SEI - Mechanical Preconstruction Engineer

Sky Mavis; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Clayco is seeking a Mechanical Estimator to join our SEI division, contributing to preconstruction efforts for process and mechanical systems across industrial projects. You will interface with engineers, architects, subcontractors, suppliers, and the estimating team to build accurate cost estimates.

Requirements include a Mechanical Engineering or Construction Management background, 3+ years in construction with mechanical estimates, and proficiency with industry software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Construction Management or related field.
• 3+ years' construction experience with 1+ years estimating mechanical systems.
• Experience with heavy/manufacturing, industrial, mission-critical markets preferred.
• Strong technical writing, math, and computer skills; proficient with common estimating tools.

Responsibilities

• Attend pre-bid meetings to understand project requirements and site conditions.
• Review project documents to determine material, equipment, and labor needs.
• Prepare scopes of work for subcontracts and coordinate mechanical scopes with other trades.
• Participate in pre-proposal design coordination for pricing documents.
• Perform quantity surveying of mechanical systems and apply labor rates.
• Evaluate vendors/subcontractors for conformance and best-value proposals.
• Assist in preparing estimates for bidding and budgeting; support internal reviews.
• Support project management tasks: budgeting, scheduling, change orders, procurement.
• Coordinate with project teams to evaluate productivity and forecast costs.
• Quantify completed designs for historical cost data and analysis.

Education

Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering

Construction Management

Tools

BlueBeam

Microsoft Excel

Word

PowerPoint

On Screen Takeoff

Navisworks

Revit

Building Connected

Beck Destini

Sage Timberline

Job description

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

About Clayco Systems and Equipment Innovations (SEI)

As part of our integrated service offerings, Clayco’s Systems and Equipment Innovations (SEI) offers a turnkey solution to execute complex building systems and process systems. Clayco SEI provides preconstruction, design, purchasing, and installation of mechanical, electrical, and process scopes of work.

The Role We Want You For

The Mechanical Estimator participates in all aspects of the preconstruction process for Process & Mechanical systems to develop accurate, detailed cost estimates with a focus on heavy/ advanced manufacturing, industrial and mission critical projects. In this role you will be expected to interact with engineers, architects, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, a multi-discipline estimating team, project supervision, and field personnel.

The Specifics of the Role

• Periodically attend pre-bid meetings to become familiar with unique project requirements and analyze existing site conditions to determine required scope that is not already indicated.


• Review and interpret project documents to determine job-specific material, equipment, and labor requirements for scope development.


• Assist in preparing written scopes of work for subcontracts and suppliers and coordinating mechanical scopes with the work of other trades (e.g., civil, structural, architectural, electrical, etc.).


• Participate in pre-proposal design coordination meetings to support the development of pricing documents for conceptual estimates.


• Perform quantity survey of mechanical systems and components using digitized software and apply industry standard labor rates to support the development of accurate cost estimates.


• Evaluate vendor and subcontractor for conformance with proposal requirements; level scopes and identify low cost/ best value responses while capturing assumptions, rationale, inclusions, exclusions, etc.


• Assist in the preparation of estimates used for bidding and budgeting purposes (including self-performed work); participate in internal estimate review process and assist with final recap of estimate for presentation to senior management.


• Support project management tasks, including budgeting, schedule development, interim design review, change order pricing, procurement, value engineering, and vendor selection based on proposal development.


• Coordinate with project teams to evaluate productivity for historical data and schedule/ cost forecasting purposes.


• Perform quantity survey of completed designs and/ or past projects to support historical cost data collection and analysis.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field, or a combination of education (including trade schools) and professional experience.


• 3+ years’ experience in construction with 1+ years’ experience estimating mechanical systems (i.e., Process & Mechanical Systems).


• Exhibits inclusive leadership and teamwork behavior, and values diverse perspectives from team members.


• Demonstrated experience in the successful management of bidding process with a preferred emphasis on heavy/ advanced manufacturing, industrial and mission critical markets.


• General knowledge of codes and standards applicable to the design and installation of mechanical systems.


• Possesses strong technical writing, math and computer skills with proficiency using standard office software applications such as BlueBeam, Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, On Screen Takeoff, Navisworks, Revit, Building Connected, Beck Destini, and Sage Timberline to support estimating efforts.


• Experience using estimating software with a preference for Trimble products.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – Travel will be required.


• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.


• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.


• The pace is fast!


• This position is classified as a safety-sensitive role in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. Candidates selected for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check, which includes mandatory drug testing.

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.


• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).


• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).


• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).


• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders - Data Center Contractor (Top 3).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.


• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.