Senior Civil Earthwork Estimator

Bay Area Excavating and Grading Inc; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Bay Area Excavating & Grading Inc is seeking a Senior Civil Earthwork Estimator with a strong background in excavation, grading, site development, and underground utilities. You will independently review plans, perform quantity takeoffs, and prepare complete, competitive estimates.

The ideal candidate has 7–10 years of heavy civil estimating experience, understands equipment production, labor costs, materials, trucking, disposal, and will coordinate with owners, field personnel, and suppliers to

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of estimating experience in excavation/heavy civil or site development.
• Experience independently preparing earthwork bids.
• Ability to read and interpret civil/structural plans and geotechnical notes.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Independently review civil, grading, structural, utility, and geotechnical plans to determine scope.
• Perform detailed earthwork quantity takeoffs and volume calculations.
• Prepare accurate cost estimates for rough grading, site prep, excavation, backfill, compaction, and road improvements.
• Estimate foundation excavation, retaining wall excavation, grade beams, and pier installations.
• Estimate underground utility work including drainage, sanitary sewer, and water lines.
• Coordinate with ownership, field personnel, vendors, and clients; manage multiple estimates.
• Assist with bid reviews, negotiations, and change orders; develop competitive pricing.

Skills

Earthwork estimation

Quantity takeoffs

Cost evaluation

Independent plan review

Tools

Bluebeam

Microsoft Excel

AGTEK

HCSS HeavyBid

Job description

Bay Area Excavating & Grading Inc. is seeking a highly experienced Senior Civil Earthwork Estimator with a strong background in excavation, grading, site development, and underground utility construction.We are looking for a knowledgeable, detail-oriented professional who can independently review construction plans, perform accurate quantity takeoffs, evaluate project costs, and prepare complete, competitive estimates.

The ideal candidate has extensive hands‑on experience estimating heavy civil and earthwork projects and understands equipment production, labor costs, material pricing, trucking, disposal, and construction methods.

Our company performs residential and commercial excavation, grading, underground utilities, drainage systems, foundation excavation, road improvements, and drilling operations throughout the Bay Area.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently review civil, grading, structural, utility, and geotechnical plans to determine complete project scopes.
• Perform detailed earthwork quantity takeoffs, including cut/fill calculations, excavation volumes, import/export quantities, and off‑haul requirements.
• Prepare accurate cost estimates for rough grading, site preparation, excavation, backfill, compaction, and road improvements.
• Estimate foundation excavation, retaining wall excavation, grade beams, keyways, conventional pier drilling, and helical pile installations.
• Estimate underground utility work, including storm drainage, sanitary sewer, domestic water, fire lines, and associated trenching and backfill.
• Estimate drainage and detention systems, septic excavation, and other site infrastructure.
• Calculate equipment requirements, production rates, labor hours, trucking costs, material quantities, and subcontractor expenses.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotes.
• Identify missing scope, plan discrepancies, constructability concerns, and potential project risks.
• Prepare detailed bid proposals, including pricing breakdowns, qualifications, assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications.
• Review project specifications and geotechnical reports to identify soil conditions and construction requirements.
• Coordinate directly with company ownership, field personnel, vendors, general contractors, and clients.
• Manage multiple estimates and meet bid deadlines.
• Assist with bid reviews, negotiations, change orders, and project handoffs.
• Develop competitive pricing while protecting company profitability.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7–10 years of estimating experience in excavation, grading, heavy civil construction, or site development.
• Demonstrated experience independently preparing complete earthwork and site development bids.
• Strong knowledge of excavation methods, grading operations, soil conditions, compaction, and equipment production rates.
• Ability to accurately calculate cut/fill quantities and earthwork volumes from construction drawings.
• Experience estimating underground utilities, drainage systems, and associated excavation.
• Strong understanding of equipment operating costs, labor productivity, materials, trucking, and disposal expenses.
• Proficiency in Bluebeam, Microsoft Excel, and digital estimating or quantity takeoff software.
• Familiarity with AGTEK, HCSS HeavyBid, or comparable estimating software.
• Ability to read and interpret civil, structural, utility, and geotechnical plans.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and take responsibility for estimates from start to finish.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience estimating projects throughout the Bay Area.
• Familiarity with local subcontractors, material suppliers, trucking companies, and disposal facilities.
• Experience with conventional pier drilling, helical piles, and retaining wall excavation.
• Knowledge of residential subdivisions, custom homes, ADUs, commercial site development, and infrastructure projects.
• Field experience operating equipment, supervising excavation crews, or managing earthwork operations.
• Experience working directly with owners of excavation or heavy civil construction companies.

What We're Looking For

We are specifically seeking an estimator who understands how earthwork is performed in the field, not simply someone who can measure quantities from plans. The successful candidate will know how to evaluate construction methods, anticipate challenges, calculate realistic production rates, and prepare bids that are both competitive and profitable.Candidates must have direct earthwork, excavation, grading, or heavy civil estimating experience. General building construction estimating experience alone is not sufficient.