Permanent - Technical Estimator & Designer - Johannesburg (Incl. Northern Suburbs) - South Africa

Job Number: 80570


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80570
Permanent
Technical Estimator & Designer
,AI tools,AutoCAD,CorelDRAW,Excel,Trello
Signage and branding service
Johannesburg (Incl. Northern Suburbs)
Gauteng
South Africa

The Role

  • The role combines signage manufacturing knowledge, material selection and costing, technical and graphic design, workflow management and the practical use of AI tools.
  • The successful candidate must be able to take a project from brief and drawing through technical interpretation, costing, design preparation and handover into production.

 

 

Responsibilities

Materials, Manufacturing & Costing

  • Apply strong practical knowledge of signage materials, their properties, applications and relative costs.
  • Understand how signage is manufactured and use this knowledge when interpreting drawings, selecting materials and developing solutions.
  • Prepare accurate material take-offs and costings, considering material usage, manufacturing methods, waste, outsourced processes and other relevant cost drivers.
  • Identify practical material or manufacturing alternatives where these can improve cost, lead time or manufacturability without compromising the required quality or structural intent.
  • Build and maintain a strong understanding of supplier pricing and material cost changes.

Technical Interpretation & Problem Solving

  • Interpret client briefs, drawings, specifications and site information and translate them into workable signage solutions.
  • Demonstrate strong technical ability and aptitude, with the capacity to understand how components fit together and how designs will be manufactured and installed.
  • Identify technical gaps, conflicts or risks early and raise clear questions before work proceeds.
  • Work through challenging problems logically and collaboratively, developing practical solutions that can be costed, designed and manufactured.

Costing, Excel & Commercial Accuracy

  • Use Excel confidently for estimating, costing, quantity calculations and related commercial worksheets.
  • Check that quantities, dimensions, formulas and rates used in costings are complete and accurate.
  • Ensure that design and manufacturing decisions are considered together with their cost implications.
  • Maintain clear costing records that can be understood and checked by others.

 

Workflow & Trello

  • Use Trello as part of the job-card and workflow process, keeping assigned work current and progressing through the required stages.
  • Record relevant project information, actions, queries and status updates so that estimating, design and production teams have clear visibility.
  • Support disciplined handover from estimating and design into manufacture.

Design Capability

  • Use CorelDRAW for signage layouts, graphic preparation and production-ready artwork where required.
  • Use AutoCAD for technical drawings and engineering-style design work where required.
  • Prepare drawings and design information that are clear, dimensionally accurate and suitable for costing and manufacture.
  • Work effectively across graphic-design and technical-design requirements rather than treating them as separate disciplines.

AI & Continuous Improvement

  • Use AI tools appropriately to improve research, problem solving, drafting, costing support, workflow efficiency and technical productivity.
  • Apply judgement to AI-generated outputs and verify technical, dimensional and commercial information before use.
  • Look for practical ways to improve estimating, design and workflow processes through better tools, templates and systems.

Collaboration & Communication

  • Work well with others across management, estimating, design, production and installation.
  • Communicate technical issues and proposed solutions clearly and constructively.
  • Be comfortable asking questions, challenging assumptions where necessary and contributing to better solutions.
  • Take ownership of assigned work and follow issues through to resolution.

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Core Competencies

  • Relevant Experience Practical experience in signage, manufacturing, estimating, technical design or a closely related environment.
  • Materials & Costing Strong understanding of signage materials, manufacturing methods and the relationship between technical decisions and cost.
  • Manufacturing Understanding Able to visualise and understand how a sign or component will be fabricated, assembled and prepared for installation.
  • Technical Ability & Aptitude Strong practical and technical reasoning with an ability to solve unfamiliar or challenging problems.
  • Excel Confident user of Excel for costing, calculations, schedules and structured project information.
  • Trello / Workflow Comfortable working within Trello or a similar workflow system and maintaining accurate job status information.
  • CorelDRAW Competent in graphic layout and production artwork for signage.
  • AutoCAD Able to prepare and interpret technical and engineering-style drawings.
  • AI Capability Comfortable using modern AI tools to improve productivity while checking outputs for accuracy.
  • Collaboration Works well with others, communicates clearly and contributes constructively to problem solving.
  • Commercial Awareness Understands that technical and design decisions must support quality, manufacturability, delivery and profitability.
Certificate
Certificate
Available

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