Switchgear Estimator - 5K Power

Switchgear Estimator

Position Overview The Switchgear Estimator is a highly technical role responsible for rapidly converting customer requirements, one-line diagrams, specifications, and design documents into accurate, complete, competitive, and buildable switchgear and switchboard estimates. The role requires a strong working knowledge of low- and medium-voltage electrical distribution systems, major electrical components, manufacturing labor, and UL equipment standards. The estimator must balance turnaround speed with technical accuracy to evaluate cost drivers and risk before estimates become commitments.

Core principle: Fast estimates. Accurate estimates. Buildable estimates.

Key Responsibilities

1. Switchgear & Switchboard Estimating

• Review customer one-lines, specifications, equipment schedules, drawings, and bid documents.

• Develop complete estimates for low- and medium-voltage switchgear, switchboards, and distribution assemblies.

• Identify mains, feeders, breakers, switches, busing, CTs, PTs, metering, relays, controls, and protective devices.

• Generate accurate Bills of Material (BOMs) and estimate costs across material, fabrication, assembly, wiring, engineering, testing, QA/QC, packaging, and freight.

• Identify long-lead items, specialty components, non-standard requirements, and custom fabrication needs.

2. One-Line Diagram Interpretation & Lineup Configuration

• Translate one-line diagrams into physical lineups, determining section counts, breaker arrangements, compartment needs, and cable entry access.

• Evaluate voltage, amperage, interrupting ratings, bus ratings, enclosure types, and service entrance requirements.

• Determine main bus, vertical bus, neutral/ground bus, feeder sections, tie sections, and auxiliary compartments.

• Identify missing information, technical conflicts, and design risks that impact pricing or constructability.

3. UL Standards & Compliance

• Apply UL requirements for switchgear and switchboards during estimation.

• Verify component compatibility and account for required testing, NRTL certification, labeling, and documentation costs.

• Coordinate with engineering and manufacturing to ensure proposed designs can be built and certified properly.

4. Supply Chain & Vendor Coordination

• Request and evaluate pricing, availability, and lead times from preferred component manufacturers.

• Evaluate alternate manufacturers and equivalent components to address cost or schedule issues.

• Identify obsolete, restricted, or long-lead items prior to quote finalization.

5. Labor, Engineering & Standardization Support

• Estimate labor hours for enclosure/steel fabrication, bus fabrication, component mounting, control wiring, assembly, testing, and inspection.

• Coordinate with electrical, structural, VDC/BIM, and manufacturing engineering teams to evaluate heat dissipation, structural needs, and clearances.

• Utilize standard 5K Power configurations, BOMs, and labor assumptions to drive design-to-cost principles and product repeatability.

6. Database & Process Improvement

• Build and maintain the 5K Power switchgear estimating database (components, breakers, busing, labor, freight, historical costs).

• Track project results by comparing estimated versus actual costs to reduce change-order risk and improve tools.

• Serve as a technical checkpoint ensuring accurate scope, exclusions, assumptions, pricing validity, and risk mitigation before quote release.

Key Performance Indicators

• Estimate accuracy versus actual project cost (variance in material, labor, engineering, testing, and freight).

• Estimate turnaround time, quote conversion rates, and gross margin accuracy.

• BOM accuracy, completeness, and reduction of avoidable change-order exposure.

• Maintenance and accuracy of the switchgear estimating database and standardized product BOMs.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Estimating Experience: 5+ years preferred in electrical estimating, with a strong focus on switchgear, switchboards, and distribution equipment.

• Technical Skills: Ability to quickly interpret one-lines, develop detailed BOMs/takeoffs, and evaluate breakers, bus systems, metering, protection, and equipment ratings.

• Standards & Tools: Working knowledge of UL switchgear standards alongside strong Excel and estimating software capabilities.

• Professional Attributes: Strong analytical, mathematical, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple accurate estimates under tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Equipment & Infrastructure: Experience estimating low- and medium-voltage switchgear, ANSI-rated gear, data center infrastructure, and custom electrical assemblies.

• System Configurations: Background with generator paralleling, main-tie-main setups, service entrance, and specialized metering/protection systems.

• Manufacturing & Supply Chain: Direct experience in electrical prefab or manufacturing environments working with major vendors (Eaton, ABB, Siemens, Schneider/Square D, GE) and NRTL/UL listing processes.

• Systems & Tools: Experience building estimating databases, ERP integrations, or product configurators.
  

Ideal Candidate A technical estimator who can review a one-line diagram and immediately envision the physical lineup, component specs, UL requirements, manufacturing labor, and approximate cost. Does not require a PE license, but possesses enough engineering intuition to identify constructability issues, long lead times, and financial risk. Communicates effectively across engineering, manufacturing, procurement, sales, and vendor networks.

Work Environment

• Combination of office, engineering, manufacturing, and fabrication environments.

• Regular interaction with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, sales, project management, and vendors.

• Occasional site, vendor, or manufacturing visits may be required.
  

Physical / Travel Requirements

• Ability to work in and around manufacturing and fabrication environments as required.

• Ability to review equipment, components, drawings, and manufacturing processes in field and shop environments.

• Travel may be required for vendor meetings, manufacturing reviews, customer meetings, or project support.

Why 5K Power

This position will play a key role in building 5K Power's switchgear and electrical distribution platform. The Switchgear Estimator will help establish standard configurations, BOMs, labor assumptions, vendor relationships, pricing databases, and estimating processes that allow 5K Power to respond faster, price more accurately, and manufacture more efficiently than traditional electrical equipment providers.