Applications Engineer — Fire Detection & Gas Suppression

Introduction

HMA South Africa supplies fire detection, gas detection and suppression solutions into mining, minerals processing, petrochemical, power generation and critical-facility environments across Africa. This role sits between sales and delivery: you take an enquiry, a P&ID, a set of drawings or a walkdown, and turn it into a compliant, costed, technically defensible proposal — then stay with it through engineering and commissioning support.

The core product platforms are Det-Tronics and Autronica addressable fire detection and alarm systems and Kidde gaseous suppression systems. You will be the person who knows those products properly.

Duties & Responsibilities

Proposals and estimating

• Interpret enquiries, tender documents, specifications, drawings and scopes of work; identify what the client actually needs versus what they have asked for.

• Perform design take-offs and produce bills of quantities for detection and suppression systems.

• Size and select equipment: panels, loops, detectors, sounders and beacons, releasing panels, cylinders, agent quantities, pipework and nozzles.

• Build costings and compile technical and commercial proposals, including compliance statements, deviations, exclusions and clarifications.

• Respond to tender queries and defend the design in technical adjudication meetings.

• Track quotations through to award and support the sales team with technical arguments where specifications favour a competitor.

Design and engineering

• Design fire detection and alarm systems to SANS 10139, and where applicable SANS 322 and SANS 246.

• Design gaseous suppression systems to SANS 14520 / ISO 14520 and SANS 306-4, including concentration calculations, hydraulic flow calculations using the manufacturer's approved software, nozzle placement, pressure relief venting and pipework routing.

• Account for cylinder and pressure equipment requirements under SANS 347 and the Pressure Equipment Regulations.

• Produce and check layout drawings, cause-and-effect matrices, block diagrams, cable schedules, loop loading and battery standby calculations.

• Apply hazardous area requirements where the installation demands it — SANS 10108, IEC/SANS 60079 series, intrinsic safety and Ex equipment selection.

• Issue design documentation that a registered competent person can sign off, and sign off the portions within your own registration scope.

• Specify and interpret room integrity (door fan) testing.

Project and site support

• Hand over designs to installation partners and contractors with proper documentation; answer RFIs during construction.

• Attend site for surveys, pre-commissioning checks, commissioning support and fault-finding on Det-Tronics, Autronica and Kidde equipment.

• Support production of as-builts, O&M manuals and certificates of compliance.

• Provide product and application training to customers, contractors and internal sales staff.

Technical stewardship

• Keep current with SANS, ISO and NFPA developments affecting detection and suppression design, and with manufacturer software and firmware releases.

• Maintain design templates, standard drawings, calculation sheets and pricing models so proposals get faster and more consistent over time.

• Feed application issues and product gaps back to the Det-Tronics, Autronica and Kidde principals and to the HMA Group's international technical teams.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Essential

• SAQCC Fire registration at Designer level in both Fire Detection and Gas Suppression, current and in good standing. (We will verify registration.)

• National Diploma or BTech/BEng in Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical or Mechatronic Engineering — or an equivalent trade qualification supported by substantial design experience.

• 4+ years designing and estimating fire detection and gaseous suppression systems in an industrial or commercial environment.

• Working command of SANS 10139, SANS 14520 / ISO 14520, SANS 306-4 and the fire provisions of SANS 10400, plus the competent-person obligations under the OHS Act 85 of 1993.

• Hydraulic calculation experience using manufacturer-approved suppression design software.

• AutoCAD proficiency.

• Valid driver's licence; able to pass site medicals and inductions for mining and petrochemical facilities.

Preferred

• Direct experience with Autronica panels and field devices, and with Kidde suppression systems (clean agent, CO2 and inert gas).

• Exposure to hazardous area classification and Ex equipment selection.

• Room integrity testing certification.

• Experience in mining, petrochemical, refining, power generation or data centre projects.

• Familiarity with NFPA 72 and NFPA 2001 where clients specify to international rather than SANS standards.

• ECSA registration, or working toward it.

• FDIA involvement.

• Revit or 3D plant modelling exposure.

Attributes we're looking for

• Rigorous with calculations and documentation. In this field a shortcut becomes someone else's incident report.

• Able to say no to a specification that won't work, and to explain why in terms a client's engineer will accept.

• Comfortable moving between a desk and a live plant.

• Organised enough to run several proposals at once against tender deadlines.

• Clear written English; proposals and compliance statements are read by people who did not write the enquiry.

What success looks like

• First 3 months — Autronica and Kidde product ranges and design software understood to the point of independent take-off; turning around straightforward proposals unaided.

• 6 months — Owning the full proposal cycle for detection and suppression enquiries; design documentation issued and signed within your registration scope; measurable improvement in quotation turnaround.

• 12 months — Recognised as HMA's technical authority on these platforms internally and by key clients; standard design and pricing templates in place; supporting commissioning on awarded projects.

Package & Remuneration

• Above market-related salary package.

• Principal-led training on Det-Tronics, Autronica and Kidde platforms; overseas training may be required.

• Support for maintaining SAQCC Fire registration and for further certification.

• Access to the HMA Group's engineering expertise across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and South Africa.

Interested?

Apply through portal. Attach your CV and include your SAQCC Fire registration numbers for both categories. In your application, describe one suppression system you designed end to end — the risk, the agent and why you chose it, the hardest part of the hydraulic calculation, and what you would do differently now.