Senior Estimator - Life Sciences

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs Ireland Life Sciences team seeks a Senior Estimator to support major capital programmes across Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical and Biotech sectors. You will shape cost intelligence for large, complex projects using top-down and bottom-up methods from feasibility to basic design.

As a core Estimating team member, you will influence project controls, quantity surveying, and cost engineering, with exposure to data centres and advanced technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a construction/engineering field.
• Chartered membership with Engineers Ireland, SCSI, or equivalent is an advantage.
• Extensive cost engineering or estimating experience on large capital projects.
• Experience delivering estimates for Life Sciences or high-tech sectors is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, accurate estimates aligned with Jacobs’ standards and client expectations.
• Develop and execute estimate plans for assigned projects within Life Sciences and related sectors.
• Lead estimating activities, risk analysis, and contingency assessments.
• Present estimates to project teams, senior management and clients.
• Standardise estimating delivery tools and templates across projects.
• Drive continuous improvement in tools and data quality within the Estimating function.

Skills

Cost estimation

Project controls

Quantity surveying

Industrial projects

Education

BSc/MSc in Quantity Surveying

Chartered membership (advantageous)

Tools

CostX

Navisworks

Excel

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

The Life Sciences team in Ireland is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to support major capital investment programmes across the Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical and Biotech sectors. As part of our Estimating function, you will play a key role in shaping cost intelligence for some of the largest and most complex projects in the region. We are looking for a candidate with deep expertise in developing Engineers’ Estimates for EPCM driven projects, ideally within Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Data Centre, or Semi Conductor environments. You will bring strong technical capability, sound commercial judgement, and a commitment to consistent, high quality estimating delivery.

Role Overview:

As a core member of the Estimating Team, you will support all projects within the business unit, ensuring that estimating requirements are met with accuracy, transparency and consistency. You will be proficient across all aspects of estimating and cost engineering, with the ability to develop estimates using both top down and bottom up methodologies at feasibility, concept and basic design stages. Experience in project controls and quantity surveying is advantageous.

Key Accountabilities:

• Ensure all estimating needs for assigned projects are met, reporting to the Estimating Section Head.
• Deliver high quality, accurate and timely estimates aligned with Jacobs’ standards and client expectations.
• Build strong, respectful working relationships with project teams and client stakeholders.
• Meet commitments on schedule, effort hours and cost budgets.
• Continuously seek opportunities to improve tools, templates, processes and data quality.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Implement Operating Procedures for estimating activities and ensure consistent adoption across projects.
• Standardise estimating delivery—tools, templates, filing structures—to embed a Jacobs wide approach.
• Develop and execute estimate plans for all assigned projects.
• Compile project estimates in line with approved plans and standard procedures.
• Perform estimate risk analysis and contingency assessments.
• Present and review estimates with project teams, senior management and clients.
• Consolidate benchmark data in a centralised, traceable repository to capture lessons learned and improve future estimates.
• Lead Value Engineering and Risk Workshops to support project optimisation.
• Support and promote Capital Cost Trending, Jacobs Value Plus, and Jacobs Sustainability Plus initiatives.
• Ensure systems and processes meet all project management and client requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement in estimating tools and productivity, leveraging platforms such as Cost x, Navisworks, Excel, and other digital solutions.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Chartered membership of Engineers Ireland, SCSI, or equivalent (advantageous).
• Extensive experience in cost engineering, quantity surveying, or estimating, including time spent on construction sites.
• Proven experience delivering estimates for large scale industrial projects, ideally within Life Sciences or other advanced technology sectors.
• Strong understanding of EPCM project environments.

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As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.