Fire Systems Designer

SUMMARY:
Are you an experienced Fire Systems Designer with a passion for delivering compliant, innovative, and reliable fire detection and suppression solutions? We are seeking a highly skilled professional to join our engineering team, where you will play a key role in the design of fire protection systems for commercial, industrial, mining, healthcare, data centre, and infrastructure projects.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on technically challenging projects while ensuring the highest standards of life safety, regulatory compliance, and engineering excellence.

POSITION INFO:
Are you an experienced Fire Systems Designer with a passion for delivering compliant, innovative, and reliable fire detection and suppression solutions? We are seeking a highly skilled professional to join our engineering team, where you will play a key role in the design of fire protection systems for commercial, industrial, mining, healthcare, data centre, and infrastructure projects.
This is an exciting opportunity to work on technically challenging projects while ensuring the highest standards of life safety, regulatory compliance, and engineering excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Design fire detection, fire alarm, voice evacuation, and gaseous fire suppression systems for a wide range of projects.
• Prepare detailed system layouts, single-line diagrams, wiring schematics, equipment schedules, and installation drawings.
• Perform fire system calculations, including battery standby calculations, voltage drop calculations, and detector spacing layouts.
• Select appropriate fire detection and suppression equipment based on project specifications and applicable standards.
• Develop cause-and-effect matrices and control philosophies.
• Coordinate designs with electrical, mechanical, HVAC, architectural, and structural engineering disciplines.
• Prepare technical specifications, bills of quantities, tender documentation, and engineering reports.
• Review project documentation to ensure compliance with client requirements, SANS standards, and relevant fire codes.
• Provide technical support during installation, commissioning, and project handover.
• Assist with Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), and commissioning where required.
• Liaise with clients, consultants, contractors, and approval authorities throughout project execution.

Minimum Requirements

• National Diploma, BTech, BEng, or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years' experience designing fire detection and life safety systems.
• Proven experience with commercial, industrial, mining, healthcare, or data centre fire protection projects.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, or similar design software.
• Strong understanding of fire detection technologies, control panels, detectors, notification devices, and interface modules.
• Knowledge of addressable fire alarm systems from leading manufacturers such as Notifier, Ziton, Siemens, Bosch, Advanced, Kentec, or similar.
• Experience preparing technical documentation and engineering calculations.
• Valid driver's licence.

Highly Advantageous

• SAQCC Fire Designer registration.
• Knowledge of SANS 10139 (Fire Detection and Alarm Systems).
• Experience designing gaseous fire suppression systems (FM-200, Novec 1230, Inergen, CO₂).
• Experience with smoke detection, aspirating smoke detection (VESDA), beam detection, and flame detection systems.
• Knowledge of fire system networking, BMS integration, and graphical monitoring software.
• ECSA registration or eligibility for registration.
• Experience with mining, petrochemical, power generation, or mission-critical facilities.