Construction Estimator

Vertex People Solutions; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary based on experience

Job summary

Vertex People Solutions’ client, a leading A/E/C mechanical contractor, seeks a Construction Estimator to independently build accurate bids for HVAC, plumbing, piping, and sheet metal on commercial and institutional work, carrying a bid from takeoff to submission.

You will manage bid prep, coordinate with vendors and internal teams, and apply rigorous mechanical knowledge to ensure competitive, win-ready estimates that support project success.

Qualifications

• High school diploma/GED required; Engineering/Construction Management degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of construction industry estimating experience.
• Experience with QuickPen, Autobid, Quote Express Mechanical or similar software.
• HVAC, plumbing, piping, and sheet metal estimating experience in commercial/institutional/industrial projects.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Bluebeam, and Procore; strong cost control knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Perform HVAC, plumbing, piping, and sheet metal take-off and estimating, including hard bid and conceptual estimates.
• Maintain working files and current supplier pricing for estimates.
• Manage the full bid preparation process and closeout for hard bids independently.
• Review specs and drawings to determine scope of work; develop a pre-bid checklist.
• Collaborate with project development and operations teams on proposals.
• Apply preconstruction procedures for conceptual estimates.

Skills

Strong attention to detail

Excellent verbal and written communc

Bid management from takeoff to subm

Self-sufficient with minimal oversight

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma/GED

Engineering or Construction Management degree preferred

Tools

QuickPen

Autobid

Quote Express Mechanical

Microsoft Excel

Bluebeam

Procore

Job description

Vertex People Solutions specializes in recruitment and business development for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (A/E/C) industries. With expertise in the unique demands of these fields, we identify and recruit professionals with specific skills that align with our clients' needs and culture. Acting as an extension of your team, we ensure seamless integration of new hires who are equipped to meet project deadlines and contribute to long-term goals. Our commitment to delivering tailored staffing solutions makes us a trusted partner for businesses in the A/E/C sectors.

Our client delivers full-service commercial mechanical construction built on precision, accountability, and hands-on craftsmanship. From estimating through completion, we bring the technical expertise and field discipline to build systems that perform and last.

Our client self-performs its work with skilled local tradespeople across the Kansas City metro.

As a UA Local 533 and Local 8 signatory shop, our team members bring real regional expertise and craftsmanship to every project, and they carry full accountability from first pipe to final walk through. We hire people who take pride in the work, not just the paycheck, and we plan and execute efficiently without cutting corners, keeping projects on schedule and systems built to last with quality materials, sound fabrication, and precise installation. From estimating through completion, our client guides clients with the kind of technical expertise that keeps a project efficient, safe, and done right the first time.

As a Construction Estimator, you will independently build accurate, winnable bids for commercial mechanical projects, pricing HVAC, plumbing, piping, and sheet metal scope on real commercial and institutional work, and carrying a bid from takeoff to submission on your own. Every bid you build feeds directly into projects our clients own crews execute, start to finish. Our client is growing fast and expanding into bigger, more complex work, so the bids you build will carry real weight, not just fill a pipeline.

Most estimators spend years proving they can be trusted with a real number before anyone hands them the keys. At our client, you get the keys on day one. You're not fighting for scraps of scope while someone senior takes the interesting work, you're building bids that determine whether our client lands the next data center or healthcare project on its list. That standard starts with the numbers you put in front of a client before a single trade shows up on site, and the work you do this year becomes the reputation you carry for the next ten.

Responsibilities

• Perform HVAC, plumbing, piping, and sheet metal take-off and estimating, including hard bid and conceptual estimates
• Maintain working files as backup for estimate figures, including current pricing from suppliers through direct contact and material/equipment scoping
• Manage the full bid preparation process and closeout for hard bids independently
• Review proposal specifications and drawings to determine scope of work and
• Develop a pre-bid checklist for each bid
• Collaborate with project development and operations teams on proposals
• Apply Preconstruction Services procedures for conceptual estimates

Vendor and Client Relationships

• Build and manage relationships with outside vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors during bid preparation
• Build and maintain effective relationships with client counterparts, including client-sponsored functions as appropriate
• Apply system layout and takeoff principles to incomplete drawings
• Participate in project meetings with the estimating team and management

Teamwork

• Partner with regional, project, and estimating management on constructability review, workforce requirements, schedule, and other trade impacts
• Work directly with the Bid Coordinator on distribution of bid information and receipt of quotes

Requirements

Education

• High school diploma/GED required. Degree in Engineering or Construction Management preferred, or an equivalent combination of technical training, trade school, and relevant experience.

Experience

• 3+ years of construction industry estimating experience required
• Experience with QuickPen, Autobid, Quote Express Mechanical, or similar estimating software required

Industry Experience

• Industry experience with HVAC and plumbing, commercial, institutional, or industrial, required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Bluebeam, and Procore

Knowledge

• Solid knowledge of estimating techniques and cost control
• Technical knowledge of mechanical construction, HVAC, piping, and plumbing
• Ability to interpret project documents independently and understand their impact on the estimate
• Understanding of the terms and conditions that shape bid strategy

Skills

• Ability to interpret computerized cost data and estimating systems independently
• Ability to work self-sufficiently with minimal oversight
• Ability to facilitate a bid through to completion start to finish
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Sound judgment on the relative significance of bid components

Physical and/or Travel Demands

• Primarily office-based, with occasional site visits for scope verification and constructability review
• Ability to review project sites and read drawings/specifications on location as needed

Benefits and Compensation

Your total compensation goes beyond your paycheck. Our client offers:

• Competitive salary based on experience [insert range before posting]