.
- Identify, communicate, and deconflict tasks, deliverables, and project impacts.
- Interface with government, contractors, and project partner staff regarding tasks, updates, and status.
- Complete monthly, annual, and project-milestone review assessments and reports.
- Experience with modern open-protocol frameworks and information technology/operational technology cybersecurity.
- NASA or federal experience.
- Experience working within federal and California facilities and infrastructure.
- Customer relationship management experience.
Akima provides services to the U.S. federal government across facilities, IT, logistics, protective services, systems engineering, mission support, FF&E, and construction. It delivers contracted, integrated services to help government missions succeed. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation, Akima aims to create long-term value for its parent while achieving superior outcomes for customers, guided by Iñupiat values. Its differentiators include Alaska Native ownership, a broad multi-domain service footprint, and a focus on federal missions; its goal is to support customer missions and sustain value for NANA and the Iñupiat community.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Founded
1995
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Akima ranked 31st on Washington Technology’s 2025 Top 100 contractors list.
- FDA awarded Akima Secure Technologies a $9.8 million sole-source contract in September 2025.
- Army and Air Force wins, including $73.3 million ERDS and $369 million T-7A work, sustain growth.
What critics are saying
- Akima Facilities Operations faces a 2026 IAM union election at Fort Lewis.
- Bowhead protested Akima’s Letterkenny task order on March 31, 2026, showing award volatility.
- Heavy reliance on federal sole-source work exposes Akima if 8(a) preferences tighten.
What makes Akima unique
- Akima won 8(a) sole-source ERDS work for Army on September 18, 2025.
- Akima combines facilities, logistics, IT, aerospace, and construction across 11,000 employees.
- Pinnacle acquisition added defense training and sustainment depth, including Air Force T-7A programs.
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Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Company News
Akima, a federal government solutions provider, has appointed Lauren Cates as vice president of business development for its Emerging Markets Group. Cates will lead growth strategy and expand the company's presence in delivering mission-critical technologies to government and military customers. Cates brings over 15 years of federal contracting experience. She previously led Indigo IT's growth team, securing major contracts in cybersecurity, cloud and enterprise IT services, and spent more than a decade with Bowhead Family of Companies managing billion-dollar pipelines. Akima, a subsidiary of Alaska Native Corporation NANA, employs over 11,000 people and delivers solutions across IT, logistics, aerospace and construction. The company ranked #31 on Washington Technology's 2025 Top 100 government contractors list.
Akima, a federal government contractor, has appointed Marcus Lopez as chief operating officer. Lopez will report to president and CEO Bill Monet and oversee operational excellence and customer delivery. Lopez brings over 30 years of experience in government and commercial sectors. Most recently, he served as president and chief growth officer at Belcan, a Cognizant company, where he led the integration of a $20 billion enterprise. Previously, he headed ManTech's Advanced Research Technology Business Unit. A former US Navy officer and pilot, Lopez commanded an elite strike/fighter squadron. Akima is a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation, employing 11,000 people and delivering solutions in IT, aerospace, construction and other areas. The company ranked 31st on Washington Technology's 2025 Top 100 government contractors list.
Akima has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Pinnacle Solutions, Inc., a provider of training and sustainment products and services to defense