Design & Estimating Manager

Design & Estimating Manager

Truss & Wall Panel Manufacturing

Location: Hartford, South Dakota

Reports to: CEO/President

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Design & Estimating Manager to lead the design and estimating function for our truss and wall panel manufacturing operations in Hartford, South Dakota.

This role is responsible for managing in-office and remote designers and estimators, maintaining design accuracy, improving estimating and design turnaround time, supporting production-ready workflows, and ensuring projects move from quote to design to manufacturing with discipline and accountability.

The ideal candidate will bring advanced hands-on experience in roof truss, floor truss, and wall panel design using the MiTek software suite, including MiTek Structure and MiTek Management. This person must also be capable of building a high-performing team, managing workload capacity, implementing quality control standards, and partnering cross-functionally with sales, engineering, operations, and executive leadership.

This is a key leadership position for a precision-driven manufacturing environment. The right candidate will help Black Tie protect design quality, improve departmental throughput, reduce rework, and support profitable growth through engineered building components, automation-supported production, and measurable execution.

Essential Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of designers and estimators in both office-based and remote environments.

• Establish performance expectations, training plans, and career development opportunities.

• Conduct performance evaluations and provide regular coaching and feedback.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of design and estimating personnel.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service.

Design Management

• Oversee the design of roof trusses, floor trusses, and wall panel systems utilizing MiTek software.

• Ensure all designs meet applicable building codes, engineering requirements, customer specifications, and company standards.

• Review and approve complex designs and resolve technical design challenges.

• Ensure designs are optimized for manufacturing efficiency, material utilization, and constructability.

• Maintain design standards, libraries, and best practices within the MiTek platform.

Estimating Management

• Lead the estimating team in preparing accurate and timely quotations.

• Review project estimates for completeness, risk exposure, pricing accuracy, and profitability.

• Monitor estimate turnaround times and departmental performance metrics.

• Collaborate with sales teams to ensure project scope and customer expectations are clearly defined.

Project & Workflow Management

• Manage departmental resources and workloads to achieve project deadlines.

• Coordinate priorities across sales, operations, production, and engineering teams.

• Develop and monitor key performance indicators related to productivity, quality, turnaround time, and customer satisfaction.

• Identify workflow bottlenecks and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and scalability.

Quality Assurance

• Establish and maintain quality control processes for design and estimating functions.

• Audit completed work to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.

• Monitor rework, revisions, and error rates and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Ensure projects are delivered on time and with a high degree of accuracy.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in wood component design, including roof trusses, floor trusses, and wall panels.

• Advanced proficiency with MiTek Structure and MiTek Management.

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience within a truss and/or wall panel design department.

• Demonstrated experience leading teams of 10 or more designers, estimators, or related professionals.

• Thorough understanding of wood-frame construction, structural loading, and applicable building codes.

• Proven success managing multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.

• Ability to build relationships with customers, builders, engineers, production teams, and field personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Building Science, or a related field.

• MiTek certification or advanced MiTek training credentials.

• Experience managing multi-location or remote teams.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training.

• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.

• Knowledge of wall panel manufacturing and automated production systems.

• Experience implementing departmental KPIs and performance dashboards.

• Experience supporting single-family, multi-family, and commercial construction projects.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & Team Development

• Project Management

• Customer Focus

• Design Excellence

• Estimating Accuracy

• Quality Control

• Process Improvement

• Decision Making

• Communication

• Strategic Planning

Compensation

Target salary range: $110,000 - $140,000 annually plus performance-based bonus opportunity.

Benefits

401(k), Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Paid Time Off.