Principal Fire Engineer ● REF NO: SPE 103/26

City of Cape Town; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Cape Town seeks a senior Fire Engineer to join the Spatial Planning and Environment Development Management team. You will apply expert fire engineering knowledge to evaluate complex building applications and ensure compliance with fire safety codes and municipal requirements.

The role focuses on leading pre-consultation with architects, developers and engineers, reviewing advanced fire submissions, and guiding risk-based fire safety designs across development planning processes.

Qualifications

• Four-year engineering degree (B.Eng) or structural engineering degree, with fire specialization.
• 8–10 years post-registration professional engineering and fire-safety design experience.
• Professional Engineer registration with Engineering Council of South Africa.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist fire engineering expertise and quality assurance for complex building applications.
• Lead pre-consultation engagements with architects, developers and engineers to address fire safety requirements.
• Review advanced fire engineering submissions, including smoke ventilation, fire protection systems and evacuation designs.
• Coordinate alignment between Development Management and Fire Services and provide specialist advice.
• Provide strategic fire safety input into development planning, zoning and bylaws.
• Develop and maintain fire engineering review frameworks and QA processes.
• Mentor and coach building plan examiners and staff through development initiatives.

Skills

Fire engineering

Fire safety design

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng)

Bachelor of Structural Engineering

Specialized Fire Engineering

Pr. Eng. registration (ECSA)

Job description

Spatial Planning and Environment Development Management

Requirements:

• Four-year Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) or Bachelor of Structural, or specialized Fire Engineering

• A minimum of 8-10 years’ of post-registration professional

  engineering and fire-safety design experience

• Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.) registration with the

  Engineering Council of South Africa

Key Performance Areas:

• Provide specialist fire engineering expertise and technical

  quality assurance for complex building applications, rational

  fire designs and development proposals, ensuring compliance

  with applicable fire safety codes, standards and municipal

  requirements.

• Lead pre-consultation engagements with architects,

  developers, consulting engineers and other stakeholders to

  proactively address fire safety requirements, identify risks and

• Review and evaluate advanced fire engineering submissions,

  including smoke ventilation systems, fire protection

  installations, emergency evacuation strategies and

  performance-based fire safety designs.

• Coordinate technical alignment and collaboration between

  Development Management and Fire Services, providing

  specialist advice, resolving technical disputes and supporting

  informed decision-making on complex applications.

• Provide strategic and policy-related fire safety input into

  development planning, zoning, municipal bylaws and risk

  reduction initiatives, while representing the City at relevant

  professional forums.

• Develop, implement and maintain fire engineering review

  frameworks, technical assessment methodologies and quality

  assurance processes to support consistent and effective

• Mentor and support building plan examiners, technical staff

  and candidate engineers through training, coaching and

  professional development initiatives that enhance

  organisational fire engineering capability.

By submitting your application for a position at the City of Cape Town, you are consenting to the use of your personal information provided as part of your application and/or Recruitment process for Recruitment and Selection purposes. In addition, you may be required to undergo, including but not limited to, Criminal and Security Checks, Personal Verification, and Lifestyle Audits, throughout your recruitment process and/or subsequent employment.