Estimating Professional Career Level

Spectraforce Technologies, Inc.; Atlanta (GA); Remote; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Part time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies, Inc. seeks an Estimating Professional Career Level for nationwide planning and programming support. Remote work with 20–40 hours per week is expected, 6 months with possible conversion.

You will develop defensible cost estimates from limited information, collaborating with architects, engineers, economists, and stakeholders. The role emphasizes planning-level cost estimating across DoD and federal projects, using benchmarking, parametric tools, and professional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or related field.
• 8+ years of professional cost estimating or planning experience.
• Experience developing conceptual and planning-level facility and infrastructure cost estimates.
• Proven experience preparing AACE Class 4 and Class 5 estimates.
• Experience supporting federal, defense, institutional, or large public-sector capital projects.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to independently develop defensible conceptual estimates with limited project information.
• Experience supporting renovation, replacement, recapitalization, modernization, and new construction projects and analyses.
• Proven proficiency using MII and PACES, including planning, programming, DD Form 1391, MILCON, and conceptual estimates.
• Ability to transition between highly conceptual estimates and refined estimates based on project information.

Responsibilities

• Developing cost estimates for new construction, modernization, renovation, adaptive reuse, and alternative delivery approaches.
• Preparing comparative estimates for multiple development scenarios and alternatives.
• Evaluating renovation versus replacement options using planning-level methodologies.
• Documenting estimate assumptions, methodologies, risks, exclusions, escalation considerations, and confidence levels.
• Participating in client workshops and planning charrettes as the estimating expert.
• Developing estimates using MII methodologies and DoD planning/programming requirements.
• Supporting estimate development through review, revision, and final documentation.
• Applying professional judgment to planning-level quantities, unit costs, allowances, and contingencies.

Skills

Cost estimating

Analytical thinking

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction/Architecture

Tools

MII

PACES

AACE standards

Job description

Job Title: Estimating Professional Career Level

Duration: 6 months | Possibility of Conversion based on Business Requirements

Worksite: Remote | Monday - Friday | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Note: The role is expected to require 20 to 40 hours per week, depending on client demands and deliverable requirements.

Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Planning Cost Estimator to serve as a technical subject matter expert supporting planning and programming projects nationwide. The role is expected to require 20 to 40 hours per week, depending on client demands and deliverable requirements.

The ideal candidate is comfortable developing estimates throughout the project lifecycle, from conceptual planning and programming studies through progressively defined project scopes. Success in this role depends on the ability to develop reliable cost estimates with limited information using benchmarking, parametric tools, professional judgment, and stakeholder engagement, while adapting estimates as project definition advances.

The selected candidate will work alongside facility planners, architects, engineers, economists, military planners, and client stakeholders to develop defensible planning-level cost estimates and comparative cost analyses. The estimator will participate in work sessions and planning workshops as the project's cost estimating expert, providing technical input regarding costs, assumptions, risks, and estimating methodologies.

Responsibilities:

Typical assignments may include:

• Developing cost estimates for new construction, modernization, renovation, adaptive reuse, and alternative delivery approaches, including tensile, modular, and pre-engineered structures.
• Supporting mission beddown and mission relocation studies.
• Evaluating renovation versus replacement alternatives.
• Supporting planning and programming deliverables, including DD Form 1391 documentation, Planning Charrette Reports (PCRs), economic analyses, and other federal project documentation.
• Conducting benchmarking and parametric analyses to support planning recommendations.

Role

The Planning Cost Estimator serves as a key technical contributor within multidisciplinary planning teams and provides cost estimating expertise during facility planning, programming, and capital investment planning efforts.

• Develop and document AACE Class 4 and Class 5 cost estimates, and other order-of-magnitude estimates using conceptual scope definitions and limited project information.
• Prepare comparative estimates for multiple development scenarios and alternatives.
• Evaluate renovation versus replacement options using planning-level cost methodologies.
• Document estimate assumptions, methodologies, risks, exclusions, escalation considerations, and confidence levels.
• Participate in client workshops, planning charrettes, stakeholder meetings, and project work sessions as the cost estimating subject matter expert, effectively communicating technical cost estimating information in collaborative planning environments.
• Develop estimates using MII methodologies and databases consistent with Department of Defense and federal planning/programming requirements.
• Support estimate development through review, revision, and final documentation.
• Apply professional judgment to develop planning-level quantities, unit costs, allowances, and contingencies when project definition is limited or evolving.

Here’s What You’ll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Facilities Planning, Economics, Business, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience in cost estimating, facility planning, architecture, engineering, construction management, capital planning, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience developing conceptual and planning-level facility and infrastructure cost estimates.
• Proven experience preparing AACE Class 4 and Class 5 estimates.
• Experience supporting federal, defense, institutional, or large public-sector capital projects.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to independently develop defensible conceptual estimates with limited project information.
• Experience supporting renovation, replacement, recapitalization, modernization, and new construction projects and analyses.
• Demonstrated proficiency using MII (Micro-Computer Aided Cost Estimating System) and PACES (Parametric Cost Engineering System), including development of planning, programming, DD Form 1391, MILCON, and conceptual capital investment estimates.
• Ability to transition between highly conceptual estimates and estimates based on more refined project information.

Work Location

This is a temporary/project-based position supporting planning and programming projects throughout the United States, with the potential to transition into a full-time role based on business needs and performance. Candidates may be located anywhere within the continental United States and will work remotely when not supporting project travel requirements. Preference may be given to candidates located near major of the clients' office locations supporting Advisory Services planning services (Atlanta, Arlington, and St. Louis); however, relocation is neither required nor reimbursed.

Travel Requirements

Travel is an essential component of this position.

• Expected travel: 10% to 40%, depending on project assignments.
• Travel will include planning workshops, client meetings, facility assessments, installation visits, charrettes, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Travel may include military installations, federal facilities, and client locations throughout the United States, with trips typically lasting 2 to 5 days and occasional assignments extending to one or two consecutive weeks.
• Ability to travel nationwide on relatively short notice in support of project requirements is required.