Senior Estimator / Designer (IT Infrastructure)

Raven Search; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Medicash

Cycle to Work

Employee Assistance Programme

Death in Service

Pension scheme

Paid annual leave

Job summary

Raven Search's client, a fast-growing technology and infrastructure business, seeks a Senior Estimator/Designer to lead estimating, technical design and bid development across complex, multi-discipline projects in pre-construction.

Based in the North with hybrid working from Oldham, you will own scope, risk and pricing, mentor colleagues and contribute to winning work with strong technical authority and client-facing credibility. Salary £45k-£55k plus benefits and commission.

Qualifications

• Senior-level estimating and technical design experience in tech/infrastructure/engineering environments.
• Minimum 5 years with industry qualifications or 10 years without formal qualifications.
• Strong grounding in IT infrastructure, structured cabling, or low-voltage electrical infra.
• Experience with frameworks, SORs or public-sector procurement is advantageous.
• Advanced Excel essential; familiarity with Simpro, Contract Master, AutoCAD, Ekahau, JVSG, BlueBeam or FieldWire is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost planning, estimating and tender submissions for complex projects.
• Own scope definition, assumptions, exclusions, risks and bid strategy.
• Develop and maintain pricing models, BOQ, labour schedules and docs.
• Lead or validate technical designs across IT infra and cabling ensuring buildable solutions.
• Coordinate internal survey engineers and external survey partners pre-construction.
• Build strong client relationships and act as trusted technical partner.

Skills

Senior estimating

Technical design

Client engagement

Public-sector procurement

Advanced Excel

IT infrastructure

Structured cabling

AutoCAD

Simpro

JVSG

BlueBeam

FieldWire

Education

Industry qualifications

Tools

Simpro

Contract Master

AutoCAD

Ekahau

JVSG

BlueBeam

FieldWire

Job description

The Opportunity

Our client, a fast-growing technology and infrastructure business, is looking for a Senior Estimator / Designer to lead estimating, technical design and bid development across complex, multi-discipline projects within their pre-construction and commercial function. This is a senior, autonomous position, not a support or pricing-only role: you would carry genuine technical authority, commercial accountability and client-facing responsibility, shaping solutions and influencing bid strategy rather than simply costing what is put in front of you.

The role is weighted towards structured cabling and IT infrastructure, with broader multi-discipline exposure genuinely valued, including low-voltage electrical and UPS systems, wireless and cellular technologies, IP security and audio visual. You would operate with minimal supervision, act as a senior reference point for developing colleagues, and be trusted to contribute directly to winning work rather than only pricing it.

The role reports to the Commercial Director. There are no direct reports initially, though informal mentoring of less experienced estimators is part of the role as you establish yourself. Permanent, Oldham, £45,000 to £55,000 depending on experience, plus a highly competitive commission structure and a full benefits package.

About the Business

Our client is a fast-growing, privately owned infrastructure and technology business, debt-free and financially independent, designing, installing and supporting complex connectivity and infrastructure projects for enterprise customers and channel partners nationwide.

Their portfolio spans Wi-Fi 6/7, LAN, structured cabling, fibre optic, private cellular, smart hands services, planned and reactive maintenance, AV, IP CCTV, EV charging and sustainability services, delivering everything from single high-value enterprise projects to national multi-site rollout programmes.

This is a hybrid role based from Oldham, and it is the second appointment ravensearch has made for this client following a successful placement earlier this year.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading cost planning, estimating and tender submissions for medium to large, technically complex projects, ensuring commercial robustness and alignment with delivery capability

• Owning scope definition, assumptions, exclusions, dependencies and commercial risk, supporting bid strategy, margin control and value-engineering decisions

• Developing and maintaining pricing models, bills of quantities, labour schedules and supporting documentation suitable for private and public-sector procurement

• Leading or validating technical designs across IT infrastructure, structured cabling, low-voltage electrical and wireless systems, ensuring solutions are compliant, buildable and deliverable

• Managing and coordinating internal surveying engineers and external survey partners during pre-construction

• Building and maintaining strong client relationships at bid and pre-construction stage, operating as a trusted technical partner rather than a transactional supplier

• Contributing directly to winning work through technical credibility, commercial input and effective engagement with clients, internal stakeholders and the supply chain

• Monitoring tender portals and framework pipelines, including advance planning for public-sector renewals and re-procurements

• Maintaining a structured opportunity pipeline with accurate forecasting of probability, value and key milestones

• Supporting the continuous improvement of estimating standards, tools and governance as the function scales

• Acting as a senior reference point for developing colleagues, with informal mentoring where useful

What We're Looking For

• Senior-level estimating and technical design experience within a technology, infrastructure or engineering-led environment

• Minimum 5 years experience with recognised industry qualifications, or 10 years experience without formal qualifications

• Strong technical grounding in one or more of: passive and active IT infrastructure, structured cabling (copper and fibre), or low-voltage electrical infrastructure

• Advantageous: UPS and battery energy storage systems, wireless and cellular technologies, IP security and wider IP-based platforms, audio visual and digital signage

• Proven ability to design and price integrated, multi-discipline solutions within design-and-build and early contractor engagement environments

• A clear track record of contributing directly to winning work through technical authority and commercial judgement, not just accurate pricing

• Comfortable operating autonomously with genuine ownership of bids and commercial decisions

• Confident engaging senior client stakeholders during pre-construction

• Experience with frameworks, Schedule of Rates or public-sector procurement is highly advantageous

• Advanced Excel is essential; familiarity with Simpro, Contract Master, AutoCAD, Ekahau, JVSG, BlueBeam or FieldWire is a strong plus

• This role will not suit junior or support-only estimators, candidates without client or bid-stage engagement, quantity surveyors lacking technical design responsibility, or anyone uncomfortable with commercial accountability.

What's on Offer

• £45,000 - £55,000 depending on experience

• A highly competitive commission structure, linked to individual contribution and overall business performance

• Hybrid and flexible working, supportive of family commitments

• Comprehensive benefits including Medicash, Cycle to Work, Employee Assistance Programme and Death in Service

• Pension scheme, paid annual leave plus bank holidays

• Regular company and customer events

• The opportunity to help shape estimating standards, tools and governance as the function scales

• Genuine autonomy over bids and commercial decisions, working alongside experienced professionals

• Strong investment in training, certifications and ongoing professional development