HVAC/R Senior Estimator

Northstar Refrigeration, Inc.; Plymouth (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle or vehicle reimburse-

Company laptop/cell phone

401(k) plan with company match

Vacation/Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Time/Leave

Opportunities for professional growth

Job summary

Northstar Refrigeration is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to drive the estimating process for HVAC and Industrial Refrigeration construction projects, ensuring accurate, competitive bids and executables that align with profitability goals.

You will collaborate with Sales, Engineering, and Construction to ensure proper scoping, staffing, and coordination. The role includes mentoring junior staff and developing estimating standards to support Northstar’s growth and success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of estimating, project management, construction, or equivalent HVAC/R industry experience, with demonstrated experience estimating strictly commercial HVAC and/or industrial refrigeration projects.
• Strong working knowledge of HVAC/R systems, equipment, piping, controls, installation methods, and construction practices.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, bid documents, schedules, and contract requirements.
• Strong understanding of labor estimating, productivity factors, material takeoffs, equipment selection, subcontractor scope, and project costs.
• Demonstrated experience completing detailed material and labor takeoffs for HVAC/R projects, including piping and ductwork systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and other standard business applications.
• Experience with estimating and takeoff software such as QuoteSoft or similar platforms preferred.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to evaluate project risk, identify scope gaps, and develop appropriate assumptions, qualifications, exclusions, and contingencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating process for assigned HVAC and Industrial Refrigeration projects, ensuring estimates are accurate, complete, competitive, and delivered within established deadlines.
• Review plans, specifications, addenda, bid documents, and other project information to develop a thorough understanding of the complete project scope.
• Prepare detailed quantity takeoffs and develop material, equipment, labor, subcontractor, and other project costs.
• Evaluate labor requirements, productivity factors, project schedules, site conditions, and installation complexity when developing estimates.
• Work closely with Construction to evaluate constructability, labor requirements, subcontractor needs, project logistics, and known site conditions prior to finalizing estimates.
• Break down project costs and labor requirements by system, floor, area, phase, or other logical work breakdown to support project planning, field execution, and post-project cost analysis.
• Identify scope gaps, conflicts, ambiguities, and potential project risks and obtain clarification from owners, engineers, general contractors, vendors, and other project stakeholders as necessary.
• Develop and document estimate assumptions, qualifications, clarifications, allowances, alternates, and exclusions.
• Identify and develop value-engineering opportunities that maintain project performance while improving cost, constructability, or overall value to the customer.
• Solicit, evaluate, level, and select vendor and subcontractor quotations to ensure complete and competitive coverage.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with general contractors, customers, engineers, vendors, manufacturers, and subcontractors.
• Prepare bid scope sheets, bid exhibits, subcontractor comparisons, and other supporting estimating documentation as required.
• Compare current estimates against historical project data and previous estimates to validate pricing, labor assumptions, and overall project cost.
• Participate in bid reviews and internal pre-submission reviews with Construction, Sales, Engineering, and company leadership as appropriate.
• Ensure estimates meet Northstar's established gross profit, risk, and pricing expectations prior to submission.
• Support the development of proposals and ensure the final proposal accurately reflects the scope, pricing, assumptions, and exclusions contained within the estimate.
• Participate in business development activities, customer meetings, presentations, interviews, site visits, and General Contractor relationship-building efforts.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and technical support to Estimators and Assistant Estimators and serve as a SME for estimating best practices.
• Ensure quality control of department bids and estimates.
• Support the continuous improvement and standardization of Northstar's estimating tools, templates, historical cost data, workflows, and processes.
• Participate in project handoffs and lessons-learned reviews to compare estimated versus actual performance and incorporate findings into future estimates.

Skills

Estimating

Project management

HVAC/R knowledge

Reading drawings

Communication

Mentoring

Negotiation

Education

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

Tools

QuoteSoft

Microsoft Excel

Word

Job description

To build lasting partnerships with customers, employees, and vendors that span generations.

Northstar Refrigeration's Core Values

Quality

Comradery

Persistence

Loyalty

Ownership

Position Summary

Northstar Refrigeration is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Estimator to play a key role in the continued growth of our HVAC and Industrial Refrigeration construction business. This position is ideal for an accomplished estimator who combines strong technical knowledge with sound business judgment and takes pride in developing accurate, competitive, and executable project estimates.

The Senior Estimator will lead the estimating effort for Northstar’s larger and more complex opportunities, including Plan & Spec, negotiated, and select Design/Build projects. Responsibilities include preconstruction planning, detailed estimating, bid strategy, subcontractor and vendor coordination, scope review, value engineering, constructability analysis, and preparation of project budgets and proposals.

Working closely with Sales, Engineering, and Construction, the Senior Estimator will help ensure that projects are not only competitively priced but properly scoped, adequately staffed, and positioned to achieve Northstar’s profitability goals. The role will also have an opportunity to strengthen estimating standards, develop vendor and general contractor relationships, mentor other members of the estimating team, and contribute to the continued development of Northstar’s estimating processes.

This is an opportunity for an experienced HVAC/R professional to have a meaningful impact on the projects Northstar pursues, the relationships we build, and the profitable growth of a rapidly expanding organization.

Why would you want to work for Northstar?

Northstar Refrigeration is a leading HVAC/Refrigeration sales, service, and construction company dedicated to delivering high-quality, energy-efficient solutions to our clients. With a collaborative culture, commitment to innovation, and a growing team of 90+ professionals, we offer the opportunity to be a foundational part of a dynamic organization. Our core values— Quality, Loyalty, Comradery, Persistence, and Ownership —guide everything we do. Join us as we continue building lasting relationships with vendors, customers, and employees that span generations.

• Lead the estimating process for assigned HVAC and Industrial Refrigeration projects, ensuring estimates are accurate, complete, competitive, and delivered within established deadlines.
• Review plans, specifications, addenda, bid documents, and other project information to develop a thorough understanding of the complete project scope.
• Prepare detailed quantity takeoffs and develop material, equipment, labor, subcontractor, and other project costs.
• Evaluate labor requirements, productivity factors, project schedules, site conditions, and installation complexity when developing estimates.
• Work closely with Construction to evaluate constructability, labor requirements, subcontractor needs, project logistics, and known site conditions prior to finalizing estimates.
• Break down project costs and labor requirements by system, floor, area, phase, or other logical work breakdown to support project planning, field execution, and post-project cost analysis.
• Identify scope gaps, conflicts, ambiguities, and potential project risks and obtain clarification from owners, engineers, general contractors, vendors, and other project stakeholders as necessary.
• Develop and document estimate assumptions, qualifications, clarifications, allowances, alternates, and exclusions.
• Identify and develop value-engineering opportunities that maintain project performance while improving cost, constructability, or overall value to the customer.
• Solicit, evaluate, level, and select vendor and subcontractor quotations to ensure complete and competitive coverage.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with general contractors, customers, engineers, vendors, manufacturers, and subcontractors.
• Prepare bid scope sheets, bid exhibits, subcontractor comparisons, and other supporting estimating documentation as required.
• Compare current estimates against historical project data and previous estimates to validate pricing, labor assumptions, and overall project cost.
• Participate in bid reviews and internal pre-submission reviews with Construction, Sales, Engineering, and company leadership as appropriate.
• Ensure estimates meet Northstar's established gross profit, risk, and pricing expectations prior to submission.
• Support the development of proposals and ensure the final proposal accurately reflects the scope, pricing, assumptions, and exclusions contained within the estimate.
• Participate in business development activities, customer meetings, presentations, interviews, site visits, and General Contractor relationship-building efforts.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and technical support to Estimators and Assistant Estimators and serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for estimating best practices.
• Ensure quality control of department bids and estimates.
• Support the continuous improvement and standardization of Northstar's estimating tools, templates, historical cost data, workflows, and processes.
• Participate in project handoffs and lessons-learned reviews to compare estimated versus actual performance and incorporate findings into future estimates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of estimating, project management, construction, or equivalent HVAC/R industry experience, with demonstrated experience estimating strictly commercial HVAC and/or industrial refrigeration projects.
• Strong working knowledge of HVAC/R systems, equipment, piping, controls, installation methods, and construction practices.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, bid documents, schedules, and contract requirements.
• Strong understanding of labor estimating, productivity factors, material takeoffs, equipment selection, subcontractor scope, and project costs.
• Demonstrated experience completing detailed material and labor takeoffs for HVAC/R projects, including piping and ductwork systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and other standard business applications.
• Experience with estimating and takeoff software such as QuoteSoft or similar platforms preferred.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to evaluate project risk, identify scope gaps, and develop appropriate assumptions, qualifications, exclusions, and contingencies.
• Understanding of gross profit, markup, margin, and the impact of market conditions on labor, equipment, material, and subcontractor pricing.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with customers, general contractors, engineers, vendors, subcontractors, field personnel, and internal leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced construction environment.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and provide technical guidance to other members of the estimating team.
• Strong commitment to quality, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Competitive salary and bonus structure
• Company vehicle or vehicle reimbursement options
• Company laptop/cell phone or cell phone reimbursement
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Vacation/Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Time/Leave
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• A supportive and collaborative team environment