Senior Cost Estimator / Cost Engineer – Seattle, WA*

CMTS LLC; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Long-term disability

401(k)

Paid time off

Professional development

Career advancement

Job summary

CMTS, LLC in Seattle, WA seeks a Senior Cost Estimator / Cost Engineer to deliver accurate cost estimates across water, wastewater, drainage and facility projects from concept to bid. You will work with project teams, engineers, and owners to inform decisions and support successful delivery of municipal infrastructure.

This on-site, full-time role requires at least ten years of estimating experience, strong knowledge of AACE standards, and the ability to price change orders and perform lifecycle

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) years of estimating or cost engineering experience supporting public infrastructure, heavy civil, or utility facilities.
• Command of the AACE estimate classification framework and basis of estimate documentation.
• Experience with change order pricing and construction-phase cost analysis.
• AACE CCP or CEP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Deliver cost estimates from AACE Class 5 conceptual estimates through Class 1 bid-level estimates for water, wastewater, drainage, and facility projects.
• Prepare planning and options analysis estimates (AACE Class 5 and Class 4) using parametric and analogous estimating methods with documented basis of estimate.
• Develop design-phase estimates (AACE Class 3 through Class 1) and reconcile estimates against engineer and contractor estimates.
• Support benefit-cost analyses and lifecycle cost inputs for business cases and alternatives evaluations.
• Price and evaluate change orders and support negotiations through independent cost analyses.
• Perform bid evaluations and conduct market and escalation analyses for Puget Sound construction conditions.
• Maintain estimate databases, unit cost libraries, and historical cost benchmarking information.
• Present estimate findings to owner project teams and support development of risk-based contingency recommendations.

Skills

Cost estimation

Cost engineering

Cost analysis

Bid evaluations

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

AACE framework

Job description

Senior Cost Estimator / Cost Engineer – Seattle, WA

Full-Time | On-Site | Seattle, WA

Why Join Our Team

Join a team supporting critical municipal infrastructure projects that serve communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. As a Senior Cost Estimator / Cost Engineer, you will provide cost estimating expertise across all phases of project development, helping ensure informed decision-making from conceptual planning through construction. Working closely with project teams, engineers, and owners, you will deliver reliable cost estimates, evaluate project costs, and support successful delivery of complex water, wastewater, drainage, and facility projects.

About Your Role

The Senior Cost Estimator / Cost Engineer is responsible for delivering cost estimates from AACE Class 5 conceptual estimates through Class 1 bid-level estimates across water, wastewater, drainage, and facility projects. This role supports options analysis, design development, and construction-phase cost management under an on-call task order model while providing cost engineering expertise throughout the project lifecycle.

Education Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

What You'll Need to Get the Job Done

• Minimum of ten (10) years of estimating or cost engineering experience supporting public infrastructure, heavy civil, or utility facilities.
• Command of the AACE estimate classification framework and basis of estimate documentation.
• Experience with change order pricing and construction-phase cost analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• AACE Certified Cost Professional (CCP) or Certified Estimating Professional (CEP) certification.
• Experience estimating water mains, conveyance systems, pump stations, tanks, or treatment facilities.
• Familiarity with risk-based contingency methods and escalation forecasting.

What You'll Do

• Deliver cost estimates from AACE Class 5 conceptual estimates through Class 1 bid-level estimates for water, wastewater, drainage, and facility projects.
• Prepare planning and options analysis estimates (AACE Class 5 and Class 4) using parametric and analogous estimating methods with documented basis of estimate.
• Develop design-phase estimates (AACE Class 3 through Class 1) and reconcile estimates against engineer and contractor estimates.
• Support benefit-cost analyses and lifecycle cost inputs for business cases and alternatives evaluations.
• Price and evaluate change orders and support negotiations through independent cost analyses.
• Perform bid evaluations and conduct market and escalation analyses for Puget Sound construction conditions.
• Maintain estimate databases, unit cost libraries, and historical cost benchmarking information.
• Present estimate findings to owner project teams and support development of risk-based contingency recommendations.

What You Can Expect

• Opportunity to support complex municipal infrastructure projects serving local communities.
• Collaborative team environment focused on quality project delivery.
• Exposure to large-scale water, wastewater, drainage, and facility capital improvement projects.
• Professional growth and career development opportunities.
• A culture focused on collaboration, technical excellence, cost management, and continuous improvement.

Pay Rate

• $62.50–$75.00 per hour

Bonus Opportunity

Employees may be eligible for discretionary bonus opportunities based on individual performance, utilization, attendance, tenure, and the achievement of company goals.

Benefits

• 100% company-paid medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• long-term disability coverage
• 401(k)
• paid time off
• professional development opportunities
• career advancement pathways.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CMTS, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.