Piping Estimator / Estimating Engineer

Forward Assist Recruitment; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Assist Recruitment is seeking a Piping Estimator / Estimating Engineer for a Cardiff-based role. The position offers a salary of £40,000 to £50,000 per year, dependent on experience, and involves reviewing drawings, BoQs, and specifications to develop accurate estimates.

You will prepare material take-offs, obtain supplier quotes, and collaborate with technical, project, and commercial teams to define scopes and risks before tender submission.

Qualifications

• Industrial piping systems, materials, valves and fittings knowledge.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, P&IDs and specs.
• Experience preparing piping or mechanical estimates.
• Strong Excel skills and cost awareness.

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, P&IDs, specs, enquiries and BOQs.
• Prepare material take-offs and labour estimates.
• Obtain and compare supplier/subcontractor quotes and compute costs.
• Define scopes, assumptions and exclusions with teams.
• Support tender clarifications and hand bids over to delivery.
• Maintain estimating records and cost databases.

Skills

Industrial piping knowledge

Reading drawings & P&IDs

Estimating experience

Analytical & cost tracking

Tools

Excel

Job description

PIPING ESTIMATOR / ESTIMATING ENGINEER

Cardiff | £40,000–£50,000 per year, depending on experience

What you’ll do

• Review drawings, P&IDs, specifications, enquiries and bills of quantities.
• Prepare material take-offs and labour estimates. Identify the pipework, fittings, valves, supports and other components each job needs.
• Obtain and compare supplier and subcontractor quotes, then build up labour, material, plant and subcontract costs.
• Work with technical, project and commercial teams to define scopes, assumptions and exclusions, and identify risks before tender submission.
• Support tender clarifications and hand successful bids over to the delivery team.
• Maintain estimating records and help improve cost databases, tools and quotation processes.

What you’ll bring

• Practical knowledge of industrial piping systems, materials, valves and fittings, with an understanding of fabrication and site installation.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, P&IDs and technical specifications.
• Experience preparing piping or mechanical estimates, material take-offs or labour estimates.
• Good Excel skills, commercial awareness and the ability to manage several enquiries at once.

This could suit an estimator, piping engineer or project engineer, or an experienced piping supervisor or technician looking to move into estimating. Experience in marine, offshore, oil and gas, utilities, energy or data centre projects would be useful. Other relevant piping and mechanical backgrounds are welcome