Senior Construction Estimator

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO); Knoxville (TN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive compensation

Annual and project-based bonuses

Strong benefits

Access to leadership

Job summary

IAPMO is seeking a Senior Construction Estimator to develop accurate estimates from conceptual design through bid. You will collaborate with PMs, preconstruction, design teams, subcontractors, and clients to define budgets, scope, risks, and costs.

The role requires experience with complex commercial or mission-critical projects and proficiency in Excel and estimating software. Growth opportunities abound as the company expands across the Southeast.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of construction estimating experience; 8–10+ years preferred for senior-level positions.
• Experience with commercial, industrial, mission-critical, or data center construction preferred.
• Strong understanding of construction documents, specifications, contracts, and project delivery methods.
• Proficiency with estimating software and typical tools used in bids.

Responsibilities

• Review project plans, specs, drawings, RFPs, and contracts to develop detailed estimates.
• Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development, GMP, and final bid estimates.
• Develop quantity takeoffs for architectural, structural, civil, MEP, and specialty scopes.
• Solicit, evaluate, and level subcontractor and vendor proposals.
• Identify scope gaps and potential change-order exposure.
• Maintain estimates, bid tabulations, and cost comparisons.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Multitasking

Tools

Primavera P6

Procore

BuildingConnected

Bluebeam

Sage Estimating

On-Screen Takeoff

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Senior Construction Estimator

Position Overview

The Construction Estimator is responsible for developing accurate, competitive, and comprehensive estimates for construction projects from conceptual design through bid and contract award. The position works closely with project management, preconstruction, design teams, subcontractors, vendors, and clients to develop budgets, evaluate scope, identify risks, and establish project costs.

The ideal candidate has strong experience estimating complex commercial and/or mission-critical construction projects and understands the relationship between scope, schedule, procurement, constructability, and project execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Review project plans, specifications, drawings, RFPs, and contract documents to develop detailed estimates.
• Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development, GMP, and final bid estimates.
• Develop detailed quantity takeoffs for architectural, structural, civil, MEP, and specialty scopes.
• Solicit, evaluate, and level subcontractor and vendor proposals.
• Develop detailed scopes of work and bid packages for subcontractors and suppliers.
• Identify scope gaps, conflicts, exclusions, and potential change-order exposure.
• Develop and maintain detailed estimates, bid tabulations, and cost comparisons.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients to clarify scope and pricing.
• Analyze labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and general conditions costs.
• Evaluate construction means, methods, sequencing, and schedule impacts on project cost.
• Identify value-engineering opportunities while maintaining project quality and performance requirements.
• Assist with developing project schedules and determining cost impacts associated with accelerated schedules.
• Support procurement and subcontract negotiations.
• Prepare estimate narratives, assumptions, exclusions, clarifications, and risk registers.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings, site walks, scope reviews, and client presentations.
• Present estimates and recommendations to senior leadership and project stakeholders.
• Maintain historical cost data and contribute to the company's estimating database.
• Support project handoff from estimating/preconstruction to project management and operations.
• Maintain awareness of current market conditions, material pricing, labor availability, and subcontractor capacity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of construction estimating experience; 8–10+ years preferred for senior-level positions.
• Experience with commercial, industrial, mission-critical, or data center construction preferred.
• Strong understanding of construction documents, specifications, contracts, and project delivery methods.
• Strong knowledge of construction costs, labor, materials, subcontractor pricing, and market conditions.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical drawings.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and estimating software.
• Experience with Primavera P6, Procore, BuildingConnected, Bluebeam, Sage Estimating, On-Screen Takeoff, or similar platforms preferred.

This Is a Growth Environment

We want to be transparent about what you're stepping into.

We're working 50–60 hour weeks.

Not because we're interested in being busy for the sake of being busy.

Because we're building a company — not just projects.

Right now, we're opening new offices, entering new markets, building systems, developing people, implementing technology, pursuing larger opportunities, and raising the standard for how we operate.

Growth at this pace creates large but fulfilling work loads. It creates pressure. It creates change. There will be difficult projects and difficult weeks.

But it also creates something that's hard to find inside an established organization:

Room to grow with the company you're helping build.

If you're looking for predictable days and a comfortable place to maintain the status quo, this probably isn't the right environment.

If you're looking for a place where you can learn faster, take on more, prove yourself, and accelerate your career, this could be it.

Where This Can Go

We're building the team today that will lead a much larger Eaton Construction tomorrow.

With two additional Southeast offices opening and our project portfolio expanding, we're creating opportunities that simply didn't exist here a few years ago.

Advancement isn't based on tenure.

Responsibility follows performance.

The people who can run projects, develop others, improve systems, strengthen client relationships, and consistently produce results will have opportunities to take increasingly significant roles as we continue to grow.

What We Offer

• Highly competitive compensation
• Annual and project-based bonuses
• Strong benefits
• Increasingly complex commercial projects
• Direct access to company leadership
• Significant investment in technology, systems, and professional development
• Increasing responsibility based on performance
• The opportunity to help shape a construction company actively expanding across the Southeast

Our Code of Conduct

• Available & Accessible
• Humble but Competent
• Professionals Dress Professionally
• Not all Readers are Leaders, but all Leaders are Readers
• Bad News Needs to Travel Fast
• Radical Transparency
• Positive Peer Pressure