Project Engineer: Pre-Construction & Estimating Lead

East Bay Restaurant Supply, Inc.; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

East Bay Restaurant Supply, Inc. is seeking a Project Engineer to bridge Estimating, Purchasing, and Project Management. You will review turnovers, evaluate drawings, and coordinate with vendors to align scope, pricing, and timelines for successful handoffs.

You will lead MEP coordination, manage RFIs, substitutions, and VE options while maintaining schedule integrity and project margins. Strong communication and organization are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Experience in a project engineering, pre-construction, or related role within construction, foodservice equipment, wholesale, or a similar project-based environment.
• Strong understanding of construction drawings, specifications, foodservice drawings, vendor proposals, and the ability to interpret and reconcile differences between them.
• Familiarity with CAD files and MEP coordination concepts, including the ability to review layouts and understand basic mechanical, electrical, and plumbing requirements for equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate pricing, terms, and discounts with vendors, reps, and purchasing while maintaining professional relationships.
• Proven time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize rush jobs, and meet deadlines tied to demanded dates and install schedules.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and a customer service mindset, particularly when dealing with vendors and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Receive and review project turnovers from the estimating team, ensuring scope, pricing, assumptions, and proposal requirements are fully understood and documented.
• Compare and reconcile construction documents, including 114000 specifications, foodservice drawings, MasterBid, vendor quotes, proposals, and all applicable addenda to identify discrepancies, missed items, and errors.
• Receive, organize, and review CAD files, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) requirements, to support accurate equipment layouts and installation coordination.
• Participate in MEP coordination and schedule management, identifying conflicts, lead-time concerns, and other issues that may impact project schedules or install dates.
• Work with purchasing in vendor negotiation to optimize project margins while maintaining quality and schedule.
• Coordinate with Purchasing to determine the appropriate timing for purchase orders, balancing lead times, storage constraints, cash flow, and project schedules.
• Assign and/or coordinate appropriate manufacturers, fabricators, installers, and Project Managers based on scope, specifications, capacity, quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Review and process RFIs (Requests for Information) to clarify scope, resolve conflicts, address missed items, and mitigate risks prior to and following project turnover.
• Evaluate and manage substitution requests and value engineering (VE) options, coordinating with the Project Managers team as needed after turnover.
• Gather and document vendor lead times, identify potential schedule impacts, and RFI lead-time issues when required.
• Issue letters of intent (LOIs) to vendors, manufacturers, and subcontractors as needed to secure pricing, capacity, schedule commitments, and required drawings.
• Collect, save, and organize vendor and manufacturer drawings received prior to turnover.
• Develop and coordinate the initial schedule of values in collaboration with the estimating and project management teams.
• Prepare clear, organized turnover packages and conduct turnover with the PM team, including vendor selections, quote reconciliations, drawings, RFIs, lead times, addenda, and key assumptions.
• Prioritize project engineering activities based on demanded dates and install schedules to ensure timely project execution.
• Provide ongoing technical and administrative support to project managers during execution, including technical questions, NetSuite order entry, Cutbook creation, billing support, warranty/service calls, and other project needs as required.
• Communicate professionally and proactively with vendors, internal teams, purchasing, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain positive working relationships.

Skills

Project engineering

Pre-construction

Construction drawings

MEP coordination

Vendor negotiation

Time management

Organization

Communication

Excel / Google Sheets

Tools

CAD software

NetSuite

AutoQuotes

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

East Bay Restaurant Supply, Inc. is seeking a Project Engineer to bridge Estimating, Purchasing, and Project Management. You will review turnovers, evaluate drawings, and coordinate with vendors to align scope, pricing, and timelines for successful handoffs.

You will lead MEP coordination, manage RFIs, substitutions, and VE options while maintaining schedule integrity and project margins. Strong communication and organization are essential for this role.