Senior Estimator

CEC Energy; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Paid Time Off

Job summary

CEC Energy Services in Houston, TX, seeks a Senior Estimator to develop accurate, timely, and competitive cost estimates for complex industrial electrical projects, support strategic growth, mentor junior staff, and ensure estimates are buildable and commercially viable.

The role requires 2D/3D takeoffs with Bluebeam and Navisworks, collaboration with Operations for execution plans, and leadership of bid management to meet deadlines.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in E&I estimating for industrial projects (refineries, renewables, etc).
• Ability to defend numbers with technical precision during client negotiations and internal reviews.
• Strong integration with operations to align estimates with execution plans.

Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual budgets and detailed estimates for various project types.
• Execute 2D/3D takeoffs using Bluebeam and Navisworks.
• Lead bid management and coordinate with procurement and operations to meet deadlines.

Skills

Estimating experience

Proposal leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management/Engineering

Tools

Excel

Bluebeam Revu

Navisworks

Job description

Senior Estimator

Role Type: Internal Standard
Reporting To: Estimating Manager
Location: Houston, TX

About CEC Energy Services

CEC Energy Services is a self-perform electrical construction and industrial services company operating across energy, industrial, and critical infrastructure markets. We execute complex, capital-intensive work where safety, reliability, and execution discipline matter. Our projects support the systems people and industries rely on, including power generation and distribution, industrial facilities, digital infrastructure, and emerging energy technologies such as solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

CEC operates in environments where margins are earned through planning, coordination, and disciplined execution, not heroics. We partner with customers who expect professionalism, transparency, and accountability, and we hold ourselves to the same standard.

Our Culture (STRIVE©)

CEC’s culture is built around STRIVE©: Safety, Teamwork, Reliability, Integrity, Versatility, and Execution. These are not slogans. They define how we operate and how decisions get made.

• Safety comes first. We do not trade safety for schedule, margin, or convenience. Leaders are expected to plan work safely, enforce standards, and stop work when conditions are not right.
• Teamwork means respecting the people doing the work and collaborating across the field, project, and office. We succeed through coordinated effort, clear roles, and shared accountability, not heroics.
• Reliability is about doing what we say we will do. Commitments matter. Plans are realistic, promises are kept, and issues are surfaced early when conditions change.
• Integrity guides how we work with customers, partners, and each other. We defend our scope, honor our contracts, tell the truth, and address problems directly.
• Versatility means adapting to changing conditions without losing discipline. Our projects are complex and dynamic. We adjust plans thoughtfully and decisively as reality changes.
• Execution is how we win. We plan the work, work the plan, measure performance, and correct early. Results matter, and accountability follows responsibility.

Role Summary

The Senior Estimator is responsible for developing accurate, timely, and competitive cost estimates for complex industrial electrical projects. This role supports strategic growth by applying technical expertise to high-stakes bids, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring that estimated projects are buildable and commercially viable.

Core Accountabilities

• Bid Precision: Ensure final estimates reflect the true cost of execution while protecting company margins.
• Technical Rigor: Deliver high-volume, technically sound output using CEC standard takeoff and pricing methodologies.
• Operational Alignment: Partner with the field to ensure productivity and equipment assumptions are realistic.
• Risk Mitigation: Ensure proposal language properly identifies and mitigates project risks.
• Market Competitiveness: Coordinate with Procurement to secure the most competitive vendor and subcontractor pricing.

Execution Responsibilities

I. Estimating Strategy & Oversight

• Develop conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, and value-engineering analyses for various project types.
• Execute consistent 2D and 3D takeoff standards utilizing Bluebeam and Navisworks.
• Perform technical reviews of estimates to ensure accuracy before final submission.

II. Bid Management & Coordination

• Manage assigned bid tasks to meet strict deadlines for new opportunities and project revisits.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings, site walk-downs, and internal "go/no-go" reviews.
• Assign and oversee work for junior estimators or associates to ensure overall bid quality.

III. Operational Alignment & Handoff

• Collaborate with Operations to develop project execution plans and manpower curves during the bid phase.
• Lead "Estimate-to-Project" handoff meetings to ensure Project Managers understand budget and scope assumptions.
• Update labor unit and material databases with "Lessons Learned" from completed projects.

Measures of Success

• Winning profitable work.
• Bid accuracy and margin retention (Minimal variance between estimated vs. actual costs).
• Timely completion of all bid submissions and internal handoff packages.
• Standardization of estimating templates and takeoff workflows.
• Development and retention of junior estimating talent.
• Positive alignment and feedback from the Operations and Executive teams.

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience: 8+ years in E&I estimating. Strong preference for experience in Industrial (Refineries, Plastics), Fabrication (Modules, MCCs), and Renewables (Solar, BESS).
• Background: QA/QC or Project Controls experience is a significant benefit.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Technical Proficiency: Mastery of Excel, Bluebeam Revu, and Navisworks.
• Communication: Ability to defend "the number" with technical precision during client negotiations and internal reviews.

Working Conditions

• Combination of office and field environments.
• Ability to lift 20 pounds and work safely in active construction environments.
• Ability to work on-site in Corpus Christi or Houston, TX.
• Some overnight travel to attend Business Development, negotiations, kick-off and other required meetings.

Employment Conditions

• Subject to satisfactory background check and drug/alcohol screening
• Must have a Valid Driver’s License
• Ability to work extended hours as required by project demands
• Must comply with all company safety policies and procedures

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, scope of responsibility, and demonstrated capability.
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage options available for employees and eligible dependents.
• Retirement Benefits: Participation in the company 401(k) plan, including employer matching, subject to plan terms and eligibility.
• Paid Time Off: Vacation, holidays, and paid time off policies consistent with role responsibilities and business needs.

CEC Energy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.