Fire & Security Design Estimator
Stock, Essex | Full-time | Office based with site visits
We’re looking for someone who combines technical excellence with commercial instinct.
Someone who enjoys understanding buildings, designing compliant solutions, producing accurate quotations and winning work. They care about doing things properly, work at pace, take pride in their output and enjoy being part of a close-knit team that’s ambitious, supportive and enjoys what it does.
You know that great fire and security systems aren’t designed by software. They’re designed by people who understand buildings.
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys walking around a building, understanding how it works, identifying risks and producing practical, compliant solutions that genuinely meet a client’s needs, we’d like to talk to you.
At WFP Fire & Security, we’re trusted to solve problems that others struggle with.
We don’t simply replace systems because it’s easier. We take the time to understand what our clients are trying to achieve and design solutions that make the very best use of their investment in safety and security.
Our clients value honest advice, technical expertise and long-term relationships. That’s why they stick with us, and that’s why we’re looking for the right person to join our team.
Every project is different.
One week you could be designing a wireless fire alarm system for a residential tower block. The next you might be upgrading an ageing fire alarm system in a food processing facility, designing CCTV for a logistics warehouse or helping a commercial client modernise their existing fire and security systems.
If variety, technical challenges and building lasting client relationships appeal to you, you’ll enjoy working here.
The opportunity
Your primary responsibility will be to survey buildings, design compliant fire and security solutions, produce accurate quotations and help convert those quotations into orders.
This isn’t simply an estimating role.
It’s about understanding a client’s objectives, applying your technical knowledge and producing solutions that clients have confidence in buying.
Technical excellence is essential.
Commercial awareness is equally important.
You’ll enjoy presenting your recommendations, answering technical questions and explaining why your solution represents the best value over the lifetime of the system.
And when you’ve earned the client’s confidence, you’ll be comfortable asking the most important question:
“Are you happy for us to go ahead?”
What you’ll be doing
• Surveying commercial, industrial and residential buildings
• Designing fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1
• Designing domestic fire alarm systems to BS 5839-6
• Producing compliant fire alarm designs and quotations
• Completing battery calculations, loop loading and cable calculations
• Producing wireless radio integrity designs
• Designing CCTV systems, including Operational Requirement documents
• Designing intruder alarm systems, including risk assessments
• Estimating labour, materials and installation costs
• Working closely with our sales consultants, project managers and engineers
• Supporting clients throughout the quotation process
• Securing orders through technical knowledge, professionalism and trusted advice
You’ll probably have experience of
• Designing fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1
• Designing domestic fire alarm systems to BS 5839-6
• Apollo XP95 and Discovery
• Hochiki addressable systems
• Advanced MXPro5 fire alarm panels
• Hyfire wireless systems
• CCTV design
• Access control design
• Intruder alarm design
• Producing accurate technical estimates
Experience with other manufacturers is very welcome. We’re far more interested in your understanding of good design principles than experience with one particular product range.
FIA qualifications and a commitment to continual professional development are important to us.
The person we’re looking for
Your attitude is every bit as important as your technical ability.
You enjoy solving problems rather than taking the easiest option.
You genuinely care about the quality of your work and are proud to put your name to it.
You understand that every quotation represents someone’s investment in the safety and security of their people, property and business.
You’re commercially aware without ever compromising your professional integrity.
You enjoy helping colleagues, sharing knowledge and contributing to a business that’s continually improving.
Most importantly, you care about doing things properly.
Professional qualifications
Ideally, you’ll hold the FIA Level 3 Advanced Fire Detection & Alarm Design qualification (or be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and experience), confirming your ability to design fire alarm systems in accordance with BS 5839-1 and the relevant British and European Standards. This is the benchmark qualification we look for in our fire alarm designers.
For our other disciplines, recognised industry qualifications, manufacturer accreditations and demonstrable design experience are equally valued. Experience designing CCTV, Access Control and Intruder Alarm systems, together with accreditation or training from manufacturers such as Hikvision, Avigilon, Orisec, Texecom, Paxton or equivalent commercial systems, would be a distinct advantage.
Why WFP?
We’re ambitious, and we’re growing.
We’re building a business based on technical excellence, trust and long-term relationships with our clients.
You’ll work alongside experienced people who enjoy sharing knowledge and supporting each other, in an environment where your ideas are listened to and your contribution genuinely matters.
We expect you to challenge us.
If there’s a better way of designing a system, tell us.
If you’ve found a more efficient installation method, let’s hear it.
If you’ve discovered a product that genuinely improves reliability or reduces our clients’ long-term costs, we’ll want to know.
We don’t recruit people to maintain the status quo.
We recruit people who want to make the business better.
This is a serious role with real responsibility, but it’s also an exceptional opportunity.
The fire and security industry continues to grow, and so are we. We’re looking for someone who wants to build a long-term career, become a key part of our technical team and help shape the next stage of WFP’s journey.
If that sounds like the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re not looking for someone to just produce quotations.
We’re looking for someone whose designs become the reason clients choose WFP.
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