Lead Estimator - Solar

DH Blattner; Avon (MN); On-site; USD 110,617 - 160,396; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

HDHP insurance premiums paid

401(k) with company match

Education Assistance

Gym on site

Job summary

Blattner, based in Avon, Minnesota, seeks a Lead Estimator to guide procurement and bidding efforts across disciplines. The role focuses on accuracy, compliance, and mentorship to improve estimating processes and bid quality.

You will influence negotiations and client presentations to win high-profile projects and drive successful project starts. The position requires extensive estimating experience, capability to read drawings, and strong communication.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of construction or engineering degree with experience as an Estimator or equivalent in math including algebra and geometry.
• 8+ years of progressive estimating and preconstruction experience with increasing levels of responsibility, including leadership of estimating efforts.

Responsibilities

• Identify and calculate costs for safety requirements in bid.
• Lead bidding effort; ensure policy compliance and quality bid production.
• Plan estimates for pre-bid; create preliminary project schedule.
• Support troubleshooting of complex project problems during estimation.

Skills

Bid coordination

Leadership

Communication

Reading drawings

Education

Construction or engineering degree

Tools

HCSS Heavy Bid

Job description

A DAY IN THE LIFE

As a Lead Estimator, you’ll serve as a subject matter expert and lead the estimating team through every phase of the procurement and bidding process. Your day will involve coordinating complex bid efforts, ensuring accuracy, technical compliance, and alignment across estimating disciplines. You’ll provide guidance and mentorship to team members, set performance standards, and champion process improvements and new initiatives within your discipline.

You’ll also play a critical role in closing new work — supporting negotiations, participating in client presentations, and helping differentiate Blattner in competitive pursuits. Your leadership and expertise will directly impact on our ability to secure and successfully launch high-profile projects.

STEP INTO THE ROLE

• Identifies and calculates cost of project safety requirements (training, ppe) into bid. Identifies and determines JHA risks and includes costs in estimates. Pursues, selects and utilizes subcontractors who meet DHB risk management criteria.
• Displays personal and professional ethics and complies with and enforces company policies and procedures when bidding projects, including utilizing company estimating software, performing bid reviews, etc. Takes personal responsibility to ensure that a quality bid has been produced.
• Plans the estimate for and during the pre-bid meeting. Creates preliminary project schedule during estimate.
• Supports troubleshooting and problem solving of complex problems for projects as they arise for projects that employee is both directly and indirectly involved.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 4 or more years of construction or engineering degree with experience as an Estimator or equivalent combinations of technical training and/or related experience in mathematics including algebra and geometry.
• 8 or more years of progressive estimating and preconstruction experience with increasing levels of responsibility, including leadership of crew-based and governance-driven estimating efforts. Experience may include mission-critical construction projects such as hyperscale or enterprise data centers, gas-fired power plants, or large commercial and industrial facilities; work within a PMO, CMAR, or General Contractor organization; or support of large-scale, multi-disciplinary utility‑scale power generation projects.

WHAT SETS YOU APART

• Advanced knowledge of construction market, estimating strategies, estimating techniques, cost control and proper scheduling of purchases and work.
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings, purchase orders, contracts, cost coding systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly proficient computer skills – HCSS Heavy Bid preferred.

HOW WE INVEST IN YOU

• Competitive pay
• 100% employer paid HDHP insurance premiums for employees
• 401(k) with company match
• HSA and FSA options
• Dental and Vision insurance
• Education Assistance (Tuition Reimbursement)
• Work/Life balance
• Employee/Family focused culture
• Gym on site
• And more!

$110,617.00 - $160,396.00 Individual Compensation to be determined based on the applicant's applicable experience and qualifications balanced against internal equity.

WHO ARE WE?

With more than 115 years of construction experience, Blattner has played a vital role in building America’s critical infrastructure, ranging from railroads and highways to dams and mines. Since 1997, the company has focused on renewable energy solutions and is responsible for some of the most significant solar, wind and storage projects in the U.S. Today, Blattner has installed over 20% of America’s utility‑scale wind, solar and energy storage capacity. Blattner Company is the parent company of Blattner Energy and D.H. Blattner & Sons, of which all are members of the Quanta Services family of companies. Company headquarters are in Avon, Minnesota.

Blattner is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Blattner will not tolerate discrimination against any applicant for employment or employee on the basis of age (40 and over), ancestry, color, religious creed, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, military or veteran status, national origin, physical disability, race, receipt of public assistance, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. This commitment governs all aspects of employment including, but not limited to: hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, layoff, termination, compensation, discipline, and access to benefits and training. Additionally, Blattner is committed, in accordance with applicable law, to making reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees based on a qualifying disability, a sincerely held religious belief or practice, and for pregnancy, childbirth or related health conditions. Applicants and employees who feel they have experienced or witnessed discrimination or who wishes to request a reasonable accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department. Blattner prohibits retaliation against any individual for making a complaint under this policy, for opposing discrimination, for participating in an investigation pursuant to this policy, or for requesting a reasonable accommodation.