Manager, Estimating - Mechanical and Light Industrial

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Estimating Manager - Mechanical and Light Industrial to lead and strengthen our estimating organization supporting industrial mechanical and light commercial construction projects.

This is an opportunity for an experienced estimator and leader to make a meaningful impact—not only by producing accurate, competitive estimates, but by helping shape how we estimate, price, and pursue work in the future.

The successful candidate will bring strong construction knowledge, sound business judgment, and a passion for developing people and improving processes. You will work closely with senior management, operations, project management, business development, subcontractors, and suppliers to develop estimates that position the company to win the right work at the right price.

We are also investing in the future of estimating. This role will help advance our use of digital takeoff, estimating technology, historical cost data, automation, analytics, and practical applications of artificial intelligence to make our estimating process faster, more consistent, accurate, and data-driven.

What You'll Do

Lead Estimating & Preconstruction

• Lead the estimating process for industrial mechanical and light commercial projects from opportunity evaluation through bid submission and project turnover.
• Develop and review detailed estimates for projects of varying size and complexity.
• Establish consistent estimating standards, procedures, templates, and quality-control processes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop estimating personnel while creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Review drawings, specifications, P&IDs, piping isometrics, equipment schedules, bid documents, and contract requirements.
• Perform and oversee detailed quantity takeoffs for mechanical, piping, equipment, structural, and light commercial scopes.
• Develop and review labor, productivity, equipment, material, subcontractor, and indirect cost estimates.
• Solicit, evaluate, compare, and level subcontractor and supplier proposals.
• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, assumptions, constructability issues, and project risks before bids are submitted.
• Support bid/no-bid decisions and strategic pursuit evaluations.

Bring Business Judgment to Pricing

This position plays an important role in determining how we compete for work. The Estimating Manager must be able to balance market competitiveness, project risk, constructability, and profitability when developing pricing strategies.

You will:

• Lead estimate reviews and communicate pricing strategies, assumptions, risks, and opportunities to senior management.
• Apply sound judgment when evaluating labor productivity, material pricing, subcontractor proposals, schedule requirements, and project-specific risks.
• Challenge assumptions when necessary and provide meaningful insight into how a project should be priced and pursued.
• Work closely with operations and project management to validate construction methods, manpower requirements, productivity expectations, equipment needs, and schedules.
• Help ensure that estimates accurately reflect how projects will be built and the risks associated with delivering them.
• Lead the transition from estimating to operations following project award.

Use Technology to Improve Estimating

We are looking for someone who is excited about improving the estimating process through technology—not simply adopting technology for its own sake.

You will help evaluate and implement tools that can improve estimating efficiency, consistency, accuracy, and decision-making, including:

• Digital takeoff and estimating platforms
• Historical cost and productivity databases
• Bid-management and subcontractor solicitation tools
• Data analytics and business intelligence
• Workflow automation
• AI-assisted document review and estimating applications
• Construction and job-cost systems
• Enterprise AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or comparable platforms

Potential applications include drawing and specification review, scope identification, bid-document summarization, takeoff support, proposal development, bid leveling, historical cost analysis, productivity benchmarking, and quality-control reviews.

The Estimating Manager will establish appropriate processes to ensure technology and AI-generated information is reviewed, validated, and supported by experienced construction judgment.

Use Data to Continuously Improve

• Track bid results and analyze estimate-versus-actual project performance.
• Maintain and improve historical cost, labor productivity, and estimating benchmarks.
• Use project results to improve future estimates and pricing decisions.
• Identify trends and opportunities to improve estimating accuracy and profitability.
• Develop recommendations for improving estimating processes, technology, and organizational capabilities.

What You'll Bring

We are seeking an experienced construction estimator who combines technical expertise, leadership ability, commercial judgment, and a willingness to embrace new technology.

Required Experience & Skills

• 7–10 years of construction estimating experience preferred.
• Experience as a Senior Estimator, Lead Estimator, Chief Estimator, Estimating Manager, or similar leadership role.
• Strong experience with industrial mechanical construction, including process piping, pipe fabrication and installation, mechanical equipment installation, equipment setting and rigging, and structural supports.
• Experience with light commercial construction is a plus.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, P&IDs, piping isometrics, and contract documents.
• Strong understanding of labor productivity, crew composition, equipment utilization, material pricing, subcontractor costs, and construction means and methods.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing estimating personnel.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with construction estimating, takeoff, and bid-management software.
• Ability to manage multiple estimates and competing deadlines.
• Willingness to visit industrial and commercial jobsites as needed.

Technology Mindset

Specific software experience is less important than your ability to understand technology, learn new systems quickly, and translate technology into better estimating processes.

Experience with digital takeoff, BIM, estimating platforms, ERP/job-cost systems, scheduling software, data analytics, workflow automation, or AI-assisted applications is highly valued.

Most importantly, you should be curious about what is possible and able to distinguish between technology that creates meaningful business value and technology that simply creates more complexity.

Industry Experience

Experience in one or more of the following environments is highly relevant:

• Industrial mechanical construction
• Process piping and pipe fabrication
• Mechanical equipment installation
• Petrochemical and chemical facilities
• Manufacturing facilities
• Energy and industrial projects
• Industrial shutdowns and turnarounds
• Plant maintenance and capital projects
• Data centers
• Warehouses and pre-engineered metal buildings
• Light commercial construction
• Design-build projects

What Will Make You Successful

The right person for this role will be:

A Construction Leader – You understand how projects are actually built and can translate that knowledge into sound estimates.

A Strategic Thinker – You understand that successful estimating is about more than getting the numbers right; it is about knowing which opportunities to pursue and how to price them appropriately.

Commercial Mindset – You know how to balance competitiveness, risk, and profitability.

A Coach and Developer – You enjoy developing estimators, sharing knowledge, and building a stronger team.

Analytical and Detail-Oriented – You naturally look for scope gaps, inconsistencies, risks, and opportunities before they become problems.

Technology Curious – You are interested in using technology, automation, data, and AI to improve the way work gets done.

Collaborative – You communicate effectively with senior leadership, operations, project management, business development, subcontractors, suppliers, and clients.

Accountable – You take ownership of the estimating process and stand behind the quality of your work.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a traditional estimating management position. It is an opportunity to help shape the next generation of our estimating organization.

You will have the opportunity to influence pricing strategy, develop people, improve processes, introduce new technology, and use real project data to strengthen the company's ability to win profitable work.

If you are an experienced estimator who enjoys both the technical challenge of construction and the opportunity to make a broader business impact, we would like to hear from you.