Senior Estimator

Core Group; Pasadena (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Core Group is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to support estimating and preconstruction for industrial construction, maintenance, fabrication, turnaround, and capital project work in Pasadena, Texas.

Reporting to the Estimating Manager, the Senior Estimator will develop accurate, competitive estimates from opportunity review through proposal submission and turnover, with strong hands-on experience in mechanical piping, equipment installation, fabrication, structural steel, and related

Qualifications

• 7+ years of industrial construction estimating experience.
• 5+ years direct estimating experience in heavy-industrial settings preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed estimates for industrial construction, maintenance, turnaround, fabrication and capital projects.
• Manage estimates from bid review through proposal development and turnover.
• Review drawings, specs, scopes, bid packages, schedules and construction documents.
• Perform quantity takeoffs for piping, equipment, structural steel and civil works.
• Develop estimates covering labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors and indirect costs.
• Build labor estimates with crew compositions and site conditions.
• Coordinate with procurement and field operations on pricing and execution.
• Support change-order pricing and scope-change evaluations.
• Contribute to bid strategy, risk reviews and constructability assessments.
• Maintain estimating documentation and lessons learned for continuous improvement.

Skills

Industrial estimating

Microsoft Excel

Estimating software

P&IDs

Project management

Takeoff software

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Estimating software

Takeoff software

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to support estimating and preconstruction efforts for industrial construction, maintenance, fabrication, turnaround, and capital project work.

Reporting to the Estimating Manager, the Senior Estimator will be responsible for developing accurate, competitive, and executable estimates from initial opportunity review through proposal submission and project turnover. This position requires strong hands‑on industrial construction estimating experience, particularly within mechanical piping, equipment installation, fabrication, structural steel, and related heavy-industrial scopes.

The ideal candidate understands how industrial projects are actually built in the field and can translate drawings, specifications, schedules, labor requirements, material quantities, subcontractor pricing, and site conditions into comprehensive estimates.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed estimates for industrial construction, maintenance, turnaround, shutdown, fabrication, and capital project opportunities.
• Manage assigned estimates from initial bid review through proposal development, final pricing, and turnover to operations.
• Review drawings, specifications, scopes of work, bid packages, schedules, P&IDs, isometrics, and other construction documents to determine complete project requirements.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for piping, equipment, structural steel, fabrication, civil, and other applicable scopes.
• Develop estimates covering labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, fabrication, transportation, indirect costs, and project execution requirements.
• Build labor estimates using appropriate crew compositions, productivity factors, work-hour assumptions, overtime schedules, and site‑specific conditions.
• Estimate mechanical scopes including piping fabrication and installation, vessels, skids, modules, rotating and static equipment, equipment setting, and structural steel.
• Support estimating of associated heavy civil scopes including foundations, concrete, excavation, underground work, and site preparation.
• Prepare estimates for brownfield modifications, plant maintenance, shutdowns, turnarounds, and greenfield/capital construction projects.
• Develop conceptual, budgetary, and detailed estimates based on the level of engineering information available.
• Solicit and evaluate pricing from vendors, subcontractors, fabricators, and material suppliers.
• Review vendor and subcontractor proposals for scope coverage, exclusions, commercial terms, and potential gaps.
• Develop estimate assumptions, clarifications, exclusions, contingencies, and identified project risks.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings, site visits, job walks, scope reviews, and client discussions as required.
• Coordinate with project management and field operations to validate manpower requirements, productivity assumptions, equipment utilization, construction sequencing, and execution schedules.
• Partner with procurement to obtain competitive material, equipment, fabrication, and subcontractor pricing.
• Assist the Estimating Manager with bid reviews and provide recommendations regarding pricing, execution strategy, project risk, and constructability.
• Maintain detailed estimating documentation and supporting backup for all pricing assumptions.
• Utilize historical project costs, productivity data, and lessons learned to improve estimate accuracy.
• Compare estimated costs and labor assumptions against actual project performance to support continuous improvement.
• Prepare pricing for change orders, additional work requests, RFPs, and scope modifications on active projects.
• Support project turnover meetings with project management and field operations, clearly communicating scope, pricing assumptions, exclusions, risks, subcontractor coverage, and execution strategy.
• Maintain and utilize company estimating templates, cost databases, historical pricing, and standardized estimating processes.
• Review estimates and takeoffs prepared by junior estimators and provide technical guidance as needed.
• Manage multiple concurrent estimates while meeting bid deadlines and maintaining accuracy and completeness.
• Collaborate with estimating, operations, procurement, project management, and business development throughout the pursuit process.
• Maintain a strong focus on safety, constructability, quality, schedule, cost control, and profitability throughout the estimating process.

Requirements

• 7+ years of industrial construction experience, with significant experience in estimating, project controls, project management, or field construction.
• 5+ years of direct estimating experience within industrial construction or heavy-industrial services strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent industrial construction experience will be considered.
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical construction and field execution.
• Demonstrated experience estimating mechanical piping, piping fabrication, and equipment installation.
• Experience estimating work in refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical facilities, terminals, midstream facilities, manufacturing plants, or other heavy-industrial environments.
• Experience with turnarounds, shutdowns, maintenance contracts, brownfield projects, and capital construction.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, piping isometrics, engineering drawings, specifications, bid packages, and construction documents.
• Strong experience performing detailed quantity takeoffs.
• Working knowledge of piping materials, valves, fittings, supports, structural steel, vessels, skids, modules, and industrial equipment.
• Understanding of labor productivity, crew composition, equipment requirements, construction sequencing, and field execution.
• Knowledge of material pricing, subcontractor procurement, vendor solicitation, and bid leveling.
• Experience developing conceptual, budgetary, and detailed construction estimates.
• Strong understanding of direct costs, indirect costs, overhead, contingency, escalation, project risk, and margin.
• Experience developing and supporting change‑order pricing and evaluating scope changes.
• Familiarity with heavy civil scopes including concrete, foundations, excavation, underground utilities, and site work.
• Knowledge of applicable ASME, API, and industrial construction/fabrication requirements.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple estimates, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with clients, vendors, subcontractors, project teams, and company leadership.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with estimating and takeoff software.
• Ability to travel to project sites, client facilities, job walks, and pre‑bid meetings as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing estimates for projects ranging from small maintenance and capital work through large multidisciplinary industrial projects.
• Strong mechanical estimating background with substantial piping and fabrication experience.
• Field construction, project management, or superintendent experience in addition to estimating experience.
• Experience reviewing or mentoring junior estimators.
• Familiarity with historical cost databases, labor productivity tracking, and estimate-versus-actual analysis.
• Experience working closely with fabrication shops and estimating shop fabrication in conjunction with field installation.

If you have deep industrial construction knowledge and can turn complex project requirements into accurate, competitive, and executable estimates, we encourage you to apply.