Chief Estimator

State Electric Corporation; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

State Electric Corporation in Bedford, MA, is seeking a highly qualified Chief Estimator to lead our estimating department. This senior leadership role drives accuracy, competitiveness, and strategic direction across Commercial, Utility, Transportation, and Low Voltage Systems markets.

You will mentor the estimating team, oversee take-offs and pricing, shape bid strategy, evaluate risk, and ensure complete transfer of scope and commitments with executive leadership and operations.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive electrical estimating experience.
• Experience leading estimators and complex bid pursuits.
• Expert knowledge of electrical construction means and NEC.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and decision-making under deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead and advance the estimating department, ensuring accuracy and competitiveness.
• Oversee all take-offs, pricing, subcontractor scopes, and vendor quotations.
• Direct bid strategy, project selection, risk evaluation, and pricing decisions.
• Review estimates, bid summaries, and final submissions for executive approval.
• Build relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, clients, and internal stakeholders.
• Identify scope gaps and manage RFIs during preconstruction and bidding.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Bid strategy

Team mentoring

Tools

ConEst

MS Excel

Job description

Founded in 1988, State Electric is a full-service electrical contractor serving Commercial, Utility, Transportation, Low Voltage Systems, and Electrical Service/Maintenance clients throughout the Northeastern United States.

Location: 2 Deangelo Dr., Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 (HQ)

Job Description/Responsibilities

• State Electric is seeking a highly qualified Chief Estimator to lead and advance our estimating department. This senior leadership role is responsible for the accuracy, consistency, competitiveness, and strategic direction of the company’s estimating and preconstruction efforts across our Commercial, Utility, Transportation, Low Voltage Systems, and Electrical Service/Maintenance markets.
• Lead, manage, mentor, and develop the estimating team, establishing clear accountability, workload priorities, and consistent estimating standards.
• Oversee all take-offs, quantity surveys, labor and material pricing, subcontractor scopes, and vendor quotations in accordance with company procedures.
• Direct bid strategy, project selection, risk evaluation, value engineering, and pricing decisions for complex and high-value electrical construction opportunities.
• Perform senior-level review of estimates, bid summaries, scope letters, exclusions, qualifications, bid forms, and final submissions prior to executive approval.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, clients, general contractors, and internal stakeholders to strengthen pricing intelligence and market position.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, contractual risks, and opportunities; generate and manage RFIs as needed during the preconstruction and bidding process.
• Partner closely with Executive Management and Operations through bid reviews and construction turnover meetings to ensure complete transfer of scope, assumptions, risks, budgets, and commitments.

Employment Type: Full Time

Career Level: Senior Leadership / Department Head

Years of Experience: 15 years

Qualifications/Requirements

• A minimum of 15 years of progressive electrical estimating experience, including significant experience leading estimators and complex bid pursuits.
• Demonstrated success estimating large, complex electrical construction projects; experience across multiple State Electric market sectors is strongly preferred.
• Expert knowledge of electrical construction means and methods, labor productivity, material/equipment pricing, subcontractor scope development, and the National Electrical Code.
• Proven ability to lead bid strategy, evaluate risk, identify scope gaps, and make sound commercial decisions under deadline pressure.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills with a track record of mentoring, developing, and holding high-performing estimating teams accountable.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, contracts, schedules, and other bid documents and translate them into complete, defensible estimates.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to benchmark historical performance, evaluate market conditions, and improve estimating accuracy and consistency.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership, operations teams, clients, vendors, and subcontractors.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent pursuits, prioritize resources, and meet critical bid deadlines without sacrificing quality or accuracy.
• Proficiency with estimating technology and digital takeoff tools; strong working knowledge of ConEst is highly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working proficiency in Microsoft Word and related business applications.

Pay and Benefits

• Highly competitive salaries to commensurate with experience and qualifications.