Senior Electrical Estimator

MKH Search Limited; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MKH Search Limited seeks an experienced Electrical Estimator Lead to manage the full estimating cycle for large industrial, healthcare and life sciences projects. You will perform detailed take-offs, price specialized scopes, and build labor/production assumptions with operations to reflect real installation.

You will mentor a three-person team, lead bid reviews, standardize estimating processes and drive adoption of estimating software. Strong client-facing presentation skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of electrical estimating experience including lead/mentoring roles
• Track record of winning work in industrial, healthcare, life sciences sectors
• Expert take-off and pricing skills with Accubid, Trimble or similar, plus Bluebeam
• Strong knowledge of NEC, NFPA 70E, NFPA 99 and how they drive cost
• Ability to read electrical, mechanical and process drawings and specs
• Sound commercial judgment on risk, terms and labor productivity
• Clear communicator capable of presenting to clients under pressure

Responsibilities

• Lead the full estimating cycle on electrical packages from concept to GMP submissions
• Perform and review quantity take-offs for power distribution, switchgear, generators, UPS, lighting and controls
• Price scopes such as cleanrooms, cGMP utilities and infection-control-sensitive work in occupied hospitals
• Build labor units, productivity and phasing with Operations to reflect actual installation
• Solicit vendor quotes and prepare clear proposals with qualifications and value-engineering options
• Manage bid calendar, go/no-go decisions and maintain margin data
• Lead a team of estimators, run bid reviews and standardize processes
• Act as electrical lead in preconstruction with general contractors, attend pre-bid meetings and present estimates to clients
• Hand projects to PM with budgets and scope summaries and feed lessons learned into pricing

Skills

Electrical estimating

Leadership

Client communication

Pricing strategy

Education

Electrical Engineering / Construction Management degree

Tools

Accubid

Trimble

Bluebeam

Job description

• Lead the full estimating cycle on electrical packages, typically $1M–$30M+, from conceptual and design-assist budgets to hard-bid and GMP submissions
• Perform and review detailed quantity take-offs for power distribution, MV/LV switchgear, generators and emergency power, UPS, lighting and controls, fire alarm, and low-voltage systems
• Price specialist scopes such as cleanroom and lab electrical, process power, cGMP utilities, essential electrical systems (NFPA 99) and infection-control-sensitive work in occupied hospitals
• Build labor units, crew productivity and phasing assumptions with Operations so estimates reflect how work is actually installed
• Solicit and level vendor and subcontractor quotes for gear, lighting packages, fire alarm, security and specialty systems
• Prepare clear proposals with qualifications, clarifications, exclusions, alternates and value-engineering options
• Manage the bid calendar, prioritise go/no-go decisions and keep hit-rate and margin data current

Team leadership

• Manage, mentor and develop a team of three estimators, setting priorities and reviewing their work for accuracy and consistency
• Run final bid reviews and sign off estimates before submission
• Standardise estimating processes, templates, labor databases and historical cost data
• Drive adoption and best use of estimating software across the team
• Support hiring as the department grows

Preconstruction and client relationships

• Act as the electrical lead in preconstruction with general contractors, construction managers, owners and engineers
• Attend pre-bid meetings, site walks and scope reviews; raise RFIs and constructability issues early
• Present estimates and VE proposals to clients and help negotiate final scope and price
• Hand awarded projects over to Project Management with a clean budget, schedule of values and scope summary
• Analyse post-job cost reports to feed lessons learned back into future pricing

What you'll bring

• 8+ years of electrical estimating with a subcontractor or specialist electrical contractor, including at least 2 years leading or mentoring estimators
• A track record of winning work in: industrial, healthcare, life sciences sectors
• Expert take-off and pricing skills with Accubid, Trimble or similar, plus Bluebeam
• Strong working knowledge of the NEC, NFPA 70E and NFPA 99, and how they drive cost
• Ability to read and interpret electrical, mechanical and process drawings, one-lines and specifications
• Sound commercial judgement on risk, contract terms, escalation and labor productivity
• Clear communicator, comfortable presenting to clients and holding a number under pressure

Preferred

• Field background as an electrician or foreman, or an electrical engineering / construction management degree
• Experience pricing cGMP, cleanroom, critical power or occupied-hospital work (ICRA, phased shutdowns)
• Exposure to design-assist, design-build and GMP delivery
• Familiarity with BIM / VDC workflows and prefabrication pricing
• Existing relationships with GCs and owners in the Research Triangle and Southeast