Electrical Estimating Manager — Remote (US Hours)
Premier Electrical Contractor | Los Angeles, CA
About Us
We are a premier commercial electrical contractor based in Los Angeles. We do tenant improvement electrical work for retail, restaurant, and commercial brands — think Nike, Starbucks, Panda Express, Zara. Our clients are General Contractors who hire us to install electrical systems when these brands open, renovate, or remodel locations across the LA metro area.
We move fast. Our team submits 50+ electrical proposals per week, and we need someone who can run the estimating operation, build systems to scale it, and close the deals.
The Role
This is not a traditional estimating desk job. You will own the full cycle — from reading plans and pricing the electrical scope, to calling the GC's Project Manager, walking them through your numbers, and signing the subcontract. You are equal parts estimator and closer.
What you'll do:
• Run daily electrical estimating for commercial TI projects — producing 50+ proposals per week across retail, restaurant, and office buildouts
• Build and refine systems for estimating at scale — templates, pricing databases, AI-assisted workflows, quality checks. Doing 50+ estimates a week by hand is not possible. You'll need to figure out the 80/20 and build the infrastructure to make it work.
• Review plans, perform quantity takeoffs, and produce accurate CSI Division 26 proposals covering power distribution, conductors, raceways, lighting, devices, fire alarm, and low voltage
• Call GC Project Managers to present your estimate, answer scope questions, negotiate pricing, and close the subcontract
• Maintain and update pricing databases with current US material and labor rates
• Flag scope gaps, coordinate clarifications, and manage revision cycles
• Work directly with the founder to prioritize bids and manage the estimating pipeline
What we're looking for:
• Electrical estimating experience on US commercial projects — you've priced TI, remodel, or fitout work before and you understand NEC standards
• Proficiency with estimating tools — PlanSwift, Bluebeam, or equivalent. You should be fast and accurate with quantity takeoffs.
• Strong spoken English — you will be on the phone with American GC Project Managers explaining your numbers, handling pushback on pricing, and negotiating subcontracts. If you can't hold a confident, technical conversation in English, this role isn't the right fit.
• Systems thinking — you're not just pricing one job at a time. You're building a repeatable, scalable process that can handle 50+ estimates a week without accuracy slipping.
• Comfort with AI tools — we use AI to assist with initial pricing and proposal generation. You'll be the human expert who validates, corrects, and improves the output.
• Negotiation ability — when a PM tells you another sub came in $5K cheaper, you don't just drop your price. You ask the right questions, understand the scope difference, and make the case for why our number is right.
Nice to have:
• Experience with CSI Division 26 scope formatting
• Familiarity with CFCI vs OFCI distinctions in electrical proposals
• Background in commercial construction sales or subcontractor business development
• Experience building estimating templates or pricing automation
No agencies. No AI-generated cover letters. We want to hear from you, not your chatbot.
