Senior Estimator

Position Summary

Mustang Containment Solutions (MCS) is seeking a highly experienced, technically strong Senior Estimator to take ownership of estimating and preconstruction across our geosynthetic, environmental containment, oil and gas, industrial, and specialty construction projects. This is a hands-on technical role for an estimator who can take a project from the initial invitation to bid through final estimate, management review, proposal preparation, and detailed turnover to Operations.

This is not simply a quantity takeoff position. The Senior Estimator must thoroughly understand what is being built and how MCS will build it. The position requires review of proposals, plans, specifications, geotechnical information, schedules, contracts, addenda, site conditions, and other project information to identify labor, material, equipment, time, logistics, quality requirements, and project risk.

The successful candidate must be capable of developing realistic means and methods, crew compositions, production rates, equipment requirements, mobilization plans, material handling strategies, and construction durations. Estimates must incorporate complete project costs, including materials and waste factors, freight, labor, equipment, travel and per diem, subcontractors, consumables, supervision, testing, quality requirements, schedule impacts, and project-specific contingencies.

Advanced AutoCAD proficiency is a critical requirement for this position. The Senior Estimator must be able to work directly within CAD files—not simply view drawings—to develop and verify complex quantities, evaluate slopes and irregular geometry, work with contours and elevations, calculate surface areas, review grading information, develop or modify construction details, and troubleshoot incomplete or conflicting design information. Civil 3D experience is strongly preferred.

MCS frequently encounters projects where quantities or constructability cannot be determined through a straightforward PDF takeoff. The Senior Estimator must be comfortable solving technically difficult problems using CAD, drawings, calculations, field information, and construction judgment. This includes complex slopes, anchor trenches, penetrations, sumps, pipe boots, terminations, tie-ins, irregular geometry, and other specialty details.

The Senior Estimator will estimate projects ranging from straightforward oil and gas containment installations to technically complex environmental, landfill, industrial, mining, water/wastewater, power, agricultural, and remediation projects. Direct geosynthetics experience is highly preferred, but exceptional heavy civil or environmental estimators with strong technical and CAD capabilities will also be considered.

The position will work closely with Sales, Operations, Project Controls, Engineering, Quality, field leadership, vendors, subcontractors, customers, and executive management. The Senior Estimator will participate in site visits, pre-bid meetings, constructability reviews, bid strategy, final pricing decisions, and post-job reviews. A key responsibility is closing the loop between estimating and actual field performance by comparing estimated labor, production, equipment utilization, material waste, freight, and other major cost drivers against completed projects.

This individual will also help build repeatable, robust estimating processes and maintain MCS estimating standards, historical production rates, cost libraries, estimating templates, and the HCSS HeavyBid database. The Senior Estimator will mentor and review the work of a junior estimator/CAD specialist who will support routine takeoffs, drawing preparation, as-built drawings, vendor pricing, material calculations, and bid setup.

Ultimately, the Senior Estimator owns the number. Before an estimate is presented for final management approval, this person must be able to clearly explain the complete scope, construction approach, required resources, expected duration, estimated cost, key assumptions, and project risks.

Key Responsibilities

· Lead preparation of complete estimates for geosynthetic, environmental, oil and gas, industrial, landfill, mining, water/wastewater, power, agricultural, remediation, and specialty construction projects.

· Acquire a complete understanding of project requirements by reviewing proposals, blueprints, drawings, specifications, geotechnical information, contracts, addenda, schedules, and related documents.

· Perform and review detailed quantity takeoffs from PDF and CAD drawings, including complex slopes, grades, irregular geometry, anchor trenches, penetrations, sumps, structures, tie-ins, and specialty details.

· Develop complete project costs for labor, materials, freight, equipment, mobilization/demobilization, travel, per diem, subcontractors, consumables, supervision, testing, quality requirements, waste factors, schedule impacts, and contingencies.

· Develop and document realistic construction means and methods, production rates, crew compositions, equipment utilization, material handling plans, sequencing, and project durations.

· Visit project sites, warehouses, customer locations, and other venues when necessary to gather information required for accurate estimates.

· Perform project risk analysis and clearly communicate material risks, assumptions, and potential exposures to management and the project team.

· Prepare RFIs and coordinate technical questions with engineers, owners, general contractors, vendors, subcontractors, and internal subject-matter experts.

· Solicit and evaluate vendor, material, freight, equipment, and subcontractor quotes and maintain strong relationships with key business partners.

· Develop clear proposal scopes, assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, alternates, and bid reports for management review and customer submission.

· Incorporate MCS quality standards and installation requirements into estimates so pricing reflects the resources necessary to perform work correctly.

· Interact closely with Operations and field/site teams to understand actual work capabilities, manpower, equipment, capacity, production rates, and opportunities for margin improvement.

· Maintain comprehensive knowledge of MCS products, services, manpower, equipment, installation capabilities, and geographic operating requirements.

· Participate in pre-bid meetings, site visits, constructability reviews, internal bid reviews, and final pricing decisions.

· Lead detailed estimate-to-operations handoffs following award, including quantities, production assumptions, crew requirements, equipment, schedule, logistics, exclusions, and identified risks.

· Participate in post-job reviews with Sales, Operations, and Project Controls to compare estimated performance with actual results and continuously improve estimating accuracy.

· Develop and maintain repeatable estimating processes, historical cost data, production-rate libraries, templates, standards, and HCSS HeavyBid databases.

· Train, mentor, delegate to, and review the work of junior estimating/CAD personnel while retaining final responsibility for assigned estimates.

CAD & Technical Requirements

· Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD is required. This is a hands-on requirement, not simply the ability to view or print CAD files.

· Civil 3D experience is strongly preferred.

· Demonstrated ability to perform complex construction quantity takeoffs directly from DWG/CAD files.

· Ability to work with contours, elevations, slopes, polylines, areas, surfaces, cross-sections, profiles, and irregular three-dimensional geometry.

· Ability to develop, modify, and review construction details and drawings when required to support estimating and constructability.

· Experience preparing or reviewing record/as-built drawings and reconciling field information with design drawings.

· Ability to identify discrepancies between drawings, specifications, quantities, and actual or anticipated field conditions.

· Strong understanding of civil/site drawings, grading plans, profiles, cross-sections, details, and large plan sets.

· Ability to independently solve difficult quantity, geometry, and constructability problems when project information is incomplete or unclear.

· Strong digital takeoff capability using Bluebeam, PlanSwift, On-Screen Takeoff, or comparable software.

Required Qualifications

· 7 years of construction estimating or preconstruction experience; direct geosynthetics, environmental, heavy civil, oil and gas, landfill, mining, or water/wastewater experience preferred.

· Demonstrated ability to independently develop complete construction estimates from plans and specifications.

· Strong understanding of construction means and methods, labor productivity, crew composition, equipment utilization, scheduling, and project execution.

· Advanced ability to read and interpret civil construction drawings, specifications, geotechnical information, bid documents, and technical details.

· Experience with HCSS HeavyBid or comparable construction estimating software.

· Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving ability.

· Ability to perform research, analyze project data, select appropriate estimating metrics, and forecast time/material/resource utilization.

· Ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with field personnel, management, customers, engineers, vendors, and subcontractors.

· Ability to develop specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish required work.

Highly Preferred Industry Experience

· Field construction, project management, or superintendent experience involving geosynthetic or heavy civil construction.

· Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) or similar professional credential is a plus.

Pay: From $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $100,000