Senior Estimator

CENTREX; Tigard (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Centrex is seeking a Senior Estimator to own complete, coordinated estimates from concept through turnover for a portfolio of commercial projects, including private aviation facilities. You will price from limited information, level subcontractor bids, identify gaps, and document assumptions, working with Preconstruction, PMs, and leadership.

The ideal candidate has owned multi‑million-dollar estimates for GC work, with aviation or large clear-span buildings a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction or related field strongly preferred (equivalent combination of experience and training considered).
• Ability to develop reliable early budgets from limited information and detailed estimates from drawings and specs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare conceptual to construction document estimates for negotiated work, bids, and GMPs.
• Build quantities and costs for labor, materials, equipment, and subs; use current quotes and historical data.
• Ensure complete scope coverage including sitework, foundations, enclosure, MEP, and specialty systems.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field

Tools

Sage Estimating (Timberline)

Bluebeam

BuildingConnected

Procore

Job description

Centrex is not your average construction company; we are committed to building epic projects, challenging the traditional mold of commodity centered commercial construction. With a focus on private aviation, you will have the opportunity to work with a passionate team, being an integral part of delivering industry changing results along the way. Centrex actively embraces the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a robust goal-setting methodology that channels our organizational focus into six key elements: Vision, People, Data, Process, Traction, and Issues.

Position Summary:

As a Senior Estimator on the Centrex team, you will own complete, coordinated estimates for our projects from early concepts and incomplete drawings through bid day and turnover to the project team. You will be responsible for the accuracy of quantities, pricing, and scope coverage across every trade, working closely with our Preconstruction team, Project Managers, Operations, and leadership team.

The ideal candidate has owned complete estimates for a commercial general contractor and is ready to bring that experience to a company where their numbers shape what we build. You know how to price work from limited information, level subcontractor bids, catch scope gaps, and clearly document your assumptions, and you are looking for a company where strong performance leads to more responsibility. Experience with aviation, industrial, or other large clear-span buildings is a plus but not required.

This role is best suited for a detail-driven, results-oriented individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about delivering excellence in every aspect of their work. You will have the opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of projects, each offering unique challenges and opportunities for innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Estimate Development: Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction document estimates for negotiated work, competitive bids, and GMPs. Perform and check quantity takeoffs, and build labor, material, equipment, and subcontract costs using current quotes and historical data.
• Scope Coverage: Estimate the complete scope of each project, including sitework and aircraft aprons, foundations, structural steel and pre-engineered metal buildings, enclosure, interiors, MEP, fire protection, and specialty systems. Identify gaps, overlaps, and exclusions before they become problems.
• Bid Management: Develop bid packages, solicit and qualify subcontractors and suppliers, track coverage and addenda, and level bids on a consistent scope basis.
• Cost Risk & Assumptions: Account for work that is required but not fully drawn. Document allowances, escalation, and contingency, and flag decisions needed before pricing can be relied on.
• General Conditions: Build project-specific general conditions with Operations, including staffing, logistics, temporary facilities, and schedule constraints.
• Design Alternatives & Constructability: Evaluate design alternatives with the team and explain the cost and schedule impact of proposed changes. Maintain a clear reconciliation between estimate revisions.
• Turnover & Cost Feedback: Deliver organized estimate packages and scope narratives to project teams, support post-award pricing, and feed actual cost and buyout results back into our estimating database.

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of progressive commercial construction estimating experience, including substantial time with a general contractor, with a proven track record of owning complete estimates for multimillion-dollar ground-up projects, renovations, and tenant improvements.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field is strongly preferred. An equivalent combination of construction experience and training will be considered.
• Strong working knowledge of all major building trades, construction sequencing, and how sitework, structure, enclosure, and building systems tie together.
• Ability to develop reliable early budgets from limited information and detailed estimates from coordinated drawings and specifications.
• Sound judgment in subcontractor qualification, bid leveling, local market pricing, and cost risk, with the confidence to raise scope or pricing concerns early.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with digital takeoff and estimating software such as Sage Estimating (Timberline), Bluebeam, BuildingConnected, and Procore.
• Experience with aviation, industrial, or pre-engineered metal building projects is a plus.
• Design-build or design-assist experience and field experience are a plus.