Estimator

KDW; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Insurance

401(k)

PTO & holidays

Company phone

Career development

Job summary

KDW is seeking an experienced Estimator to prepare accurate, competitive cost estimates across Industrial, Manufacturing, and General Commercial Construction markets. Lead bid solicitations, develop detailed takeoffs, and coordinate with project managers and subcontractors to ensure complete, on-schedule pricing.

You will shape planning and pricing strategy, identify risk, support value engineering, and mentor junior estimators within a collaborative preconstruction team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of construction estimating experience with a general contractor (design-build experience preferred).
• Hands-on proficiency with Bluebeam Revu for takeoffs and document review (required).
• Experience with Sage Timberline / Sage Estimating strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed takeoffs using Bluebeam Revu for assigned scope, trades, and project phases.
• Develop and issue bid solicitations; identify, qualify, and manage subcontractor and vendor outreach.
• Build and maintain cost estimates and models from conceptual/schematic design through construction documents.
• Support design-build pursuits, including early conceptual pricing, design-phase cost tracking, and design-to-budget reconciliation.
• Analyze drawings, specifications, and scopes of work to identify gaps, overlaps, and constructability issues.
• Prepare and assemble bids and proposals across contract types (Lump Sum, GMP, Cost Plus).
• Evaluate trade partner proposals, organize bid comparisons, and participate in post-bid review and scope award recommendations.
• Collaborate with project managers, architects, engineers, and trade partners throughout preconstruction.
• Develop value engineering and value analysis options to meet client budgets without compromising quality.
• Maintain organized estimating files, historical cost data, and documentation to support a clean handoff to field execution.

Skills

Bluebeam Revu

Takeoffs

Cost modeling

Bid solicitations

Microsoft Excel

Sage Estimating

Autodesk Navisworks

CAD

Construction drawings

Education

Bachelor's in Construction Management or related

Tools

Sage Estimating

Autodesk Navisworks

CAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

KDW is a fully integrated design-build firm delivering commercial, industrial, and food-processing facilities from concept through completion. As a single-source partner for design, engineering, and construction, we move faster and take greater ownership of outcomes than a traditional general contractor. Our people are entrepreneurial, accountable, and committed to building beyond expectations for our clients.

Position Summary

KDW is seeking an experienced Estimator to prepare accurate, competitive, and well-coordinated cost estimates and proposals across Industrial, Manufacturing, and General Commercial Construction Markets under both the Design-Bid Build and Design-Build delivery methods. In this role, you will develop detailed quantity takeoffs, analyze drawings and specifications, build cost models, and lead bid solicitation efforts; working closely with project managers, others in the preconstruction team, design partners, and sub-contractors to ensure every estimate is complete, accurate, and on schedule.

You will help shape KDW’s planning and pricing strategy by identifying risk, evaluating constructability, writing scope summaries to go along with pricing, and support value engineering as needed. Experienced Estimators lead full project estimates, manage conceptual and schematic pricing on design-build pursuits, mentor junior estimators, and play a strategic role in improving our estimating processes, cost data, and other internal tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed takeoffs using Bluebeam Revu for assigned scope, trades, and project phases
• Develop and issue bid solicitations; identify, qualify, and manage subcontractor and vendor outreach
• Build and maintain cost estimates and models from conceptual/schematic design through construction documents
• Support design-build pursuits, including early conceptual pricing, design-phase cost tracking, and design-to-budget reconciliation
• Analyze drawings, specifications, and scopes of work to identify gaps, overlaps, and constructability issues
• Prepare and assemble bids and proposals across contract types (Lump Sum, GMP, Cost Plus)
• Evaluate trade partner proposals, organize bid comparisons, and participate in post-bid review and scope award recommendations
• Collaborate with project managers, architects, engineers, and trade partners throughout preconstruction
• Develop value engineering and value analysis options to meet client budgets without compromising quality
• Maintain organized estimating files, historical cost data, and documentation to support a clean handoff to field execution

What You Bring

• 5+ years of construction estimating experience with a general contractor (design-build experience preferred)
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Hands-on proficiency with Bluebeam Revu for takeoffs and document review (required)
• Experience with Sage Timberline / Sage Estimating strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of construction drawings, specifications, and building systems across multiple trades and markets
• Familiarity with design-build delivery and the ability to work effectively with limited early design information
• Experience with Software including Microsoft Office, Excel, Autodesk Navisworks and CAD, Bluebeam
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with sharp attention to detail
• Strong Communication Skills

Total Rewards & Benefits

KDW invests in the people who build our success. Full-time Estimators enjoy:

• Competitive base pay and supplemental package, commensurate with experience
• Performance-based bonus / profit sharing
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Company Phone
• Career development, training, and continuing education support