Fire Alarm Design and Estimating Engineer

D2B; Johannesburg; Remote; ZAR 201,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

D2B is seeking a Fire & Security Estimating Coordinator to work remotely under an Independent Contractor Agreement. The role analyzes architectural floor plans, site videos, and survey data to design compliant fire alarm and security solutions, shaping proposals and ensuring margins.

Responsibilities include designing systems, reviewing site media, estimating quantities and labor, and preparing client quotations.

Qualifications

• 1 year minimum designing fire alarm systems to industry standards.
• Strong fire/detection system knowledge with CCTV and access control familiarity.
• Ability to read scale architectural drawings and take digital measurements.
• Experience in producing formal quotations and cost estimates.

Responsibilities

• Design Compliant Systems: produce layout proposals and equipment specs from drawings and site data.
• Analyze Site Media: review floor plans, surveys, photos, and video to define scope.
• Calculate Quantities & Labor: estimate cable runs, devices, power units, and labor.
• Prepare Commercial Proposals: itemized material lists, labor estimates, and client quotes with margins.
• Manage Vendor Pricing: obtain up-to-date pricing from suppliers and update quotes.
• Identify System Upgrades: highlight modernization opportunities during reviews.
• Translate Engineering Findings: convert engineer notes into client quotes.
• Coordinate Stakeholders: liaise with engineers, teams, and client reps; arrange site visits.
• Ensure Regulatory Compliance: align with BS 5839, BS 5266, EN standards.
• Support Field Operations: assist internal service and operations teams.

Skills

Fire design

Estimating

Plan reading

BS 5839 knowledge

Vendor pricing

CCTV/Access control

Tools

CAD

Bluebeam

Job description

Position: Fire & Security Estimating Coordinator

Salary: 18,000 - 20,000/mo ZAR

Working Hours: Observing UK business hours

Holidays: Observing UK public holidays

Work Set-up: 100% Remote work under an Independent Contractor Agreement

Target Start Date: ASAP

Our client is a premier life safety and security specialist dedicated to protecting commercial, industrial, and residential properties. In this technical desk-based role, you will analyze architectural floor plans, site videos, and survey data to design fully compliant fire alarm and electronic security solutions. Your expertise in fire system layout and precision estimating will directly shape high-value project proposals and drive operational success.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design Compliant Systems: Produce accurate layout proposals and equipment specifications for fire alarm systems based on architectural scale drawings and site survey intelligence.
• Analyze Site Media: Review floor plans, site survey notes, photos, and video footage to establish precise spatial constraints and installation scopes.
• Calculate Quantities & Labor: Estimate cable runs, device counts, power supply units, and labor requirements using remote desktop analysis.
• Prepare Commercial Proposals: Formulate itemized material lists, labor estimates, and accurate client-facing quotations while securing target profit margins.
• Manage Vendor Pricing: Obtain up-to-date component pricing from suppliers to optimize material costs and update quote records.
• Identify System Upgrades: Highlight opportunities to modernize legacy installations or add integrated security infrastructure during design reviews.
• Translate Engineering Findings: Convert complex field engineer notes and inspection logs into clear, actionable client quotes.
• Coordinate Stakeholders: Liaise with installation engineers, project teams, and client representatives to clarify technical ambiguities or arrange physical site visits when required.
• Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Maintain full alignment with relevant manufacturer guidelines and British Standards (BS 5839, BS 5266, BS 7858, EN 50131/PD 6662).
• Support Field Operations: Provide technical guidance and design clarity to internal Service and Operations teams.

• Fire Design Experience: Minimum of 1 year dedicated experience designing fire alarm systems to industry standards.
• Industry Background: Proven background in system estimating, technical desktop surveying, or design within the Fire and Security sector.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of fire detection systems, alongside familiarity with intruder alarms, IP CCTV, and access control.
• Drawing & Plan Literacy: Highly skilled at reading scale architectural drawings, schematic diagrams, and taking digital measurements.
• Standards Familiarity: Solid understanding of key British Standards governing fire safety installations (specifically BS 5839).
• Commercial Skills: Demonstrated ability to calculate unit margins, project costs, and produce accurate formal quotations.

Preferred Skills: (Nice-to-Haves)

• Field Background: Previous hands-on experience as an installation or service engineer.
• Digital Tools: Experience using CAD or PDF markup tools (e.g., Bluebeam) for digital takeoffs.
• Vendor Knowledge: Familiarity with major industry brands (e.g., Texecom, Hikvision, Paxton, C-TEC, Ajax, EMS Smartcell, Pyronix).