Lead Estimator – Underground Utilities & Bids

Acloché LLC; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Multiple medical and dental options

Vision, life and AD&D

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation/holiday/sick time

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Confidential Search in East San Diego County, CA is seeking a Senior Estimator to lead its estimating group for underground utility and heavy civil projects. You will manage 3–5 estimators and drive bids for gas, electric, telecom, and trench work, coordinating with operations and field teams to ensure accurate pricing.

The role focuses on production-based estimates, bid strategy, and maintaining pricing databases, with on-site office work and normal business hours in San Diego County.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive estimating experience in underground utility or heavy civil construction.

Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor and review the work of a team of estimators.
• Build production-based estimates for large-scale underground utility and civil projects.
• Prepare competitive hard bids for public agencies and major utility owners, and maintain blanket contract and unit-price estimates.
• Analyze RFPs, scopes of work, plans and specs; perform detailed take-offs and build bid schedules.
• Lead pre-bid meetings, bid strategy sessions and site visits.
• Define sub and supplier scopes, solicit and level pricing, and maintain the pricing database.
• Review final estimates with Operations, obtain internal approval and submit bid packages.
• Compare actual and budgeted costs and build cost models from historical data.
• Support project managers with hand-off, resource planning, scheduling and change orders.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Team mentorship

B2W/Accubid/HCSS

P6/MS Project

Excel/MS Office

Sage 300/Timberline

Bid/takeoff analysis

Contract/cost management

Bachelor's degree (Engineering/Finance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Finance or Construction Management

Tools

HCSS HeavyBid

P6

MS Project

Job description

Confidential Search in East San Diego County, CA is seeking a Senior Estimator to lead its estimating group for underground utility and heavy civil projects. You will manage 3–5 estimators and drive bids for gas, electric, telecom, and trench work, coordinating with operations and field teams to ensure accurate pricing.

The role focuses on production-based estimates, bid strategy, and maintaining pricing databases, with on-site office work and normal business hours in San Diego County.