Sales Engineer / Preconstruction Estimator Low Voltage, Security & Fire

Sales Engineer / Preconstruction Estimator

The Sales Engineer / Preconstruction Estimator plays a critical hybrid role supporting both business development and project estimating. This position combines technical estimating expertise with customer-facing sales support to help win, price, and successfully deliver low-voltage projects to include access control, CCTV, intrusion, structured cabling, and fire systems. This is a front-end, revenue-impacting role that works closely with sales leadership, general contractors, and end users to shape scope, pricing strategy, and competitive market positioning.

Essential Functions

Sales & Pre-construction Responsibilities

• Support sales efforts by participating in customer calls, scope reviews, pre-bid meetings, and proposal strategy discussions
• Assisting solution design, scope development, and pricing strategy for negotiated and hard-bid work
• Help qualify opportunities by identifying technical risk, constructability concerns, and margin exposure
• Present estimates, clarifications, and value-engineering options to internal and external stakeholders
• Serve as a technical resource to sales leadership throughout the pursuit process

Estimating Responsibilities

• Interpret project documents including plans, specifications, addenda, and bid instructions
• Perform detailed takeoffs and cost estimates for access control, CCTV, intrusion, structured cabling, and fire systems.
• Develop labor models and material pricing aligned with project scope and schedule
• Review scope with general contractors pre- and post-bid to ensure alignment
• Identify exclusions, assumptions, clarifications, and alternates
• Collaborate with project management and procurement to ensure estimates are executable
• Support project handoff after award and participate in post-job cost reviews
• Enter and maintain estimate data within estimating platform
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• 35+ years of experience in low-voltage estimating, preconstruction, or sales engineering
• Proven experience with security, data, and fire systems in commercial construction
• Strong blueprint reading and specification interpretation skills
• Solid mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving abilities
• Comfortable supporting customer-facing sales conversations
• Central Texas residency required (Texas metro areas of San Antonio, Austin, DallasFort Worth, Houston, or surrounding regions)
• Must pass pre-employment background check and drug screening

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working directly with general contractors and end users
• Familiarity with estimating software (Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Adobe)
• Background as a field technician, lead installer, project manager, or sales engineer
• Certifications or formal training in estimating, project management, or low-voltage systems

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of low-voltage systems and construction work flow
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences
• Detail-oriented with a business-minded approach to pricing and risk
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Deadline-driven, goal-oriented, and accountable

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in a professional office or hybrid environment and routinely uses standard office equipment. The role requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, communicate, and view plans and screens for extended periods. Occasional business travel may be required.

Benefits

• Health insurance and retirement plan options
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and advancement opportunities
• High-trust, growth-oriented team environment

Equal Opportunity Statement: RBO Technology, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.