Senior Estimator

Actalent; Illinois; On-site; USD 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short/long-term disability

HSA

Transportation benefits

Time Off

Job summary

Actalent in Frankfort, IL is seeking an Estimator for a Contract to Hire role to lead full-cycle estimating for industrial mechanical projects including battery plants and data centers. You will develop budgets, detailed estimates, and competitive bids while coordinating with engineers, subcontractors and internal teams to define scope and pricing strategy.

The role emphasizes field experience in industrial trades, strong drafting interpretation, and proficiency with Excel and estimating

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in construction estimating.
• Strong mechanical construction experience in equipment installation, piping, rigging and structural steel.
• Field experience in industrial trades.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specs, contracts and bid documents.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Excellent organizational skills and detail orientation.
• Effective client and team communication.
• Ability to build relationships with clients, engineers, subcontractors and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle estimating for battery plant and data center projects.
• Build conceptual budgets and detailed estimates.
• Prepare competitive bids focusing on equipment installation, piping, rigging, and structural steel.
• Collaborate with engineers, subcontractors and internal teams to define scope and pricing strategy.
• Present estimates to clients and leadership.
• Solicit and manage subcontractor/vendor proposals.
• Perform quantity take-offs, labor productivity analysis and material pricing.
• Identify risks and mitigation strategies; evaluate value engineering opportunities.
• Manage multiple estimates and deadlines.

Skills

Estimating experience

Mechanical construction

Field experience

Drawing interpretation

Excel

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Relationship building

Tools

Estimating software

Digital takeoff software

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Estimator - Mechanical/Industrial Construction

Job Description

We are seeking an Estimator for an industrial mechanical contractor to lead full-cycle estimating for battery plant and data center projects. In this client-facing role, you will be responsible for building conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, and competitive bids. You will focus on equipment installation, piping, rigging, and structural steel, partnering with engineers, subcontractors, and internal teams to define scope, sequencing, constructability, and pricing strategy, ultimately helping to win profitable work.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle estimating for battery plant and data center projects.
• Build conceptual budgets and detailed estimates.
• Prepare competitive bids with a focus on equipment installation, piping, rigging, and structural steel.
• Partner with engineers, subcontractors, and internal teams to define scope, sequencing, constructability, and pricing strategy.
• Prepare and present estimates to clients and leadership.
• Solicit, evaluate, and manage subcontractor and vendor proposals.
• Perform quantity take-offs, labor productivity analysis, and material pricing.
• Identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and evaluate value engineering opportunities.
• Manage multiple estimates and deadlines simultaneously.

Essential Skills

• 3-5+ years of experience in construction estimating.
• Strong mechanical construction experience in equipment installation, process and utility piping, and structural steel work.
• Field experience in industrial construction trades.
• Proficiency in interpreting drawings, specifications, contracts, and bid documents.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills for client presentations and team collaboration.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with clients, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with estimating and digital takeoff software.
• Understanding of industrial construction means and methods, sequencing, and constructability.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Willingness and ability to travel for site visits, pre-bid meetings, client presentations, and post-bid reviews.
• Experience in risk identification and mitigation strategy development.

Work Environment

The role is primarily office-based in Frankfort, IL, with some flexibility for remote work. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Travel is minimal, typically a couple of day trips per month within the Midwest, with very limited overnight travel. Site visits are infrequent, under five days per month. The team is lean, consisting of approximately four estimators, and the workload is high due to growth and the launch of a new fabrication division.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Frankfort, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $57.69 - $67.31/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Frankfort,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated