Fire and Ventilation Engineer/Designer

About the role

Hungry Lion is seeking a Fire and Ventilation Engineer/Designer to join its Facilities and Maintenance team at the head office in Stellenbosch. The role will oversee the design, compliance and lifecycle management of fire safety and kitchen ventilation systems across the company’s growing network of outlets throughout Southern Africa.

Key responsibilities

• Develop complete designs and specifications for fire detection, suppression and kitchen ventilation/extraction systems for new builds and refurbishments.
• Prepare and submit statutory documentation (Form 2, Form 4) and Certificates of Completion to local authorities in line with the National Building Regulations.
• Manage, verify and issue Certificates of Conformity for LPG, fire and mechanical ventilation installations.
• Ensure all designs comply with South African National Standards (SANS) and municipal fire regulations.
• Define utility infrastructure requirements for LPG and specialised kitchen extraction to minimise maintenance costs.
• Conduct site inspections, risk assessments and technical troubleshooting of HVAC and ventilation equipment.
• Collaborate with architects, draughtspersons and authorities to ensure smooth project delivery.
• Oversee budgets and timelines for fire safety capital projects from tender through commissioning.

Required profile

• BEng, BSc (Eng) or BTech in Mechanical Engineering.
• Active ECSA registration as a Professional Engineer or Technologist (Pr Eng/Pr Tech Eng) – mandatory for signing statutory forms.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in fire protection design and industrial ventilation.
• Willingness to travel across Sub‑Saharan Africa as required.

Required skills

• Proficiency in CAD or Revit for creating and reviewing infrastructure layouts.
• Expert knowledge of the National Building Regulations, Building Standards Act and SANS fire and ventilation standards.
• Experience with fire detection, suppression, LPG systems and kitchen extraction design.
• Strong project management capabilities for budgeting and scheduling.