Lead Process Mechanical Estimator - Water & Wastewater

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is seeking a Process Mechanical Estimating Manager for Water & Wastewater construction.

You will lead cost modeling, scope alignment, quantity development, and pricing coordination across GMP milestones, working with design, operations, procurement, and trade partners. The role requires a strong background in process mechanical systems for water/wastewater facilities, advanced interpretation of drawings and P&IDs, and experience mentoring estimators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in CM/Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 7 years' equivalent estimating experience.
• Strong understanding of process mechanical systems in water/wastewater facilities.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, flow diagrams, and P&IDs.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet-based estimate support, trend tracking and reporting.
• Experience leading process mechanical estimates for water/wastewater projects.
• Familiarity with GMP, CMAR, design-build or progressive delivery environments.
• Experience mentoring or leading other estimators.

Responsibilities

• Lead process mechanical estimating efforts for milestone estimates, budget updates, GMP deliverables and buyout planning.
• Review contract documents, drawings, specifications, and P&IDs to define complete process mechanical scope and estimate approach.
• Direct quantity takeoff, estimate setup, labor development, production rate application, and estimate detail for process mechanical systems.
• Oversee development of estimating structure, system zones, specifications, job items, assemblies, summaries, and backup documentation.
• Coordinate pricing strategy and outreach to vendors, fabricators, subcontractors, and internal partners.
• Lead alignment with operations on means and methods, labor assumptions, productivity, logistics, sequencing, constructability, and risk.
• Coordinate with civil, equipment, E&IC, and other discipline estimators to prevent scope gaps, duplication, and misalignment.
• Schedule and lead process mechanical kickoff meetings, recurring check-ins, internal review meetings, and preparation for management self-perform reviews.
• Support or lead development of A3 documents, qualifications, clarifications, assumptions, trend logs, and scope narratives.
• Manage trending inputs, milestone comparisons, estimate reconciliation, and incorporation of review feedback.
• Maintain organized estimate files, historical references, and deliverable backup to support reviews, handoff, and future pursuits.
• Support project transition to operations, including estimate handoff, scope alignment, and reconciliation through late design and early construction.
• Mentor estimators and assistant estimating managers, promote consistency in tools and templates, and support development of team capability.

Skills

Process mechanical systems

Interpret drawings & P&IDs

Scope development & pricing

Lead estimate planning & milestones

Communication & collaboration

Identify scope gaps & risks

Organization & deadline discipline

Spreadsheet-based estimate support

Mentoring estimators

Self-perform construction familiarity

GMP/CMAR/design-build understanding

Water/wastewater estimating experience

Education

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

Tools

Quote Express

WinEst

BuildingConnected

Join

Job description

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is seeking a Process Mechanical Estimating Manager for Water & Wastewater construction.

You will lead cost modeling, scope alignment, quantity development, and pricing coordination across GMP milestones, working with design, operations, procurement, and trade partners. The role requires a strong background in process mechanical systems for water/wastewater facilities, advanced interpretation of drawings and P&IDs, and experience mentoring estimators.