Estimator

Trueline Talent; Kemp (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Bonus opportunity

Office-based role

Expansion growth potential

Job summary

Trueline Talent represents a rapidly growing fabrication firm east of Dallas, Texas, seeking a Senior Fabrication Estimator to translate drawings and specs into accurate costs while protecting margins and profitable work.

The role is office-based in Kemp, TX, requiring senior-level estimating experience in metal fabrication, with responsibilities spanning takeoffs, labor hours, supplier pricing, and competitive quotes to drive company growth.

Qualifications

• Proven senior-level estimating experience in custom metal fabrication or related environments.
• Ability to complete material takeoffs and calculate fabrication labor hours accurately.
• Strong reading of drawings, blueprints, BOMs, and fabrication specs.
• Knowledge of material yields, scrap, shop capacity, and production routing.
• Independent development of complete estimates without relying on others.

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, specs, RFQs, and documents to define fabrication scope.
• Perform detailed material takeoffs for metal components and purchased items.
• Estimate shop labor for cutting, forming, welding, and finishing processes.
• Account for setup time, scrap, tooling, and project risks in quotes.
• Collaborate with engineering, purchasing, PM, and production to validate estimates.
• Prepare clear, competitive quotes reflecting full project scope and margins.
• Update estimates when drawings or requirements change.
• Identify missing information or conflicts before submitting quotes.

Skills

Senior estimating

Material takeoffs

Welding knowledge

Reading drawings

Cost calculation

Tools

Bluebeam

CAD viewers

ERP/MRP systems

Estimating software

Job description

Trueline's client, a rapidly growing custom metal fabrication company serving major industrial customers, is seeking a Senior Fabrication Estimator to join their team east of Dallas, Texas. This office-based role is ideal for an experienced estimator who can independently translate drawings and specifications into accurate material, labor, and production costs while helping the company protect margins and win profitable work.

What You'll Do as the Senior Fabrication Estimator:

• Review customer drawings, specifications, RFQs, and supporting documents to understand the complete fabrication scope.
• Perform detailed material takeoffs for sheet metal, plate, structural components, weldments, and purchased items.
• Estimate shop labor for cutting, forming, welding, rolling, sawing, finishing, assembly, inspection, and other fabrication processes.
• Account for setup time, material utilization, scrap, fixtures, tooling, outside processing, freight, and project-specific risks.
• Request and evaluate supplier and subcontractor pricing when outside materials or services are required.
• Prepare clear, accurate, and competitive quotes that reflect the full project scope and protect expected margins.
• Identify missing information, drawing conflicts, and scope risks before quotes are submitted.
• Collaborate with engineering, purchasing, project management, and production teams to validate assumptions.
• Update estimates when drawings, quantities, materials, or customer requirements change.
• Compare completed‑project results against estimates and use those findings to improve future pricing.

Must-Haves as the Senior Fabrication Estimator:

• Proven senior-level estimating experience within custom metal fabrication, industrial manufacturing, structural steel, sheet metal, or a related environment.
• Expert-level ability to complete material takeoffs and calculate realistic fabrication labor hours.
• Strong understanding of welding, cutting, forming, machining, assembly, and metal finishing processes.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, blueprints, bills of material, and fabrication specifications.
• Working knowledge of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other commonly fabricated materials.
• Understanding of material yield, scrap, shop capacity, production routing, and labor productivity.
• Ability to independently develop complete estimates without relying on production leaders to calculate the work.
• Strong mathematical, analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Clear communication skills and the confidence to question incomplete or inconsistent project information.
• Ability to work from the company's office in Kemp, Texas.

Nice-to-Haves as the Senior Fabrication Estimator:

• Background in a custom, job-shop, contract manufacturing, or engineer-to-order environment.
• Experience with laser cutting, CNC press brakes, plate processing, certified welding, powder coating, and outside processing.
• Experience working in a quality-controlled or certified manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with estimating software, ERP or MRP systems, Bluebeam, CAD viewers, and advanced Excel tools.
• Previous experience working directly with customers, suppliers, or project managers during the quoting process.
• Experience improving estimating templates, labor standards, costing tools, or quote-review processes.

Our Client Offers:

• Base salary of $90,000-$110,000, based on experience and estimating capabilities.
• Performance-driven bonus opportunity connected to company growth.
• Health insurance.
• A high-impact role with direct influence on pricing, profitability, and business growth.
• Exposure to varied industrial fabrication projects and manufacturing processes.
• The resources and production capabilities of an established fabrication operation.
• A stable, office-based position with close access to engineering and shop-floor teams.
• The opportunity to join a company undergoing significant expansion.

Trueline and its clients are unabashed equal-opportunity employers committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome smart and ambitious applicants and recruit, refer, hire, place, and promote without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.