Cost Estimator

AE Works Ltd.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid schedule

Licensure support

Job summary

AE Works is seeking a qualified Cost Estimator to join our Construction team in Pittsburgh, PA or Arlington, VA. You will own estimates and budgets across design phases, providing data to inform design decisions and keep renovation projects within approved budgets.

Expect to collaborate with architects, engineers, and owners, utilize RS Means and estimating software, and contribute to value engineering. A Bachelor's degree and 8+ years' experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience on commercial building design/construction as estimator.
• Experience leading estimates across all project disciplines and trades.
• Ability to interpret design documents and apply pricing across multiple disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of current construction pricing data and RS Means or similar databases.

Responsibilities

• Owns and executes estimates through design phases across multiple projects.
• Develops early budgets to validate owner budgets and basis of estimates.
• Integrates with design teams to manage cost from concept to construction documents.
• Creates preconstruction schedules to support estimates and deliverables.
• Maintains cost database and applies industry pricing trends to estimates.
• Analyzes completed projects to explain cost variances and lessons learned.
• Reviews change orders and helps develop bids with recommendations.

Skills

Strong communicator

Reading design documents

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

RS Means cost database

Microsoft Excel

Estimating software

Scheduling software

Job description

Location: Any Office - Pittsburgh or Arlington

Compensation: $90,000 - $110,000 / year

Department: Construction

Location: Any Office - Pittsburgh or Arlington

Compensation: $90,000 - $110,000 / year

Description

JOIN OUR TEAM! Our team is redefining building design and engineering.AE Works is an award-winning firm ranked among the top U.S. A/E firms by Architectural Record and ENR East. AE Works is recognized for our commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional results.

Our mission is straightforward: to make building projects a better value. We thrive on solving complex challenges and creating solutions that enhance the built environment, enabling our clients to succeed in their most important endeavors.

WHY AE WORKS?

Our strength lies in our people. We offer a collaborative environment where expertise is shared, and ideas drive progress. You’ll work alongside architects, engineers, cost estimators, and construction managers with deep experience across higher education, government, engineering & infrastructure, healthcare and commercial markets. Together, we apply leading-edge technology and a passion for design excellence to projects that shape the future.

POSITION OVERVIEW

AE Works is seeking a talented Cost Estimator to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for successfully executing cost estimates and establishing budgets for our clients. Our estimators also equip our design teams with the data needed to inform design decisions and keep facility renovation projects within their allotted budgets.

LOCATION

Pittsburgh, PA or Arlington, VA

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Owns and executes estimates through various phases of design across multiple concurrent projects, accounting for labor, materials, and time required.
• Develops and reviews early project budgets to determine the directional accuracy of initial owner budgets and to clarify the basis of estimates.
• Integrates with project design teams and owners to manage design and project value from concept through construction documents.
• Creates and communicates preconstruction project schedules in support of estimates and deliverables for clients and teams.
• Manages AE Works' cost database and maintains up-to-date knowledge of construction industry trends and pricing, applying that data to estimates and advising teams and clients accordingly.
• Analyzes completed projects by comparing estimated costs to actual costs to identify and understand the reasons for any discrepancies.
• Assists in reviewing change order requests and developing project bids — including soliciting, leveling, and reviewing bids and providing recommendations based on that review.

QUALIFICATIONS

What’s Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience working on commercial building design and/or construction projects as a project estimator or in a similar role.
• Demonstrated experience leading and significantly contributing to estimates for commercial building projects across all project disciplines and construction trades.
• Ability to read and interpret design documents — and to conceptualize design when necessary — in order to apply construction pricing across Site/Civil, Landscaping, Architectural Façade, Structure, Architectural Interiors, Plumbing/Fire Protection, Mechanical, and Electrical/Systems disciplines.
• Strong technical knowledge of current construction pricing data, including total project cost per square foot across different project types and detailed unit pricing.
• Ability to identify and anticipate potential cost overruns and to recommend risk mitigation strategies.
• Ability to create and update basic construction project Gantt schedules for use in preconstruction.
• Strong communicator with the ability to build lasting relationships with clients and peers.
• Skilled in using cloud-based and mobile technology for project collaboration.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, estimating/quantity takeoff software, and scheduling software, with familiarity with the RS Means cost database (or a similar cost database); able to apply industry-specific software and technologies to ensure accurate estimation and reporting.

What Puts you Ahead:

• Certified Professional Estimator (CPE)
• Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
• Certified Estimating Professional (CEP)
• PMP

AE WORKS' PERKS

At AE Works, we believe in supporting each person in their professional and personal journey. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k), and a collaborative culture built on mentorship, accountability, and technical excellence. Our team enjoys generous paid time off, including a company-wide break from Christmas through New Year’s Day, a flexible hybrid schedule, and resources that promote mental health, financial wellness, and professional growth through training, education, and licensure support.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. EEO is the law. AE Works uses E-Verify. You have the Right to Work.