Commercial Door Hardware Detailer / Estimator
Division 8 Architectural Hardware TOAD Software
A foundational hire for our growing hardware division.
Edelman-Lyon has been the Midwest's go-to for commercial automatic doors for over 75 years — and we're now scaling our Division 8 hardware division to match. This role is for the person who will help us build it.
If you're an experienced architectural hardware detailer who reads a door schedule the way most people read a newspaper, who knows the difference between a 1¾" SCW door at a 90-minute opening and one that isn't, and who takes pride in a clean, accurate submittal package — we want to talk to you.
We move slowly on hiring on purpose, because the right person here will shape how we grow this division for years to come.
About Edelman-Lyon
Edelman-Lyon Automatic Door is a third-generation, family-owned company that has been serving the Midwest for over 75 years. We service automatic doors, manual doors, specialty hardware, and full Division 8 packages for healthcare, education, retail, industrial, and institutional clients across six states — and we're growing fast.
We're known in the region for two things: deep technical expertise and a commitment to customer service that turns one-time clients into "life-long friends." Our sister company, Edelman-Campbell Security, handles surveillance, access control, and intrusion — which means we deliver complete openings, hardware to credential, that most companies can't.
This role is a foundational seat on our hardware team. The right person will have real influence on how we build, scope, and run this division as it grows.
What you'll actually be doing
- Blueprint & spec review — Dissect architectural drawings, specifications, and addenda to fully understand the Division 8 scope of every project.
- Hardware schedules — Build complete, accurate hardware schedules for every opening: hinges, locks, exit devices, closers, trim, electrified hardware, weatherstripping, thresholds, and accessories.
- Quantity take-offs — Detailed material take-offs for doors, frames, and hardware across the full project scope.
- Estimating & pricing — Source competitive pricing from manufacturers and distributors, build complete bid packages, and submit accurate, on-time proposals.
- Vendor & manufacturer coordination — Maintain working relationships with our hardware reps and manufacturers (Allegion, ASSA ABLOY, dormakaba, Hager, Rockwood, etc.) to confirm specifications, secure pricing, and source alternatives.
- Submittal packages — Prepare hardware submittals, shop drawings, and technical documentation for awarded projects, ready for architect/owner approval.
- Value engineering — Identify and propose cost-saving substitutions and alternatives that meet spec and code without compromising the design intent.
- Project handoff — Work closely with our Project Managers and Operations team to ensure a clean transition from awarded bid to active project, with no detail lost in translation.
- Software ownership — Build out and maintain our project data in TOAD (our hardware estimating platform), keeping pricing, manufacturer data, and project files clean and current.
- Code compliance — Ensure every opening you scope meets applicable codes — fire ratings (NFPA 80), life safety (NFPA 101), ADA, and local AHJ requirements.
What we look for
Required:
- 3+ years estimating and/or detailing commercial architectural hardware (Division 8) — this is non-negotiable. We need someone who already speaks the language.
- Strong blueprint and door-schedule fluency — you can read complex commercial drawings, specs, and door schedules quickly and accurately.
- Working knowledge of major hardware lines — Allegion (Schlage, Von Duprin, LCN, Falcon), ASSA ABLOY (Sargent, Yale, Corbin Russwin, Norton), dormakaba (Best, Stanley), and similar.
- Code knowledge — Functional understanding of NFPA 80, NFPA 101, ADA, and how they apply to commercial openings (fire-rated, life safety, accessibility).
- Strong attention to detail — a missed hinge or wrong lock function on a 300-opening project is an expensive mistake. We need someone who catches it before it ships.
- Solid MS Office skills, especially Excel.
- Clear written and verbal communication — you'll be interacting with architects, GCs, manufacturers, and our internal team daily.
Strongly preferred (real differentiators):
- TOAD software experience — we use TOAD as our primary hardware estimating platform. If you already know it, we can put you to work on day one. If you don't, we'll train you — but candidates with Comsense, Avaware, or similar industry-software experience will pick TOAD up quickly.
- AHC (Architectural Hardware Consultant), CDC (Certified Door Consultant), or DHI coursework — significant asset.
- Experience with electrified hardware — strikes, mag locks, electrified hinges, request-to-exit, and how they tie into access control systems (a major plus given our ECS sister company).
- Experience on healthcare, K-12, government, or other compliance-heavy projects.
- Familiarity with bid platforms like ConstructConnect, SmartBid, or PlanHub.
What we expect
- You catch the details others miss.
- You take ownership of your bids and your submittals — if something's wrong, you say so and fix it.
- You ask questions when you're unsure rather than assuming.
- You treat customers, vendors, and teammates with professionalism.
- You bring ideas to the table about how to make our process better as we grow.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary, commensurate with your experience and certifications
- Performance-based raises and bonuses — tied directly to your contribution as the division grows
- Health, dental, and vision insurance — for employee and family
- Simple IRA retirement plan with company match
- Paid time off plus paid holidays
- Paid certifications and continuing education — including DHI coursework toward AHC/CDC if that's a path you want to pursue
- Real career growth — this is a foundational role in a growing division of a 75-year-old company, with a clear path to lead the detailing/estimating function as we scale
How to apply
Send your resume, along with a few short sentences telling us:
- The most complex Division 8 project you've personally detailed or estimated — what was the scope, and what made it challenging?
- What software you currently use for hardware estimating, and how long you've been using it.
- Why you're considering a move from your current role.
We respond to every serious applicant — typically within a few business days.
Edelman-Lyon Automatic Door is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background check and verification of authorization to work in the United States.
Job Type: Full-time
Base Pay: $60,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- What are the primary reasons you are exploring new opportunities?
- When five urgent quote requests hit your desk at the same time — all needed ASAP — explain the value of taking the time to prequalify each opportunity before diving into the proposals.
- When quoting Doors, Frames, and Hardware (DFH) from PDF documents inside an estimating platform like TOAD, Comsense, or Avaware, what best practices have you developed to maintain data integrity while producing proposals efficiently at high volume?
- While estimating a Division 8 project, you spot conflicts in the specs — wrong hardware application, code violations, a fire-rated opening with non-rated hardware called out, missing items in the schedule. Walk us through your ideal next steps when this happens.
- A customer's specification calls for a magnetic lock on a stairwell door in a healthcare facility. What's your immediate concern with this request, and how would you address it?
Work Location: In person
