Senior Estimator – Commercial Construction

Prevail Recruiting; Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas (TX, TX, TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Prevail Recruiting is seeking a hands-on Senior Estimator to lead the estimating process for commercial construction projects in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The role covers ground-up, renovation, tenant improvement, and design-build work, collaborating with owners, design teams, and trade partners.

You’ll develop budgets from limited drawings, perform takeoffs, prepare bid packages, and support value engineering. Strong Excel skills and experience with takeoff software are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience estimating commercial construction projects for a general contractor.
• Ability to prepare whole-project estimates including systems, sitework, and interiors.
• Experience with conceptual budgets and ROM estimates from limited information.
• Experience across commercial, industrial, retail, restaurant, warehouse, or tenant improvements.

Responsibilities

• Prepare conceptual, ROM budgets, detailed estimates, and final bids.
• Develop early budgets from site plans and drawings.
• Takeoffs and pricing for building systems, sitework, and GC duties.
• Review drawings to identify gaps, risks, and costs.
• Develop bid packages and solicit subcontractor pricing.
• Compare proposals and ensure full scope coverage.
• Update budgets as design and pricing progress.
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, and owners on value engineering.
• Prepare estimate summaries, assumptions, and recommendations.
• Handoff to operations with clear scope, risks, and pricing.

Skills

Whole-project estimates

Excel proficiency

Bid management

Plan reading

Communication skills

Budgeting

Tools

On-Screen Takeoff

Bluebeam

BuildingConnected

Job description

Position Type: Full-time

We’re looking for a hands‑on Senior Estimator to lead the estimating process for commercial construction projects across the Dallas–Fort Worth area. This is an opportunity to join a collaborative team working on ground‑up, renovation, tenant improvement, and design‑build projects.

The ideal candidate can take a project from an early concept or limited drawings through a complete, competitive estimate. You’ll work closely with owners, design teams, subcontractors, and operations to develop budgets, identify risks, and make sure every scope is covered.

What you’ll do

• Prepare conceptual estimates, ROM budgets, detailed estimates, and final bids for commercial construction projects.
• Develop early project budgets from site plans, building footprints, preliminary drawings, and other limited information.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and develop pricing for building systems, sitework, and general conditions.
• Review drawings, specifications, and design revisions to identify scope gaps, constructability issues, and cost risks.
• Develop bid packages and solicit pricing from subcontractors and suppliers.
• Compare and level subcontractor proposals, clarify inclusions and exclusions, and make sure the full project scope is covered.
• Update and reconcile budgets as projects move through design and pricing.
• Work with architects, engineers, owners, and operations teams on value engineering and cost‑effective solutions.
• Prepare estimate summaries, qualifications, assumptions, and recommendations for review.
• Participate in the handoff to operations, communicating the estimate, scope, risks, and subcontractor pricing.

What we’re looking for

• Experience estimating commercial construction projects for a general contractor.
• Ability to prepare whole-project estimates, including building systems, sitework, utilities, interiors, and subcontracted trades.
• Experience developing conceptual budgets and ROM estimates from limited project information.
• Experience with commercial, industrial, retail, restaurant, warehouse, or tenant improvement projects.
• Strong understanding of subcontractor solicitation, bid packages, scope review, and proposal leveling.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, and construction documents.
• Proficiency with Excel and estimating or takeoff software such as On‑Screen Takeoff, Bluebeam, or BuildingConnected.
• Strong communication and organization skills, with the ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines.

If you enjoy staying involved in the details, building relationships with trade partners, and helping shape projects from the earliest stages, we’d like to hear from you.