Electrical Estimator

1st Step; Northampton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car scheme

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Pension scheme with employer contrib.

Enhanced maternity/adoption pay

Enhanced paternity pay

Employee-owned business structure

Flexible holiday scheme

25 days annual leave

Job summary

1st Step Solutions are supporting a M&E Contractor who have an opportunity for an Electrical Estimator on a permanent basis based in Northampton. The role covers cost planning, robust estimates, and tender submissions for residential and mixed-use developments.

Essential experience includes estimation from first principles, reading drawings, and strong Excel skills. The package includes a competitive salary, pension, healthcare, and a company car scheme within a living division’s framework.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Electrical Estimator within building services or similar.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specs and contract documents for residential schemes.
• Pricing from first principles with supplier and subcontractor quotations.
• Strong commercial awareness and project profitability focus.

Responsibilities

• Review tender enquiries, drawings, specifications and contract docs.
• Prepare detailed electrical estimates and cost plans for residential/mixed-use developments.
• Develop labour and resource calculations to support tender pricing.
• Obtain and evaluate quotations from suppliers and subcontractors.
• Identify value engineering opportunities and assess project risks for tenders.
• Produce tender adjudication docs and pricing summaries.
• Support bid strategy meetings and liaise with clients and design teams.
• Assist in budgets during ECI and design-and-build stages.

Skills

Electrical estimating

Tender pricing

Cost planning

Reading drawings

Excel

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Trimble

Estimating

Ensign

Amtech

Job description

1st Step Solutions are supporting a M&E Contractor who have an opportunity for an Electrical Estimator on a permanent basis based in Northampton.

Job Overview:

The Electrical Estimator is responsible for the preparation of accurate and commercially competitive cost estimates and tender submissions for residential and mixed-use developments within the Division. The role supports the successful acquisition of projects by providing robust cost planning, technical assessment, and commercial input throughout the pre-construction process.

Key Responsibilities

• Review tender enquiries, drawings, specifications, employer's requirements, and contract documentation.
• Prepare detailed electrical estimates and cost plans for residential and mixed-use developments.
• Complete accurate take-offs for electrical installations including power, lighting, fire alarms, containment, security systems, EV charging infrastructure, renewable technologies, and associated builders' works.
• Develop labour and resource calculations to support tender pricing.
• Obtain, analyse, and evaluate quotations from suppliers and specialist subcontractors.
• Identify value engineering opportunities and alternative design solutions.
• Assess project risks and opportunities and incorporate these into tender submissions.
• Produce comprehensive tender adjudication documentation and pricing summaries.

• Participate in tender review meetings and bid strategy discussions.
• Liaise with clients, consultants, housing developers, architects, and design teams to clarify technical and commercial requirements.
• Support negotiations and post-tender discussions with customers.
• Work collaboratively with design, commercial, and operational teams to ensure successful project handover.
• Assist in developing budgets during early contractor involvement (ECI) and design-and-build procurement stages.

• Maintain awareness of current market rates, supply chain conditions, and labour availability.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of estimating databases, benchmark information, and standard pricing models.
• Review completed projects to compare estimated and actual costs and identify lessons learned.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the Living Division.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Proven experience as an Electrical Estimator within the building services industry
• Strong understanding of electrical installations associated with residential developments, including apartments, student accommodation, affordable housing, and build-to-rent schemes.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and contract documents.
• Experience pricing projects from first principles and analysing supplier and subcontractor quotations.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of project profitability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tenders and deadlines simultaneously.

Desirable

• Experience within large-scale residential developments.
• HNC/HND or Degree in Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience using estimating software such as Trimble, Estimation, Ensign, Amtech, or similar.
• Knowledge of design-and-build procurement routes.
• Understanding of renewable technologies, EV charging infrastructure, and modern methods of construction (MMC).

On Offer:

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days with service), plus bank holidays
• Company car scheme
• Private healthcare and life insurance
• Pension scheme with 5.5% employer contribution
• Enhanced maternity and adoption pay: 13 weeks full pay followed by 26 weeks SMP
• Enhanced paternity pay: 2 weeks full pay, available consecutively or flexibly
• Employee-owned business structure
• Flexible holiday scheme