Civil Estimator

Mainframe Solutions; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mainframe Solutions in Houston seeks an experienced Heavy Civil Estimator to take projects from initial bid through final pricing and handoff to operations. You will analyze drawings, specs, geotechnical info, quantities, subcontractor proposals, equipment requirements, labor, materials, and project risks to develop competitive estimates reflecting actual construction.

Collaboration with field leadership ensures realistic, profitable bids.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of heavy civil estimating experience.
• Ability to read and interpret civil drawings and specifications.
• Understanding of labor, equipment, material, subcontractor, and production costs.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and collaboration with operations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed estimates for heavy civil and infrastructure projects.
• Perform accurate quantity takeoffs.
• Develop labor, material, equipment, production, and subcontractor costs.
• Estimate scopes involving earthwork, excavation, utilities, drainage, concrete, paving, site development.
• Review plans, specs, geotechnical reports, and bid documents.
• Solicit and evaluate subcontractor and vendor proposals.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, risks, and opportunities.
• Evaluate production assumptions and construction approaches.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings and site visits.
• Prepare bid summaries and support final bid reviews.
• Coordinate with project management during project handoff.
• Maintain organized estimating documentation and historical pricing.

Skills

Heavy civil estimating

Quantity takeoffs

Reading civil drawings

Analytical thinking

Bid management

Communication

Tools

Civil estimating software

Job description

Role Overview

Mainframe Solutions is recruiting an experienced Heavy Civil Estimator for an established contractor pursuing complex civil and infrastructure projects throughout the Houston market.

This is more than a quantity takeoff position.

The Estimator will play an important role in determining which projects the company pursues, how work is priced, where risk exists, and how projects are positioned to be profitable before construction ever begins.

You will evaluate projects involving earthwork, excavation, underground utilities, drainage, concrete, paving, structural foundations, site development, stabilization, and related heavy civil construction.

What would you do as an Estimator

As a Heavy Civil Estimator, you will take projects from initial bid documents through final pricing and handoff to operations.

You will analyze drawings, specifications, geotechnical information, quantities, production assumptions, subcontractor proposals, equipment requirements, labor, materials, and project risks to develop competitive and defensible estimates.

You will work closely with operations and field leadership to ensure estimates reflect how projects will actually be constructed rather than simply what appears on the plans.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed estimates for heavy civil and infrastructure projects


• Perform accurate quantity takeoffs


• Develop labor, material, equipment, production, and subcontractor costs


• Estimate scopes involving earthwork, excavation, underground utilities, drainage, concrete, paving, and site development


• Review plans, specifications, geotechnical reports, and bid documents


• Solicit and evaluate subcontractor and vendor proposals


• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, project risks, and opportunities


• Evaluate production assumptions and construction approaches


• Participate in pre bid meetings and site visits


• Prepare bid summaries and support final bid reviews


• Coordinate with project management and operations during project handoff


• Maintain organized estimating documentation and historical pricing information


• Support conceptual estimating and preconstruction activities

Qualifications

• 5+ years of heavy civil estimating experience


• Strong understanding of civil construction means, methods, and production


• Experience performing detailed quantity takeoffs


• Ability to read and interpret civil drawings and specifications


• Understanding of labor, equipment, material, subcontractor, and production costs


• Strong analytical and organizational skills


• Ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines


• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with operations and field leadership

Preferred Experience

• Underground utilities


• Earthwork and excavation


• Concrete and paving


• Drainage


• Site development


• Structural foundations


• Self perform construction


• Civil estimating and takeoff software


• Experience estimating projects from conceptual pricing through final bid

Does this sound like you?

You don't just know how to complete a takeoff. You understand how the work gets built.

You can identify risk in a set of plans, question production assumptions, compare subcontractor proposals, recognize scope gaps, and develop pricing that gives operations a realistic path to executing the project profitably.

If you want to have a direct impact on the projects a growing heavy civil contractor pursues and wins, we want to hear from you.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screening in accordance with company policy and applicable laws. Failure to meet these requirements may result in withdrawal of the offer.