Electrical Estimator — Commercial Projects
Kato Electrical Inc. | Vancouver, BC | Full-Time, In-Office
About Kato Electrical
Kato Electrical is a growing commercial electrical contractor based in Vancouver. We run a white-collar operation in a blue-collar trade — structured systems, clean workflows, and a team that takes pride in doing work properly the first time. Our pipeline is strong, our standards are high, and our estimating function is built to produce, not to firefight.
Typical projects range from $100K to $5M commercial builds, with a steady mix of interior fitouts, major renovations, distribution upgrades and institutional work.
This Is Not a Junior Role
We are not hiring a trainee or someone looking to grow into this seat. This role is built for an experienced estimator who can run independently, own their bids end-to-end, and plug into a structured environment from day one.
If you're early in your career or need heavy mentorship on fundamentals, this won't be the right fit.
The Role
You own the bid from the moment a lead comes in until it's handed off to project management. You are not chasing new business — our pipeline is full. Your job is to convert the opportunities already in front of us into awarded work through sharp estimates, strong follow-up, and credible client communication.
What You'll Own
- Managing active leads and maintaining relationships with GCs and clients through the bid cycle
- Reading and interpreting electrical, architectural, mechanical, and structural drawings at a high level
- Producing complete, accurate estimates on commercial projects
- Performing detailed takeoffs in Accubid (and supporting tools like LiveCount)
- Identifying scope gaps, risk items, and qualifications before bids go out
- Requesting and analyzing supplier and subcontractor pricing; challenging numbers that don't look right
- Supporting the close — following up, refining proposals, and influencing outcomes to convert bids into awarded work
- Clean handoff to project management with complete documentation so jobs start on the right foot
Performance Expectations
- Manage $500K–$1M+ in bid volume per week, depending on project mix and complexity
- Maintain estimate accuracy and a healthy hit rate on qualified opportunities
- Keep the pipeline moving — no bottlenecks, no missed deadlines
Requirements
- 5+ years of electrical estimating experience, commercial preferred
- Proven ability to interpret complex drawings and specifications independently
- Proficiency with Accubid, LiveCount, or comparable estimating and takeoff software
- Strong written and verbal communication — you can defend a number in a room and build trust with a client on the phone
- Track record of managing multiple live bids simultaneously and converting them
- Red Seal electrician background is an asset but not required
- Legally eligible to work in Canada
The Ideal Candidate
- Takes full ownership of every bid that leaves their desk
- Treats estimating as a full-cycle role: lead → estimate → close support → handoff
- Moves fast without sacrificing accuracy
- Comfortable in a tight-margin trade where small errors carry real consequences
- Proactively flags risk rather than waiting to be asked
- Thinks like an operator — questions scope, pushes back on bad numbers, improves the process
Compensation
$90,000–$110,000 base salary, depending on experience, plus performance-based bonus tied to won work and estimate accuracy. Full benefits. Final package discussed with qualified candidates.
Why This Role
Most estimators we talk to are frustrated with the same things: chaotic processes, missing information, bids rushed out the door, and too much time spent cleaning up other people's work.
This role is the opposite. We've invested in the systems — Accubid, organized bid workflows, clean handoffs to PM — so you can focus on producing, not firefighting. The pipeline is full, the tools are in place, and the work is steady. Your job is to convert it.
If you're a strong estimator currently underutilized or stuck in a messy shop, we should talk.
To apply: Submit your resume along with a brief note on the largest commercial bid you've led and how it closed.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $90,000.00-$140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
- Tuition reimbursement
Experience:
- electrical estimating: 5 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
