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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 National 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.

Preferred

• 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; disability; 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 race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.