AV & BMS Design Engineer

Utopiadesign; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Global project exposure

Job summary

Utopia is seeking an AV & BMS Design Engineer to support design development for luxury villas and boutique hotels worldwide. You will deliver innovative engineering solutions while maintaining aesthetic and functional standards in high-end hospitality developments.

Collaborating with architects, interior designers, and client representatives, you will ensure seamless integration of systems, lead CAD/BIM documentation, and contribute to value engineering while staying current with industry trends

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and presentation skills required.
• Professional level of English, both written and verbal.
• Degree in Electrical or Building Engineering focusing on AV & BMS systems.

Responsibilities

• Design AV & BMS engineering systems for luxury villas and boutique hotels.
• Collaborate with architects, interior designers and other engineers.
• Develop detailed drawings and system specifications using CAD/BIM tools.
• Lead market research on updated features and equipment for projects.
• Oversee equipment selection aligning with sustainable goals.
• Review deliverables from third-party designers and consultants.
• Stay updated on technologies, trends and regulations in AV & BMS.

Skills

Communication skills

English proficiency

Detail orientation

Education

Electrical/Building Engineering degree (AV & BMS)

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

KNX

Job description

About The Company

Utopia is an ultra-luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand creating a global ecosystem of properties and experiences. We develop private villa retreats in beautiful locations around the world, each with high-end service. Utopia also offers a wider ecosystem of leisure experiences and services available both to those staying on property and to external visitors. Utopia designs and builds its properties in-house. Our projects span the full journey: from concept and architecture to construction, interiors, landscape, guest experience, and long-term operation. For architects and designers, this means contributing on properties from the ground up, with the ability to influence how each place is planned, built, and experienced. For hospitality professionals, it means collaborating with a brand where service is personal, attentive, and built around each guest’s stay. We’re a young, ambitious team with high standards and a hands‑on approach. We value strong ideas, practical thinking, attention to detail, and people who are ready to take ownership of their part of each project. If you’re interested in architecture, design, hospitality, or guest experience, we invite you to explore opportunities with Utopia.

About The Role

We are looking for dynamic and experienced AV & BMS Design Engineer to support ongoing design development of several luxury projects worldwide focusing on boutique hospitality assets. This role requires a creative and technical professional who can deliver efficient and innovative engineering solutions while maintaining the aesthetic and functional standards expected in luxury developments. You will be responsible for design development of luxury villas and boutique hotels engineering systems. You will collaborate with the entire design team, including but not limited to architects, interior designers, structural engineers, the FF&E procurement team, and client representatives. To succeed in this role, you should have excellent communication and presentation skills, be punctual, detail-oriented, self-organized, and motivated to deliver quality results.

Responsibilities

• Design AV&BMS engineering systems for luxury villas and boutique hotels, ensuring compliance with local building codes, industry standards and client requirements.
• Collaborate closely with architects, interior designers, and other engineers to integrate systems seamlessly into the overall project.
• Proactively participate in spatial coordination with architectural and structural model, research efficient methodologies, equipment, systems to secure the initial design intent and high-end user experience.
• Timely resolve technical issues and challenges during the design phase.
• Lead the development of detailed drawings, technical documentation, and system specifications using CAD tools, with the support of BIM modelers.
• Perform market research for most updated features and equipment.
• Oversee equipment selection, ensuring it aligns with project requirements and sustainability goals.
• Provide input during value engineering discussions to achieve the best balance between cost, quality, and performance.
• Review and approve deliverables from third-party designers, consultants, and surveyors.
• Stay updated on the latest technologies, trends, and regulations related to AV & BMS systems in the luxury and hospitality sectors.

Requirements

• Degree in Electrical or Building Engineering with a concentration in AV & BMS systems
• 4 to 10 years of experience in design consultancy or general contracting
• Experience working on low-rise residential and hospitality projects - either hospitals, airports, private homes and villas, hotels, and resorts
• Experience with KNX
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Proficiency in AutoCAD or Revit
• Professional level of English, both written and verbal

What We Offer

• Global project exposure. Contribute to luxury hospitality projects across Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
• A truly international team. Collaborate across cultures, disciplines, and time zones with people bringing diverse perspectives and expertise.
• Remote collaboration. This opportunity is fully remote, giving you the flexibility to contribute from wherever suits you best.
• From concept to realization. Contribute across the full architectural journey, from early vision and planning to execution and operational experience.
• Exposure to luxury standards and materials. Engage with elevated design references, premium finishes, and globally inspired concepts.

By submitting this application, I agree that my personal data will be collected, processed, and retained by the company solely for the purposes of managing and assessing my candidacy.