Fire and Ventilation Engineer/Designer

Who We Are

Join Africa’s fastest-growing chicken brand! Founded in Stellenbosch in 1997, Hungry Lion has expanded across multiple African countries, including Zambia, Namibia, and Angola. We are a high-energy, fast-paced team dedicated to serving "Bigger Chicken" and providing a modern QSR environment.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a skilled Fire and Ventilation Engineer/Designer to join our Facilities and Maintenance team at our Head Office in Stellenbosch. You will be responsible for the technical lifecycle of fire safety and air movement systems across our expanding network of stores, ensuring every Hungry Lion outlet is safe, compliant, and comfortable.

Key Responsibilities

• System Design & Specification: Develop end-to-end designs for fire detection, suppression, and kitchen ventilation/extraction systems for new store builds and refurbishments.
• Statutory Documentation & Sign-off: Responsible for the formal appointment and completion process by issuing Form 2 (Appointment of Competent Person) and Form 4 (Certificate of Completion) to local authorities as per the National Building Regulations.
• Compliance Certification (CoC's): Manage, verify, and issue Certificates of Conformity (CoC's) for gas (LPG), fire, and mechanical ventilation installations to ensure all store systems are legally compliant and audit-ready.
• Regulatory Alignment: Ensure all designs and installations meet SANS (South African National Standards) and local municipal fire regulations.
• Utility Infrastructure: Define infrastructure requirements for LPG and specialized kitchen extraction to minimize maintenance spend and operational downtime.
• Site Inspections & Risk Assessment: Conduct regular site visits to assess fire safety risks and perform technical troubleshooting on HVAC and ventilation equipment.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Liaise with architects, draughtspersons, and local authorities to ensure seamless project execution.
• Project Management: Manage budgets and timelines for fire safety capital projects from tender to final commissioning.

Essential Requirements

• Qualification: BEng, BSc (Eng), or BTech in Mechanical Engineering.
• Professional Registration: Active registration with ECSA as a Professional Engineer or Technologist (Pr Eng/Pr Tech Eng) is mandatory for signing off statutory forms.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in fire protection design and industrial ventilation.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in CAD or Revit for reviewing and creating infrastructure layouts.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Expert-level understanding of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act.
• Travel: Readiness to travel to various sites across Sub-Saharan Africa as required.