Senior Estimator

STV Incorporated; Inwood (TX); On-site; USD 131,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Professional licensure support

Continuing Education

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

STV Incorporated is seeking a Senior Estimator in Dallas, TX to develop and validate cost estimates across transportation, aviation, and infrastructure programs. You will drive cost planning, quantity take-offs, and databases while collaborating with PMs, engineers, and clients to ensure accurate, defensible estimates.

The role emphasizes delivering value through rigorous analysis, risk assessment, and continuous improvement within the Project Controls practice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in cost estimating, cost engineering, or project controls.
• Experience preparing estimates for transportation, aviation, transit, infrastructure, or major capital programs.
• Strong knowledge of construction means and methods, estimating principles, and cost modeling techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.

Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual, schematic, design development, and detailed construction cost estimates from drawings and specs.
• Prepare quantity take-offs, cost models, pricing analyses, and estimate documentation.
• Validate and reconcile estimates with design consultants, contractors, and third parties.
• Partner with project controls teams to align estimates with schedules and budgets.
• Support development of budgets, cost forecasts, and life‑cycle cost analyses.
• Perform cost risk assessments and evaluate change orders and potential impacts.
• Collaborate with clients, engineers, and contractors throughout planning to construction stages.

Skills

Cost estimation

Cost planning

Quantity take-offs

Project controls

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Quantity Surveying, or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

STV is seeking a Senior Estimator to join our Project Controls department at our Dallas, TX office. This position will play a critical role in supporting major transportation, aviation, infrastructure, transit, and capital improvement projects by developing, analyzing, and validating project cost estimates throughout the project lifecycle. The Senior Estimator will collaborate closely with project managers, engineers, designers, contractors, and clients to develop accurate and defensible cost estimates that support successful project delivery. The ideal candidate brings significant experience in construction cost estimating, cost planning, quantity take-offs, and project controls, along with a strong understanding of construction means and methods. This individual will serve as a key technical resource within STV's growing Project Controls practice and will help drive estimating excellence across complex programs and projects.

Responsibilities

Cost Estimating & Cost Planning

Develop conceptual, schematic, design development, and detailed construction cost estimates. Prepare quantity take-offs, cost models, pricing analyses, and estimate documentation from drawings, specifications, and project requirements. Evaluate project scope and identify key cost drivers, risks, assumptions, and opportunities. Maintain detailed estimate backup documentation, supporting calculations, assumptions, and exclusions. Develop and maintain cost databases, benchmarking tools, historical cost models, and unit pricing libraries. Validate and reconcile estimates prepared by design consultants, contractors, and third parties.

Project Controls Integration

Partner with project controls teams, schedulers, cost engineers, and project managers to align estimates with project schedules and budgets. Support development of project budgets, cost forecasts, cash flow projections, and life-cycle cost analyses. Analyze escalation factors, productivity impacts, contingencies, and market trends affecting project costs. Support earned value management, forecasting, and performance reporting initiatives as needed.

Risk Management & Change Control

Perform cost risk assessments and support quantitative risk analysis efforts. Evaluate scope changes, change orders, and potential impacts to project costs and budgets. Prepare independent cost opinions and estimate reconciliation reports. Identify cost optimization opportunities and provide value engineering recommendations.

Client & Stakeholder Coordination

Collaborate with clients, engineers, designers, contractors, and consultants throughout planning, design, procurement, and construction phases. Participate in design reviews, estimating workshops, cost reviews, and value engineering sessions. Present estimating methodologies, assumptions, findings, and recommendations to project teams and client stakeholders. Provide technical expertise and support during procurement and contractor negotiations.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

Mentor junior estimators and project controls professionals. Support development and implementation of estimating standards, procedures, and best practices. Assist with business development pursuits by preparing conceptual estimates and cost strategies for proposals. Promote continuous improvement initiatives within the estimating and project controls functions.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Quantity Surveying, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 10+ years of progressive experience in cost estimating, cost engineering, project controls, or construction cost management. Demonstrated experience preparing estimates for transportation, aviation, transit, infrastructure, commercial, or major capital improvement programs. Strong knowledge of construction means and methods, estimating principles, and cost modeling techniques. Experience performing detailed quantity take-offs from plans and specifications. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills. Excellent verbal and written communication abilities. Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently on complex assignments. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting large aviation, transportation, transit, or infrastructure programs. Familiarity with industry estimating platforms and project controls systems. Experience with design‑build, CM/GC, progressive design‑build, or alternative delivery methods. Knowledge of cost risk modeling and quantitative risk analysis. Professional certifications such as AACE Certified Cost Professional (CCP), PSP, CCT, or equivalent. Experience working with public agencies, airport authorities, DOTs, or large capital program owners.

Compensation

Compensation Range: $130,962.60 - $149,671.54

Benefits

• Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable)
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• 401(k) Plan
• Retirement Counseling
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days)
• Paid Holidays (9 days)
• Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year)
• Parental Leave (up to 80 hours)
• Continuing Education Program
• Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

Equal Opportunity Statement

STV provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Company Overview

STV is one of the top infrastructure‑focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,400 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 32nd in Engineering News‑Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 10th in its transportation category. STV is deeply committed to investing in its people and creating a world‑class employee experience. We are passionate about mentoring, coaching and cultivating our talent because we know they are destined to become the next generation of industry leaders. We’re also committed to delivering formative career experiences – and we do that by providing challenging and unique work experiences, by mapping multiple ways to advance (beyond the traditional career ladder!) and by recognizing those who successfully chart new and exciting paths for the firm. We value a wide range of perspectives and experiences, without regard to any factor or characteristic, regardless of whether it is a category protected by federal, state and/or local law, making them an integral part of how we work. Our approach ensures that every individual is respected, heard, and given opportunities to contribute meaningfully. We remove barriers and create pathways for growth, embedding fairness into our daily operations. Learn more at stvinc.com. STV exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places and the present to the future. Our local teams throughout the country deeply understand the needs of their communities and have the expertise to provide solutions. We are also committed to giving back to our communities and our neighbors through volunteering and philanthropic activities; fundraising events; scholarships, internships, and mentoring; and sustainability and community improvement projects. Learn more. STV provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do.