Fire Alarm Estimator

Description

Position: Fire Alarm Estimator

Company: Valley Fire Control, LLC

Location: Remote — must reside in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or Montana; preference for candidates near one of our offices

Scope: All Valley Fire Control locations — Albany, Newport, and Portland, OR; Spokane, WA; and FFF Protection in Greater Boise, ID

Reports To: Vice President of Operations

Employment Type: Full-time, hourly, non-exempt (overtime eligible)

Bargaining Unit Status: Non-union

Incentive Eligibility: Not commission or incentive eligible

Travel: Occasional travel to Valley Fire Control offices

 

Valley Fire Control is a fire and life safety company serving customers across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We design, install, inspect, and service pre-engineered and engineered fire suppression systems, portable fire extinguishers, kitchen suppression systems, fire alarm systems, and fire sprinkler systems.

 

In 2025 we joined Columbia Safety Services. Between our sister companies we deliver full-scope fire protection: fire alarm, fire sprinklers, clean agent suppression, backflow prevention, kitchen suppression systems, portable extinguishers, and related life safety equipment. FFF Protection, our Idaho operation, is a trade name of Valley Fire Control, LLC.

 

We are part of a growing multi-state fire protection group focused on building something long-term. We respect the trades, run a disciplined operation, and care about doing the work right.

 

Our core values guide how we operate: Customer First, Grit, Effective Communication, Own the Outcome, Take Pride in the Work, and Do the Right Thing.

 

We are expanding fire alarm work across every market we serve, and we already have more opportunity than quoting capacity. When estimating sits on the same desk as selling or operating, quoting becomes the bottleneck and good opportunities go cold waiting on a number.

 

This seat solves that. Your job is to turn plans, specifications, and field notes into complete, accurate estimates quickly and consistently, so our teams in each market can stay in front of customers instead of behind a spreadsheet.

 

This is a dedicated, remote estimating position supporting every Valley Fire Control location. You are the company-wide alarm estimating resource: bid and quote requests will come to you from Albany, Newport, Portland, Spokane, and Boise.

 

That breadth is the interesting part of this job and also the hard part. You will estimate across three states, multiple authorities having jurisdiction, and a mix that runs from single-device service quotes to full tenant improvement and new construction packages. Learning how requirements and costs differ between an Oregon coastal town, Spokane, and the Boise valley is part of the role.

 

This is a production seat, and we want to be direct about that. A typical day is roughly four small to mid-sized bids, or one large project bid. Specific expectations — including dollar-value targets, not just a daily count — are set clearly during onboarding so you know exactly what the job asks of you.

 

This position carries no sales responsibility, no customer ownership, and no business development expectation. It is not commission eligible.

 

Edwards is our primary fire alarm platform, and every Columbia Safety Services office is an Edwards Strategic Partner. We also install and service non-proprietary systems including Potter, Fire-Lite, and Silent Knight when a project or customer calls for it.

 

You will be expected to learn and sell the Edwards product line. We pay for the manufacturer training to get you there.

Requirements

 

• Review construction drawings, specifications, and field notes to define scope of work
• Perform device counts and takeoffs for fire alarm and related low-voltage systems
• Price labor, material, subcontractors, third-party design, rentals, and freight
• Prepare complete, clearly written proposals and bid packages for each market
• Manage multiple bids across multiple locations against firm due dates
• Apply the correct code edition, jurisdictional requirement, and labor rate for the market a bid is going into
• Submit and track RFIs and clarifications where scope is unclear
• Validate scope with local branch leadership and field supervision before release
• Identify exclusions, assumptions, and code-driven scope others may miss
• Maintain pricing databases, labor units, and estimating templates by market
• Track bid outcomes and hit rates, and feed what you learn back into future pricing
• Support post-award handoff by explaining how a job was priced

 

• Fast and accurate — you understand that a quick wrong number costs more than a slow right one
• Organized — you manage a multi-market queue without losing track of due dates
• Technically grounded — you understand how these systems are designed and how they get installed
• Self-directed — remote work requires you to manage your own day without prompting
• Clear in writing — your proposals do not require a follow-up call to interpret
• Comfortable asking — you flag unclear scope rather than guessing at it
• Adaptable — five locations means five sets of habits, contacts, and market conditions

 

An honest filter:

• If you want customer relationships and commission, this is the wrong seat
• If you need an office around you to stay productive, remote work will not serve you well
• If a daily output expectation feels like pressure rather than clarity, this will wear on you
• If you would rather master one jurisdiction than learn several, this will frustrate you

 

• 3+ years in fire alarm design, layout, takeoff, or estimating work
• Demonstrated experience performing takeoffs and building complete estimates
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications
• Working knowledge of the International Building Code and applicable NFPA standards — including NFPA 72 and NFPA 70 (NEC) — and the fundamentals behind them, not just where to look them up
• Strong Excel skills and comfort with cloud-based business software
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication
• Residence in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or Montana, with a dedicated home workspace and reliable high-speed internet
• Valid driver’s license
• Fluent in spoken and written English
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen

 

What we are deliberately not requiring

You do not need an electrical or limited energy license for this role, and you do not need to have worked in the field. We would rather hire a strong designer or estimator who understands the codes and can produce an accurate, complete takeoff.

 

Field experience is genuinely useful and we will not overlook it — a few years on a jobsite makes anyone a better estimator. It is simply not the qualification that gets you this job. If you have come up through design and layout rather than installation, you are exactly who we are looking for.

 

• Fire alarm design or layout experience, including device layout and circuit design
• NICET certification in Fire Alarm Systems (any level)
• Dedicated estimating software experience
• Experience with Edwards, Potter, Fire-Lite, or Silent Knight platforms
• Multi-state or multi-jurisdiction estimating or design experience
• Familiarity with Oregon, Washington, or Idaho permitting and AHJ submittal requirements
• Experience estimating sprinkler, suppression, kitchen system, or extinguisher scopes
• Some hands-on installation, service, or programming exposure — helpful context, not a requirement
• Residence near one of our offices — Albany or Newport, OR; Greater Spokane; or Greater Boise. This is a genuine preference, not a requirement.

 

• Hourly rate: $36.00 – $43.00 per hour, depending on experience and demonstrated estimating capability
• Classification: full-time, hourly, non-exempt. Overtime is paid for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
• This role is not commission or incentive eligible. Discretionary bonus consideration may apply based on company and individual performance; bonuses are not guaranteed.

 

Placement within the range reflects estimating experience, accuracy, throughput, technical depth, and multi-market capability. Advancement is based on demonstrated capability, not tenure.

Summary

 

• Remote flexibility in a trade that rarely offers it
• Company-wide visibility across five locations and three states
• A defined scope — you estimate, and you are measured on estimating
• No commission pressure and no carrying a sales number
• Real influence over which jobs we win and how profitably we win them
• A growing alarm business where you help build the pricing foundation rather than inherit it

 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance through Regence BlueShield, Delta Dental of Washington, and VSP — available to employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week, effective the first of the month following or coinciding with your hire date
• The company pays approximately 90% of the employee premium on the HSA-qualified medical plan, plus a substantial share of dependent premiums
• Health Savings Account with a $600 annual company contribution
• 401(k) with Safe Harbor employer match up to 3.5%
• Paid time off starting at 10 days annually and increasing with length of service
• Eight paid holidays
• Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance
• Employee Assistance Program, telehealth access, and optional pet insurance
• Paid training, certifications, and continuing education
• Company laptop and technology package
• Home office equipment provided

 

• Full-time, Monday through Friday, remote from your home office
• Core availability during Pacific Time business hours; note that our Boise operation works on Mountain Time
• Occasional additional hours around major bid deadlines
• Occasional travel to Valley Fire Control offices for team meetings, training, and planning
• Primarily desk-based work with extended computer use

If you are quick, accurate, and want a focused estimating seat with real breadth behind it, we want to talk.

 

Valley Fire Control, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

 

Employment with Valley Fire Control, LLC is at-will and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause or notice, consistent with applicable law.

3+ years fire alarm estimating/takeoff experience, ability to read construction drawings and apply NFPA/IBC requirements, strong Excel and written communication skills, valid driver\u000fs license, reside in WA/OR/ID/UT/NV/MT, pass background and drug screen.

Key Responsibilities

• reviewing drawings
• performing takeoffs
• preparing estimates

Skills & Tools

Edwards, Potter, Fire-Lite, Silent Knight, Microsoft Excel

Job Details

• Category: Skilled Trades - Construction
• Seniority: Mid Level
• Commitment: Full Time
• Workplace: Remote — Albany or Newport or Portland or Spokane or Boise or Washington or Oregon or Idaho or Utah or Nevada or Montana
• Salary: USD 74,880 – 89,440 / year
• Languages: English

Benefits

• 401k matching
• Retirement plan

About Valley Fire Control

A fire and life safety company that designs, installs, inspects, and services fire protection systems across multiple Western states. — Industry: Construction