Heavy Civil Construction Estimator – Mid-Level

W3Global; Hudson (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Paid Maternity Leave

Paid Paternity Leave

Job summary

W3Global seeks an experienced Heavy Civil Construction Estimator to join our Hudson, MA team. This mid-level role focuses on creating precise bids for major infrastructure, including highways, bridges, and dams, with projects typically from $5M to $40M.

You will collaborate with estimating, project management, and operations to ensure competitive, timely submissions. The ideal candidate has 5-7 years in heavy civil estimating, strong plan interpretation, and proficient use of take-offs, cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5-7 years of heavy highway, bridge, or heavy civil construction estimating experience.
• Experience estimating complex heavy civil infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed and accurate estimates for heavy civil construction projects.
• Prepare competitive bids for highways, bridges, dams, and major infrastructure.
• Review plans, specifications, contract documents, and bid requirements.
• Analyze construction requirements and develop appropriate cost estimates.
• Perform detailed quantity take-offs from drawings and plans.
• Determine labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and other resource requirements.
• Develop estimates for projects typically ranging from $5 million to $40 million.
• Ensure estimates are complete, accurate, competitive, and submitted on time.

Skills

Heavy civil estimating

Quantity take-offs

Cost analysis

Vendor pricing

Bid development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Microsoft Excel

Adobe Acrobat

Bluebeam

Digital plan-review tools

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Title: Heavy Civil Construction Estimator - Mid-Level

Location: Hudson, MA

Job Type: Full-Time

Workplace Type: On-Site

Salary: $100,000 - $135,000 per year

Experience Level: Mid-Level

Industry: Heavy Civil Construction / Infrastructure

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and analytical Heavy Civil Construction Estimator - Mid-Level to join our estimating team in Hudson, Massachusetts. This position offers an opportunity in developing accurate, competitive, and comprehensive bids for major heavy civil infrastructure projects including dams, bridges, highways, and other complex transportation and public works projects.

The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of heavy highway and/or bridge construction estimating experience and a strong understanding of construction plans, specifications, quantity take-offs, cost analysis, subcontractor and vendor pricing, risk assessment, and bid development.

As a Mid-Level Estimator, you will work closely with Estimating, Project Management, Operations, vendors, subcontractors, and company leadership to develop bids for projects generally ranging from $5 million to $40 million.

This is a hands-on position where your ability to analyze complex project documents, identify construction requirements, accurately develop quantities and costs, and understand project risks will directly contribute to the company's ability to successfully pursue and win major infrastructure projects.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Estimating

• Develop detailed and accurate estimates for heavy civil construction projects.
• Prepare competitive bids for projects involving highways, bridges, dams, and other major infrastructure.
• Review project plans, specifications, contract documents, and bid requirements.
• Analyze construction requirements and develop appropriate cost estimates.
• Perform detailed quantity take-offs from construction drawings and plans.
• Determine labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and other resource requirements.
• Develop estimates for projects typically ranging from $5 million to $40 million.
• Ensure estimates are complete, accurate, competitive, and submitted within required deadlines.

Plans & Specifications Review

• Thoroughly review architectural, civil, structural, highway, and project-specific plans.
• Interpret construction drawings, specifications, bid documents, and contract requirements.
• Identify scope requirements, discrepancies, potential conflicts, and missing information.
• Evaluate project complexity and construction requirements.
• Develop a clear understanding of the proposed means and methods of construction.
• Identify areas that may affect project cost, schedule, productivity, or risk.

Quantity Take-Offs

• Perform detailed quantity take-offs using project drawings and specifications.
• Calculate quantities for labor, materials, equipment, and subcontracted work.
• Verify take-off quantities and ensure all project scope items are captured.
• Use estimating and digital plan-review tools to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Cross-check quantities against specifications, schedules, and other contract documents.

Cost Analysis & Pricing

• Develop detailed project cost estimates.
• Analyze historical costs, productivity rates, material pricing, labor requirements, and equipment costs.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor and subcontractor quotations.
• Compare pricing and identify opportunities to improve bid competitiveness.
• Evaluate labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and other direct and indirect project costs.
• Assist with developing final bid pricing and recommendations.

Vendor & Subcontractor Coordination

• Solicit and evaluate quotations from subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors.
• Communicate with vendors and subcontractors regarding project scope and pricing.
• Clarify scope gaps, exclusions, assumptions, and qualifications within quotations.
• Negotiate pricing and assist in identifying the best-value solutions.
• Ensure vendor and subcontractor pricing is accurately incorporated into estimates.
• Develop strong working relationships with external project partners.

Site Visits & Constructability Review

• Visit potential project sites prior to bid submission.
• Evaluate existing site conditions and project complexity.
• Identify potential construction challenges, access issues, site constraints, and logistical considerations.
• Compare actual field conditions with project plans and specifications.
• Gather information necessary to develop realistic construction approaches and estimates.
• Provide field observations and recommendations to the estimating and project management teams.

Risk Assessment

• Identify potential estimating and construction risks.
• Evaluate project-specific challenges that may affect cost or schedule.
• Identify assumptions, exclusions, contingencies, and potential scope gaps.
• Assist in developing risk mitigation strategies.
• Communicate significant estimating risks to project leadership before bid submission.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with Estimating and Project Management teams throughout the bidding process.
• Collaborate with Operations and construction personnel to develop practical build approaches.
• Communicate effectively with vendors, subcontractors, engineers, and internal stakeholders.
• Participate in estimating and bid review meetings.
• Present estimating findings, assumptions, risks, and recommendations to appropriate team members.
• Support the development of bidding strategies designed to improve competitiveness and project value.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Engineering, or a related field is preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 5 years of construction industry experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with construction project plans.
• Minimum 5 years of professional construction estimating experience.
• 5-7 years of heavy highway, bridge, or heavy civil construction estimating experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience estimating complex heavy civil infrastructure projects.

Project Experience

Experience with one or more of the following is strongly preferred:

• Heavy highway construction
• Bridge construction
• Dam construction
• Transportation infrastructure
• Public works
• Major infrastructure projects
• Highway networks
• Structural concrete
• Excavation and earthwork
• Site development
• Civil infrastructure

Experience estimating projects in the $5 million-$40 million range is highly desirable.

Technical Skills

The successful candidate should be comfortable using technology and digital tools to support estimating activities.

Required / Preferred Software

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Microsoft Excel
• Adobe Acrobat
• Bluebeam
• Digital construction plan and document management tools

Strong Excel skills and the ability to work efficiently with large quantities of project data are highly valued.

Core Competencies

Analytical Thinking

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to break complex construction projects into manageable components.
• Ability to evaluate multiple variables and develop accurate cost estimates.
• Strong numerical reasoning and attention to detail.

Accuracy & Precision

• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong commitment to estimate accuracy.
• Ability to identify errors, inconsistencies, and missing scope.
• Ability to meet demanding bid deadlines without sacrificing quality.

Communication

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with vendors, subcontractors, project managers, estimators, and senior leadership.
• Ability to clearly explain assumptions, risks, pricing, and recommendations.

Collaboration

• Strong team-oriented approach.
• Ability to work effectively across estimating, project management, operations, and construction teams.
• Comfortable interacting with internal and external stakeholders.

Initiative & Ownership

• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Willing to take ownership of assigned estimates.
• Comfortable identifying problems and finding solutions independently.
• Eager to take on increasing responsibility and advance professionally.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented heavy civil estimator who enjoys solving complex problems and understands that successful estimating requires much more than simply entering numbers into a spreadsheet.

You Should Be Someone Who

• Enjoys analyzing complex construction documents.
• Understands how project plans translate into real-world construction activities.
• Can perform accurate quantity take-offs.
• Has strong knowledge of heavy highway and bridge construction.
• Understands construction means and methods.
• Can evaluate subcontractor and vendor pricing.
• Is comfortable visiting project sites before bidding.
• Can identify project risks and potential cost impacts.
• Works well under bid deadlines.
• Communicates effectively with both field and office personnel.
• Takes ownership of estimates and follows projects through the bidding process.
• Is motivated to grow into greater estimating and project responsibilities.

Work Environment

This is an on-site, full-time position based in Hudson, Massachusetts.

The role primarily involves office-based estimating activities, including reviewing plans, performing take-offs, analyzing costs, and coordinating with vendors and subcontractors. Regular project site visits may also be required to evaluate site conditions before bids.

The successful candidate should be comfortable balancing detailed office work with field visits and working within deadline-driven bid environments.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $100,000 - $135,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications.

Featured Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid Maternity Leave
• Paid Paternity Leave

The company provides a collaborative environment where high-performing employees are encouraged to take ownership, develop their skills, and advance their careers.

Career Growth Opportunity

This position is designed for an estimator who is ready to take the next step in their heavy civil construction career.

You Will Gain Exposure To

• Major infrastructure projects
• Complex bid development
• Advanced estimating techniques
• Vendor and subcontractor negotiations
• Cost and risk analysis
• Constructability reviewProject management collaboration
• Strategic bidding

High-performing team members will have opportunities to take on increasingly complex estimates and greater responsibility within the organization.

Why Join Us?

Join a team where precision, analytical thinking, collaboration, and initiative directly influence the success of major infrastructure projects.

Your estimates will help shape the company's ability to pursue and deliver significant projects involving bridges, dams, highways, and other critical infrastructure.

The company values professionals who are ready to contribute from day one, take ownership of their work, continuously improve their skills, and grow into greater responsibilities.