Job Type

Full-time

Description

The Lead Pre-Construction Engineer is responsible for supporting new construction and renovation projects for primarily K-12 school district customers through accurate cost estimating, technical AV and low-voltage design development, and pre-construction planning. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, estimating, and solution design, ensuring proposed solutions are technically sound, financially viable, and aligned with client requirements and applicable codes.

What we offer

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) Plan with a discretionary company match
• Short-term/long-term disability and life insurance
• Flexible PTO
• 8 company-paid holidays and 1 floating holiday
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What you'll own

• Develop detailed cost estimates for new construction and renovation projects, including labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and contingencies.
• Review architectural drawings, specifications, and scope documents to define system requirements and create Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Validate labor assumptions, installation complexity, and sequencing to ensure realistic and executable estimates.
• Identify opportunities for value engineering that optimize cost while maintaining performance, compliance, and long-term reliability.
• Maintain and refine historical pricing, labor models, and estimating standards.
• Design end-to-end AV and low-voltage solutions aligned with project goals, budgets, and construction constraints.
• Develop conceptual designs and system approaches for:
  • Audio-Visual systems
  • Structured cabling
  • Video surveillance
  • Building access control
  • Intercom and life-safety-adjacent systems (where applicable)
• Collaborate with internal engineering, project management, and operations teams to ensure designs are constructable and scalable.
• Ensure proposed solutions comply with building codes, safety regulations, and industry standards.
• Support Sales by answering technical questions, clarifying scope, and contributing to proposal development.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration during thepre-construction and proposal phase,ensuring alignment between Sales, Engineering, and Operations.
• Present estimates, scopes, and technical approaches to internal stakeholders and, when needed, to clients or partners.
• Serve as a technical mentor to junior estimators or engineers, promoting consistency, accuracy, and best practices.
• Act as a key handoff partner to delivery teams, ensuring projects move from pre-construction to execution with clarity and confidence.
• Identify technical, cost, and schedule risks during pre-construction and propose mitigation strategies.
• Perform quality checks on estimates, scopes, and designs prior to submission or handoff.
• Flag assumptions, exclusions, and constraints clearly to avoid downstream change orders or margin erosion.

Requirements

What we're looking for

• 5+ years of experience in construction estimating and solution architecture for commercial and K-12 projects.
• Strong understanding of building codes, safety standards, and sustainable design principles.
• Experience with design-build and integrated project delivery (IPD) models.
• Knowledge of emerging construction technologies and smart building systems.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Fire Alarm, Intercom, and Data Structured Cabling experience a plus.

What to expect

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to focus. Occasionally, will have to work in outside weather conditions. May also be required to use specialized equipment, machines, and drive a loading truck. Must be able to lift at least 150 pounds.

55-65% travel required