Bid and Design Specialist

Custom Alarm; Rochester (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility

Vacation/Sick Pay

Holiday Pay + 2 Floater Holidays

Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

$200 Annual Wellness Benefit

Employee Discount

Profit Sharing

Adjustable Stand-Up Desk

Dress for Your Day/Business Casual

Company Paid Social Events

Job summary

Custom Alarm is seeking a detail‑oriented Bid & Design Specialist in Rochester, MN. You will identify opportunities, design life safety and security solutions, prepare accurate estimates, and collaborate with customers, contractors, and internal teams to bring projects from concept to completion.

You will monitor bidding opportunities, create bids, designs, and required paperwork, and support the team with project documentation and coordination. A salary range is provided with commissions.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required or associates degree/related experience
• 2 years’ experience in design or engineered sales preferred
• NICET Fire certification beneficial or obtainable within reasonable timeframe

Responsibilities

• Monitor bidding opportunities for security, fire, and low-voltage projects.
• Design systems, interpret plans/specifications, and prepare estimates and bids.
• Coordinate drawings and project documentation with the design team.
• Follow up on bids and secure related service, monitoring and inspection agreements.
• Develop project scopes and support smooth handoffs to Operations.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate conditions and support installations.

Skills

Estimating

Design

Project coordination

Microsoft Office

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associates Degree or equivalent related experience

2 years’ experience in design or Engineered Sales

NICET Fire Certification beneficial

Tools

Bluebeam

AutoCAD

APLUS

Job description

Description

Why work for Custom Alarm?

Help shape the foundation of successful projects at Custom Alarm. As a Bid & Design Specialist, you'll identify opportunities, design life safety and security solutions, prepare accurate estimates, and collaborate with customers, contractors, and internal teams to bring projects from concept to completion. We're looking for a detail-oriented professional who enjoys problem-solving, building relationships, and delivering solutions that meet customer needs while supporting company growth.

A Day in the Life at Custom Alarm

This position is responsible to the Director of Sales to monitor bidding opportunities and develop relationships with electricians, architects, engineers, and general contractors. Create bids, designs, scopes, and other required paperwork for bid jobs. Lead by example and support the Vision, Purpose, and Core Values of the company.

Reports to: Director of Sales

Hours: 7:00am – 5:00pm (can fluctuate as a salary position)

Location: Rochester, Minnesota (on-site position)

Company Size: 70 employees

Pay: $25,000 - $50,000/year base salary + commissions

The Main Responsibilities

• Monitor and pursue security, fire, and low-voltage project opportunities.
• Build relationships with contractors, engineers, architects, and industry partners.
• Design systems, interpret plans/specifications, and prepare project estimates and bids.
• Coordinate drawings and project documentation with the design team.
• Follow up on bids and secure related service, monitoring, and inspection agreements.
• Develop project scopes and support smooth project handoffs to Operations.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate conditions, support installations, and ensure quality.
• Track sales activity, opportunities, and performance metrics.
• Maintain required certifications and stay current on industry codes, regulations, and technology.
• Participate in training, team meetings, and cross-functional support activities.

This description should not be construed to contain every function that may be required to be performed by an associate in this position. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing.

***Full job description provided during interview process

Requirements

What We Look For in a Candidate

Custom Alarm Core Values

• Do The Right Thing
• Positive Attitude
• Teamwork
• Lifetime Learner
• Customer Service

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Associates Degree or equivalent related experience
• 2 years’ experience in design or Engineered Sales
• NICET Fire Certification beneficial (or ability to obtain within reasonable timeframe)

Additional Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of fire, security, and low-voltage systems.
• Ability to interpret plans, specifications, and construction documents.
• Strong estimating, design, and project coordination skills.
• Understanding of applicable codes, regulations, and industry standards.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and industry software.
• Strong communication, customer service, and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and time-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• NICET certification or ability to obtain preferred.
• Experience or knowledge of Bluebeam and AutoCAD APLUS

Physical Demands

This position requires equal amounts of time spent sitting, standing, and walking. Stooping and movements such as kneeling and crawling may be necessary. Climbing ladders and stairs may be required. Heights generally range from zero to 25 feet. Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects may be necessary. These objects range in weight from ten (10) to 100 pounds. Weights rarely exceed 100 pounds. Reaching overhead and in front of the body, as well as simultaneous and repetitive movements of hands, wrists, and fingers are required. Audio, visual, and verbal functions are vital aspects to performing this position. Excellent color vision is necessary for the purpose of identifying wiring color codes. Driving a vehicle for business is required daily. Driving and operating of other machinery and tools such as, lifts, screwdrivers, strippers, etc., is also required.

Working Conditions

This position requires working in all environmental conditions. Workdays are usually spent indoors, but outdoor work may be required occasionally. There is some exposure to dust, insulation, noise, heat and cold (MN weather). After hours work and out-of-town trips are sometimes necessary.

Other Requirements

Regular and reliable attendance is required. A person in this position must have a valid driver’s license, an excellent driving record, and must be insurable under Custom Alarm’s auto insurance policy. The ability to work independently is important. Due to the security nature of our business, a background check and pre-employment drug test is performed.

Summary

For the 10th consecutive year, Custom Alarm is proud to be recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work in Southeast MN," an honor we deeply value and strive to earn each year.

At Custom Alarm, we know that taking care of our team is the first step in taking great care of our customers. That’s why we offer a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your well-being and recognize your hard work. In addition to a competitive salary, we provide medical, dental, and life insurance, a matching 401(k), and a range of additional perks to show our appreciation including:

• Flexibility
• Vacation/Sick Pay
• Holiday Pay + 2 Floater Holidays
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
• $200 Annual Wellness Benefit
• Employee Discount
• Profit Sharing
• Adjustable Stand-Up Desk
• Dress for Your Day/Business Casual
• Company Paid Social Events

What to Expect Next

Our employees enjoy the family-friendly, positive culture at Custom Alarm. We believe in doing the right thing, fostering a lifelong learning environment and delivering top-notch customer service while making sure we enjoy the process along the way.

Disability/EOE/Veteran