Description
Position: Fire Alarm Estimator
Company: Columbia Fire, LLC
Location: Remote — must reside in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or Montana
Scope: Columbia Fire work only (Seattle market)
Reports To: General Manager
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 the Seattle office
About Columbia Fire
Columbia Fire has been protecting lives and property in the Seattle market since 2005. We design, install, inspect, and service fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, suppression systems, and portable fire extinguishers across Western Washington.
Columbia Fire is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Safety Services, LLC, which also operates Valley Fire Control, LLC in Oregon and Eastern Washington and FFF Protection in Idaho. We are building a formidable fire protection platform rooted in trust, execution, and long-term relationships.
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.
Why This Role Exists
Our alarm business is limited less by demand than by how fast we can put accurate numbers in front of customers. When estimating sits on the same desk as selling, quoting becomes the bottleneck and opportunities go cold while someone finds time to price them.
This seat solves that. Your job is to turn plans, specifications, and field notes into complete, accurate estimates quickly and consistently, so the people in front of customers can stay in front of customers.
About the Role
This is a dedicated, remote estimating position supporting Columbia Fire. You will work through a steady queue of bid and quote requests covering service, repair, deficiency correction, tenant improvement, retrofit, and new construction fire alarm work.
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
What You'll Do
- 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
- Manage multiple bids against firm due dates and keep the queue current
- Submit and track RFIs and clarifications where scope is unclear
- Validate scope with sales, operations, and field leadership before release
- Identify exclusions, assumptions, and code-driven scope others may miss
- Maintain pricing databases, labor units, and estimating templates so they stay current
- 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
Who You Are
- Fast and accurate — you understand that a quick wrong number costs more than a slow right one
- Organized — you manage a 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
Who Struggles Here
An honest filter:
- If you want customer relationships and commission, this is the wrong seat — apply for our sales role
- 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 have only ever estimated one project type, expect a learning curve across our mix
Minimum Qualifications
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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
- Familiarity with Seattle-area permitting and AHJ submittal requirements
- Experience estimating sprinkler, suppression, or other life safety scopes
- Some hands-on installation, service, or programming exposure — helpful context, not a requirement
Compensation
- 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, and technical depth. Advancement is based on demonstrated capability, not tenure.
Summary
Why This Role Works
- Remote flexibility in a trade that rarely offers it
- 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
- Backed by a growing multi-state fire protection group with long-term focus
Benefits
- 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
Schedule & Work Environment
- Full-time, Monday through Friday, remote from your home office
- Core availability during Pacific Time business hours to support the Seattle team
- Occasional additional hours around major bid deadlines
- Occasional travel to the Seattle office for team meetings, training, and planning
- Primarily desk-based work with extended computer use
Apply
If you are quick, accurate, and want a focused estimating seat without a sales quota attached, we want to talk.
Columbia Fire, 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 Columbia Fire, 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 or design experience; ability to read construction drawings and specs; knowledge of NFPA 72 and NFPA 70 (NEC); strong Excel skills; residence in WA/OR/ID/UT/NV/MT; valid driver’s license; background check and drug screen.
Key Responsibilities
- reviewing drawings
- performing takeoffs
- preparing estimates
Skills & Tools
Microsoft Excel, Edwards, Potter, Fire-Lite, Silent Knight
Job Details
- Category: Skilled Trades - Construction
- Seniority: Mid Level
- Commitment: Full Time
- Workplace: Remote — Washington or Oregon or Idaho or Utah or Nevada or Montana
- Salary: USD 74,880 – 89,440 / year
- Languages: English
Benefits
- 401k matching
- Generous paid time off
- Retirement plan
About Columbia Fire, LLC
A fire protection company designing, installing, and servicing fire sprinkler, alarm, and suppression systems in the Seattle market. — Industry: Construction