Estimator - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

A global professional services company is seeking a Senior Estimator to join the Data Center team in San Francisco. This mid-senior level position involves leading preconstruction budget development and collaborating on estimates for hyperscale data center projects. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of experience in construction cost management. Strong skills in cost analysis and value engineering are essential. A competitive salary range of $140K–$155K is offered for this full-time role.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in construction cost management, estimating, or preconstruction roles.
• Proven experience delivering conceptual and detailed estimates for large-scale construction projects.
• Strong background in value engineering, cost analysis, and benchmarking.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support preconstruction budget development.
• Collaborate with the preconstruction team to develop and refine estimates.
• Deliver life cycle cost models and support total cost of ownership analysis.

Skills

Cost analysis

Value engineering

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Construction methods understanding

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or related field

Tools

Bluebeam

CostX

RSMeans

Job description

Overview

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to join our Data Center team in support of a major hyperscale data center construction program for a global technology client with projects ranging across lease, new build, and mega campus developments.

Base pay range

$140,000.00/yr - $155,000.00/yr

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. We turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support preconstruction budget development, including pricing revisions through GMP.
• Collaborate with the preconstruction team to develop and refine estimates for hyperscale data center projects.
• Present estimates and cost plans to client stakeholders, ensuring clarity and alignment with project goals.
• Develop and manage cost plans and estimates from concept through detailed design across multiple geographic regions.
• Deliver and present updated cost plans at key design milestones to internal teams and client stakeholders.
• Provide program-level estimates for specific scopes of work and support value engineering efforts.
• Lead value engineering exercises to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising design intent or performance.
• Review and analyze design changes, new technologies, and construction methods to assess cost impacts.
• Collaborate with design, procurement, and construction teams to ensure alignment between scope, budget, and schedule.
• Coordinate and manage estimating efforts with internal teams and external consultants/vendors.
• Support junior estimating staff, providing guidance on best practices and tools.
• Analyze historical cost data and contribute to the development of benchmarking and cost model trends.
• Evaluate cost-effectiveness of alternative materials, systems, and construction methods.
• Support training initiatives for internal and client-side estimating teams on tools, templates, and methodologies.
• Assist in preparing executive-level presentations for the client’s preconstruction and estimating leadership.
• Deliver life cycle cost models and support total cost of ownership analysis.
• Participate in risk assessments and contingency planning related to cost and scope changes.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and must be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience in construction cost management, estimating, or preconstruction roles.
• Proven experience delivering conceptual and detailed estimates for large-scale construction projects.
• Strong background in value engineering, cost analysis, and benchmarking.
• Experience working on mission-critical or data center projects is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with industry-standard estimating tools such as Bluebeam, CostX, RSMeans, or similar platforms.
• Solid understanding of construction methods, materials, and market pricing trends.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents.
• Experience collaborating with design, procurement, and construction teams to align scope, cost, and schedule.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present to clients and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines in a fast-paced, client-facing environment.
• Knowledge of life cycle costing, total cost of ownership, and sustainability considerations in estimating is a plus.

Additional Information

The salary range for this full-time role is $140K-$155K per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package. Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.

On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client’s needs.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/ and https://www.heery.com/

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Consulting and Engineering

Industries: Construction, Civil Engineering, and Business Consulting and Services

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