Civil Lead Estimator - Industrial

Kiewit (Canada); Lenexa (KS); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc. in Lenexa, KS is seeking an Industrial Lead Civil Estimator to develop detailed cost estimates by integrating engineering, procurement, and construction inputs.

The role requires interpreting contract documents and coordinating with multi-discipline teams to ensure accurate pricing for industrial projects. The position emphasizes surface modeling, quantity takeoffs, and bid package development, with opportunities to mentor junior staff and support proposal efforts

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or closely related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in construction estimating and at least 3 years of civil/structural engineering design experience in relevant industries (power, infrastructure, industrial, EPC).
• Strong proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, and estimating/scheduling software used for civil and structural cost development.

Responsibilities

• Review client RFPs, specs, drawings, contracts, and reference materials to ensure estimates comply with technical and contractual requirements.
• Oversee and utilize Civil3D or similar design tools to generate surface models, evaluate site layouts, and extract quantities for estimating purposes.
• Conduct and train others on detailed quantity takeoffs for earthwork, site surfacing, underground piping, drainage, foundations, and structural components.
• Develop and assemble subcontractor and material bid packages in coordination with procurement; answer bidder questions and support bid evaluations.
• Identify, document, and communicate estimating risks, assumptions, clarifications, and qualifications to ensure transparency and alignment with company standards.
• Coordinate closely with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction teams to ensure all project elements are incorporated into design assumptions and estimates.
• Compare self perform estimates against subcontractor proposals or secondary team estimates and reconcile differences for accuracy.
• Support proposal development by preparing civil- and structural-specific estimating content for moderate to large EPC pursuits.
• Utilize estimating software, CAD tools, and engineering design platforms to develop accurate quantities, pricing, and cost modeling.
• Maintain close collaboration with construction partners to incorporate field conditions, constructability considerations, and installation methods into pricing and assumptions.
• Prepare schedules, staffing assessments, and budget inputs for engineering and estimating deliverables to support project planning and execution.
• Participate in estimate review meetings with estimating leadership and executive management to present, justify, and refine the civil and structural estimate.
• Maintain strong documentation practices ensuring all estimate bases, calculations, and assumptions are well organized and aligned with organizational quality standards.
• Attend technical meetings to coordinate design and estimating issues and support multidisciplinary engineering teams in resolving conflicts or gaps.
• Support permitting, third party coordination, and design compliance requirements as they relate to estimating and project development strategies.
• Lead or support onboarding, mentoring, and development of entry level estimators and junior technical staff on estimating best practices.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Multitasking

Problem solving

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Tools

Estimating software

CAD tools

Spreadsheets & databases

Job description

Requisition ID: 182792

Job Level: Mid Level

Home District/Group: Kiewit Industrial & Water Engineering

Department: Estimating

Market: Power

Employment Type: Full Time

Position Overview

The Industrial Lead Civil estimator will be responsible for taking client requested scopes and incorporating solutions from the engineering, procurement, and construction groups to produce an estimate. As a Lead Estimator, you will be responsible for reviewing, analyzing and interpreting contract documents (specifications, drawings, and reference information) to develop detailed, comprehensive cost estimates for various projects throughout Kiewit's industrial market. Kiewit Industrial projects have a variety of execution strategies and Engineering partners. Most projects have engineering done by partners upstream of estimating, but occasionally engineering is completed within this group. Design Engineering background is needed for these types of estimates, but each candidate for this position does not need a design engineering background.

District Overview

Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc is a full-service consulting and engineering firm serving the infrastructure and engineering markets. Our combined staff of more than 2,000 engineers and design professionals have expertise that spans all major engineering disciplines to serve transportation, power, water/wastewater, mining, building, and oil, gas & chemical markets. Backed by 130 years of construction experience, our construction-driven engineering focuses on constructability and safety in the earliest phases of projects to ensure on-time and on-budget project delivery.

Our rapidly growing Industrial and Water Engineering Group, which includes mechanical, process, electrical, controls, structural, architectural, geotechnical, and civil disciplines, is a multi-faceted and leading-edge division of Kiewit with best-in-class technical expertise focused on EPC and design-build delivery of industrial projects in markets such as Data Centers, Food & Beverage, Consumer Products, Heavy Manufacturing, Industrial Buildings, Industrial Water and Utilities.

Location

This position is based in our Lenexa, KS office. There is flexibility for remote employees with the appropriate background.

Responsibilities

• Review client RFPs, specifications, drawings, contracts, and reference materials to ensure estimates comply with all technical and contractual requirements.
• Oversee and utilize Civil3D or similar design tools to generate surface models, evaluate site layouts, and extract quantities for estimating purposes.
• Conduct and train others on detailed quantity takeoffs for earthwork, site surfacing, underground piping, drainage, foundations, and structural components.
• Develop and assemble subcontractor and material bid packages in coordination with procurement; answer bidder questions and support bid evaluations.
• Identify, document, and communicate estimating risks, assumptions, clarifications, and qualifications to ensure transparency and alignment with company standards.
• Coordinate closely with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction teams to ensure that all project elements are incorporated into design assumptions and estimates.
• Compare self perform estimates against subcontractor proposals or secondary team estimates and reconcile differences for accuracy.
• Support proposal development by preparing civil- and structural-specific estimating content for moderate to large EPC pursuits.
• Utilize estimating software, CAD tools, and engineering design platforms to develop accurate quantities, pricing, and cost modeling.
• Maintain close collaboration with construction partners to incorporate field conditions, constructability considerations, and installation methods into pricing and assumptions.
• Prepare schedules, staffing assessments, and budget inputs for engineering and estimating deliverables to support project planning and execution.
• Participate in estimate review meetings with estimating leadership and executive management to present, justify, and refine the civil and structural estimate.
• Maintain strong documentation practices ensuring all estimate bases, calculations, and assumptions are well organized and aligned with organizational quality standards.
• Attend technical meetings to coordinate design and estimating issues and support multidisciplinary engineering teams in resolving conflicts or gaps.
• Support permitting, third party coordination, and design compliance requirements as they relate to estimating and project development strategies.
• Lead or support onboarding, mentoring, and development of entry level estimators and junior technical staff on estimating best practices.

For Estimate lead design efforts

• Review, interpret, apply engineering techniques, calculations, and design standards to develop accurate civil and structural estimates for power generation, carbon capture and EPC projects.
• Analyze and develop site designs, including grading, earthwork, hydrology/hydraulics, roadway layout, and overall site development, to establish quantity takeoffs and cost inputs.
• Prepare preliminary design concepts and engineering alternatives to support estimating efforts, constructability reviews, and project feasibility evaluations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related field required.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in construction estimating and at least 3 years of civil/structural engineering design experience in relevant industries (power, infrastructure, industrial, EPC, etc.).
• Strong proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, and estimating/scheduling software used for civil and structural cost development.
• Proven ability to multitask and manage competing deadlines while maintaining accuracy and meeting project expectations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong team orientation, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, construction, procurement, and proposal teams.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a point of contact for both internal and external clients, providing technical clarity and support during estimating and development phases.
• High degree of self motivation, initiative, and problem solving capability in fast paced, deadline driven environments.
• Ability to support proposal teams by preparing civil-specific estimating content and working positively to achieve shared project goals.

Other Requirements

• Regular, reliable attendance
• Work productively and meet deadlines timely
• Communicate and interact effectively and professionally with supervisors, employees, and others individually or in a team environment.
• Perform work safely and effectively. Understand and follow oral and written instructions, including warning signs, equipment use, and other policies.
• Work during normal operating hours to organize and complete work within given deadlines. Work overtime and weekends as required.
• May work at various different locations and conditions may vary.

Benefits

We offer our fulltime staff employees a comprehensive benefits package that’s among the best in our industry, including top-tier medical, dental and vision plans covering eligible employees and dependents, voluntary wellness and employee assistance programs, life insurance, disability, retirement plans with matching, and generous paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.