Senior Mechanical Estimator

Job DescriptionJob Description

Senior Mechanical Estimator

Type: Direct Hire

Location: Fresno, CA (Hybrid)

Salary: $135K–$155K DOE

About the Role

We are recruiting a Senior Mechanical Estimator in Fresno, California to own preconstruction estimating on large-scale commercial HVAC retrofits for a fast-growing, multi-state contractor. The employer is backed by a nationwide organization and delivers commercial HVAC, building automation, and chiller services across the Central Valley.

This is a long-established operation, and the seat owns estimating on mechanical retrofit, piping, and sheet metal projects. The work spans multiple building types rather than repeating a single scope — healthcare, data centers, K-12 and higher education campuses, and commercial and industrial facilities — across retrofit, major service repair, and design-build delivery, with in-house engineering, controls, and energy analysis. A growing backlog of retrofit and energy work across these markets makes this a long-horizon seat rather than a project-to-project hire.

This is a senior seat in the preconstruction group, not a bid-desk support role. The person hired owns the estimate from job walk through final proposal package, on a hybrid schedule. The strongest candidates are career mechanical estimators who can price a large-scale retrofit off field conditions when drawings, plans, and specifications do not exist. For candidates relocating to Fresno: California Central Valley housing runs roughly half the California median, with Yosemite and Sequoia Parks just two hours away.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating and Preconstruction

•     Own the full estimate for commercial mechanical retrofit projects, including equipment, sheet metal, piping, and labor takeoffs.

•     Price large-scale mechanical retrofit work by interpreting field conditions where drawings, plans, or specifications are unavailable.

•     Prepare conceptual estimates and budgets across design-build, design-assist, and hard-bid delivery.

•     Build accurate cost models and proposals in Microsoft Excel and commercial estimating and takeoff software.

•     Compile qualifications, clarifications, and exclusions communicating budget assumptions.

•     Prepare the final estimate package and confirm accuracy before proposal submission.

Technical Review and Code Compliance

•     Perform constructability and code compliance reviews of proposals and design documents.

•     Apply the California Mechanical Code, California Title 24 energy standards, and local municipal codes to proposed retrofit solutions.

•     Prepare redline sketches where design documents are incomplete.

•     Document and communicate constructability and risk concerns.

Project Support and Coordination

•     Conduct job walks and gather scope from account managers, end users, and engineering.

•     Obtain scopes and pricing from subcontractors and suppliers.

•     Prepare project schedules, support value analysis, and price change orders as needed.

Qualifications

Required

•     10+ years in estimating, engineering, construction management, or business management.

•     4+ years in HVAC design and/or HVAC construction.

•     Competent technical knowledge of mechanical construction means and methods, including retrofit projects, redline design, budgeting, scheduling, and phasing.

•     Knowledge of the Request for Quote (RFQ) and Request for Proposal (RFP) process for bidding retrofit projects.

•     Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

•     Ability to plan, organize, direct, and control all phases of the bidding process.

•     Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.

•     Proficiency with commercial mechanical estimating and takeoff software such as FastEST, QuoteSoft, Trimble, Accubid, PlanSwift, or Bluebeam Revu.

•     Working knowledge of the California Mechanical Code and Title 24 energy standards, or experience adapting to a new state code.

•     Mechanical retrofit experience across commercial buildings, hospitals, data centers, and K-12 and higher education.

•     Experience with energy projects involving direct digital control (DDC) integration, commissioning, measurement and verification (M&V), and energy analysis.

•     Familiarity with building automation systems (BAS) and controls integration.

•     Experience estimating central plant, chiller, and boiler scopes.

Compensation & Employment

Employment Type: Direct hire. The selected candidate will be hired as a full-time employee directly with our client.

Salary: $135K–$155K DOE

Work Model: Hybrid. The onsite and remote split is negotiable.

Location: Fresno, CA. Relocation is required if not a commutable distance from Fresno.

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; health savings and flexible spending accounts; life insurance; ; a 401(k) savings plan; college coaching; an employee assistance program; and free access to a company-wide learning platform for technical and professional development.

Innovation Consulting LLC is an equal opportunity employer and recruiter. We review candidates without regard to , color, , sex, origin, , , veteran status, , gender , or any other protected characteristic.