Project Estimator

b Authentic Inc; Bozeman (MT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

b Authentic Inc. seeks an experienced Estimator / Cost Analyst to cost high-end residential projects, analyze actual job costs, and identify variances. This in-office role requires strong estimating skills and the ability to connect field realities with numbers.

The position emphasizes detailed cost tracking, budgeting, and collaboration across divisions to improve project profitability. Monday–Friday, in-office only.

Qualifications

• Experience in job costing/cost analysis and construction estimating.
• Strong knowledge of residential construction and the building process.
• Understanding of labor, materials, production methods, and subcontracted work.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong computer proficiency.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, specifications, and scopes of work.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Build detailed estimates for high-end residential construction projects and various cost drivers.
• Analyze historical job costs and use actual project performance to improve future estimates.
• Review labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and production costs.
• Perform detailed job-cost analysis and identify cost variances.
• Compare estimated costs to actual costs and determine the reasons for differences.
• Research and maintain current material, labor, subcontractor, and production costs.
• Review project budgets and monitor cost performance throughout the life of a project.
• Collaborate with in-house divisions to understand production methods, labor requirements, and actual costs.
• Evaluate change orders, scope changes, and design decisions for their financial impact.
• Assist with developing budgets and cost projections for upcoming projects.
• Review plans, specifications, scopes of work, and other project documents.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop detailed pricing.
• Provide management with clear analysis and recommendations based on project data.
• Maintain organized and accurate estimating and cost documentation.

Skills

Job costing

Estimating

Excel

Analytical skills

Tools

Excel

Job description

We’re not your typical construction company—and we’re not looking for a typical

estimator.

Our unique business model includes multiple in-house divisions that work together

throughout the building process. This gives us greater control over quality, scheduling,

production, and costs, but it also requires a deeper understanding of how all the pieces

of a construction project fit together.

We are looking for an experienced Estimator / Cost Analyst who understands

construction from both a numbers and field perspective. The ideal candidate will have a

perfect blend of hands-on, in-field experience and estimating experience. This position

is responsible for building accurate estimates, analyzing actual job costs, identifying

trends and variances, and helping the company make informed decisions based on real

This is a 100% in-office position, Monday through Friday. Remote or hybrid work is not

permitted. We are not looking for subcontractors – we are looking to build our team.

The Role

The Estimator / Cost Analyst will play a critical role in understanding what our projects

should cost, what they are costing, and why. The ideal candidate has extensive

experience with construction job costing, estimating, cost analysis, and project

financials and knows how to recognize when the numbers tell a bigger story.

Key Responsibilities

• Build detailed estimates for high-end residential construction projects and various
• Analyze historical job costs and use actual project performance to improve future
• estimates
• Review labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and production costs
• Perform detailed job-cost analysis and identify cost variances
• Compare estimated costs to actual costs and determine the reasons for
• differences
• Research and maintain current material, labor, subcontractor, and production
• costs
• Review project budgets and monitor cost performance throughout the life of a
• project
• Collaborate with our in-house divisions to understand production methods, labor
• requirements, and actual costs
• Evaluate change orders, scope changes, and design decisions for their financial
• impact
• Assist with developing budgets and cost projections for upcoming projects
• Review plans, specifications, scopes of work, and other project documents
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop detailed pricing
• Provide management with clear analysis and recommendations based on project
• data
• Maintain organized and accurate estimating and cost documentation

What We’re Looking For

• Extensive experience in job costing/cost analysis and construction estimating
• Strong knowledge of residential construction and the building process
• A solid understanding of construction labor, materials, production methods, and
• subcontracted work
• Proven ability to analyze actual job costs and understand the reasons behind
• Experience developing and maintaining detailed construction estimates
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, specifications, and scopes of
• work
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills
• Advanced Excel skills and strong computer proficiency
• Understands that accurate estimating requires more than numbers—it requires
• construction knowledge and good judgment

If you have the construction experience, analytical ability, and curiosity to dig into the

numbers—and you want to be part of a company that doesn't do things the way

everyone else does—we'd like to hear from you.