Data Center MEP Senior Estimator

Oracle Corporation; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Oracle Corporation is seeking an experienced MEP Senior Estimator (IC4) to support hyperscale data center development and infrastructure delivery. The role covers estimating across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, process systems, and related controls, with end-to-end responsibility for budgets and decision support.

The MEP Senior Estimator will act as owner-side cost authority, reviewing and normalizing bids, leading cost reconciliation, and presenting clear cost recommendations to Finance and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in developing conceptual, budgetary, and detailed MEP estimates for complex data center projects.

Responsibilities

• Own the development, validation, reconciliation, and defense of estimates for MEP and process systems.
• Lead pricing reconciliation and negotiation with colocation providers, contractors, and cost consultants.
• Prepare Basis of Estimate covering scope, design basis, inclusions, exclusions, and assumptions.
• Assess design maturity and uncertainty; recommend contingency and risk treatment with documented rationale.
• Present estimates and cost options to Finance and senior leadership with clear supporting evidence.
• Partner with project controls to connect estimate development with budgets, forecasts, and portfolio reporting.

Skills

MEP Estimating

Cost modeling

Budgeting

Negotiation

Owner-side cost control

Tools

Parametric tools

CBS/WBS mapping

Job description

The Global Program Controls organization provides governance, reporting, controls processes, cost management support, and portfolio visibility to help Oracle Cloud Infrastructure deliver global data center programs with greater consistency, transparency, and execution discipline.

Oracle is seeking an experienced MEP Senior Estimator (IC4) to support hyperscale data center development, colocation build-outs, and infrastructure delivery across multiple regions. This is a senior, hands-on individual-contributor role with end-to-end responsibility for conceptual, budgetary, and detailed estimates across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, process, fire protection, controls, low-voltage, and related mission-critical systems.

The MEP Senior Estimator will serve as Oracle's owner-side cost authority for assigned projects, translating design maturity, system capacity, market conditions, contractor pricing, and field execution realities into defensible budgets and decision support. The role will independently review and normalize estimates submitted by colocation providers, contractors, and quantity surveying partners; lead pricing reconciliation and negotiation; align estimates to approved cost breakdown structure (CBS) and work breakdown structure (WBS) requirements; and present clear cost recommendations to Finance and senior leadership.

Estimating and Cost Model Development

• Own the development, validation, reconciliation, and defense of conceptual, budgetary, and detailed MEP and process estimates for complex data center projects, programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop estimates with limited or evolving design information using capacity, topology, redundancy, equipment counts, quantities, labor productivity, regional market data, historical actuals, and parametric metrics such as cost per MW, rack, square foot, or system.
• Estimate mechanical and process systems including cooling generation and distribution, heat rejection, pumps, air-side systems, liquid cooling, process and domestic water, drainage, water treatment, fuel oil, plumbing, fire protection, and associated controls and commissioning requirements.
• Estimate electrical and low-voltage systems including utility and site power, substations, medium- and low-voltage distribution, transformers, switchgear, generators, UPS and battery systems, busway, rack power, grounding, lighting, BMS, EPMS, DCIM interfaces, fire alarm, security, and structured cabling.
• Build and maintain quantity-based, labor-hour, productivity-based, parametric, benchmark, and should-cost models that make assumptions and cost drivers transparent.
• Map estimates to the approved CBS and WBS, maintaining traceability from scope, quantities, equipment, and work packages through budget lines, funding requests, forecasts, and change control.
• Prepare Basis of Estimate documentation covering scope, design basis, inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, allowances, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, risk, and estimate confidence.
• Assess design maturity and uncertainty, identify cost and interface risks, and recommend appropriate contingency, escalation, and risk treatment supported by documented rationale.

Commercial Review, Colocation Pricing and Negotiation

• Independently review, level, normalize, and validate estimates and pricing submitted by colocation providers, general contractors, trade contractors, equipment vendors, and cost consultants.
• Reconcile proposals to a common CBS/WBS and scope basis so pricing, exclusions, allowances, alternates, interfaces, and commercial qualifications can be compared transparently.
• Challenge quantities, labor hours, productivity, equipment and material pricing, general conditions, indirect costs, markups, escalation, contingency, schedule premiums, and risk transfer where positions are not supported.
• Develop defensible should-cost positions using internal models, market intelligence, historical benchmarks, awarded pricing, regional labor assumptions, and project-specific execution conditions.
• Lead cost reconciliation and negotiation meetings and establish documented, agreed pricing positions with colocation providers and contractors within Oracle's approval governance and delegated authority.
• Evaluate change orders, scope transfers, design changes, and schedule impacts; quantify entitlement and cost exposure; and support negotiation of fair, auditable outcomes.
• Identify scope gaps, overlaps, double counting, missing interfaces, constructability issues, and commercial risks early enough to influence design, procurement, contract strategy, and investment decisions.

Cost Governance, Reporting and Finance Partnership

• Present estimates, funding requirements, cost drivers, budget deltas, risk ranges, contingency, and decision options to Finance, executives, and other senior stakeholders with clear supporting evidence.
• Translate technical and commercial detail into concise executive recommendations, answering challenges and explaining the impact of scope, design maturity, schedule, market conditions, and delivery strategy.
• Partner with project controls to connect estimate development with approved budgets, commitments, forecasts, trends, change control, schedule data, and portfolio reporting.
• Prepare executive cost reports, dashboards, estimate narratives, commercial review papers, and recommendation memoranda that provide timely visibility into cost exposure and required decisions.
• Work across Design, Engineering, Delivery, Construction, Procurement, Commercial, Legal, Finance, Operations, Scheduling, and Project Controls to align scope, assumptions, pricing, and accountability.

Standards, Data and QS Governance

• Standardize estimating methods, CBS/WBS mapping, estimate reviews, Basis of Estimate requirements, cost reporting, and governance checkpoints across assigned projects and programs.
• Develop and maintain cost databases, benchmarks, unit rates, labor productivity assumptions, regional factors, estimate templates, and reusable parametric tools.
• Set scopes, expectations, schedules, and quality standards for third-party quantity surveying (QS) firms and estimating consultants; review their deliverables, challenge assumptions, and hold partners accountable for accuracy and completeness.
• Perform estimate quality audits and independent validations, capture lessons from awarded bids and actual costs, and use the results to improve future estimate accuracy and portfolio cost intelligence.
• Provide technical guidance and peer review to other estimators and project team members, influencing consistent practice without requiring direct people-management responsibility.