Security Systems Designer / Estimator

Network Cabling Services, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Cabling Services, Inc. in Houston seeks an experienced Security Systems Designer / Estimator to design and price integrated access control, video surveillance, and perimeter security solutions for enterprise customers.

You will meet with clients, survey sites, develop scopes of work and Bills of Materials, and collaborate with Sales, Project Management and Operations to ensure long-term customer success.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of commercial electronic security design, solutions engineering and/or estimating experience.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications and security system requirements.
• Experience developing Bills of Materials, labor estimates and project pricing.

Responsibilities

• Meet directly with customers to understand security requirements, operational challenges and project objectives.
• Participate in customer discovery meetings, site surveys and facility walk-throughs.
• Develop integrated access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection and perimeter detection solutions.
• Help customers evaluate technologies, system expansions, migrations and security standardization opportunities.
• Develop scopes of work, system designs, equipment selections and Bills of Materials.
• Prepare accurate material takeoffs, labor estimates and project pricing.
• Review RFPs, plans, specifications and customer requirements.
• Support both design-build and bid/spec opportunities depending on customer and project needs.
• Coordinate with manufacturers and technology partners when developing solutions.
• Work closely with Sales during opportunity development and customer presentations.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, design conflicts and project risks before projects reach the field.
• Participate in in-person project handoff meetings with Operations to clearly communicate scope, design intent, assumptions and customer expectations.

Skills

Security design

Estimating

Customer meetings

Reading drawings

Communications

Project coordination

Tools

LenelS2

Axis

Hanwha

Job description

Network Cabling Services (NCS) is seeking an experienced Security Systems Designer / Estimator to join our Houston Security team.

This is not simply a takeoff-and-quote estimating position.

We are looking for an experienced security professional who can work directly with customers to understand their facilities, security needs and long-term objectives, then help develop the right technology solution.

NCS primarily works with large commercial and enterprise customers. Our goal is to develop long-term relationships and become a trusted part of our customers' security solutions teams, rather than simply bid individual projects.

Compensation: Six-figure-plus base salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Opportunity

Our Security team designs and delivers solutions involving:

• Access Control Systems
• Integrated enterprise security solutions

We serve customers across a wide range of environments, including industrial and manufacturing facilities, warehouses and distribution centers, ports, airports, data centers, hospitals, commercial offices and campuses, universities and K-12 schools.

While some opportunities involve traditional bid/spec work, much of our focus is customer-facing solution design.

You will work with customers, vendor partners, Sales, Project Management and Operations to develop security solutions that meet both immediate project requirements and long-term customer objectives.

What You'll Do

• Meet directly with customers to understand security requirements, operational challenges and project objectives.
• Participate in customer discovery meetings, site surveys and facility walk-throughs.
• Develop integrated access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection and perimeter detection solutions.
• Help customers evaluate technologies, system expansions, migrations and security standardization opportunities.
• Develop scopes of work, system designs, equipment selections and Bills of Materials.
• Prepare accurate material takeoffs, labor estimates and project pricing.
• Review RFPs, plans, specifications and customer requirements.
• Support both design-build and bid/spec opportunities depending on customer and project needs.
• Coordinate with manufacturers and technology partners when developing solutions.
• Work closely with Sales during opportunity development and customer presentations.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, design conflicts and project risks before projects reach the field.
• Participate in in-person project handoff meetings with Operations to clearly communicate scope, design intent, assumptions and customer expectations.

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of commercial electronic security design, solutions engineering and/or estimating experience.
• Strong working knowledge of commercial and enterprise:
• Access Control
• Experience designing or estimating electronic security solutions for commercial, industrial or enterprise customers.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications and security system requirements.
• Experience developing Bills of Materials, labor estimates and project pricing.
• Ability and willingness to meet with customers, vendor partners and participate in site surveys and discovery walk-throughs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to explain technical solutions to both technical and non-technical customers.
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Practical understanding of how electronic security systems are installed, commissioned and supported.

Experience That Would Be a Plus

Experience with enterprise-level platforms and manufacturers such as:

• LenelS2
• Axis
• Hanwha
• Other enterprise access control, video, intrusion or perimeter security platforms

Additional experience with any of the following is valuable:

• Enterprise security integrations
• Industrial and manufacturing facilities
• Airports and transportation facilities
• K-12
• Critical infrastructure
• Large commercial campuses

This is a Houston-based position.

Customer meetings, site surveys and discovery sessions will take place at customer facilities as needed.

Once project requirements are understood, design and estimating work may be performed in a hybrid environment, with a combination of time in the NCS office and remote work.

Project handoff meetings with our Operations team are expected to be conducted in person at the NCS office.

Why NCS?

NCS is an established technology infrastructure and systems integration company serving sophisticated commercial and enterprise customers.

We believe the strongest customer relationships are built by becoming more than a contractor. Our goal is to understand our customers' businesses, earn their trust and become a long-term technology and security partner.

This position offers the opportunity to:

• Work directly with large enterprise customers.
• Influence solutions instead of simply pricing someone else's design.
• Work across multiple industries and security technologies.
• Partner with leading security manufacturers.
• Follow opportunities from initial discovery through design, estimating and Operations handoff.
• Work alongside an established Sales, Project Management and Operations organization.
• Maintain flexibility through a hybrid design and estimating environment.
• Help customers develop long-term security solutions rather than simply chase individual projects.

If you are an experienced security designer, solutions engineer or estimator who is successful where you are today but would consider the right opportunity, we would still like to talk with you.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.