Senior Estimator – Design-Build Construction

KDW; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Insurance

401(k)

PTO & holidays

Company phone

Career development

Job summary

KDW is seeking an experienced Estimator to prepare accurate, competitive cost estimates across Industrial, Manufacturing, and General Commercial Construction markets. Lead bid solicitations, develop detailed takeoffs, and coordinate with project managers and subcontractors to ensure complete, on-schedule pricing.

You will shape planning and pricing strategy, identify risk, support value engineering, and mentor junior estimators within a collaborative preconstruction team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of construction estimating experience with a general contractor (design-build experience preferred).
• Hands-on proficiency with Bluebeam Revu for takeoffs and document review (required).
• Experience with Sage Timberline / Sage Estimating strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed takeoffs using Bluebeam Revu for assigned scope, trades, and project phases.
• Develop and issue bid solicitations; identify, qualify, and manage subcontractor and vendor outreach.
• Build and maintain cost estimates and models from conceptual/schematic design through construction documents.
• Support design-build pursuits, including early conceptual pricing, design-phase cost tracking, and design-to-budget reconciliation.
• Analyze drawings, specifications, and scopes of work to identify gaps, overlaps, and constructability issues.
• Prepare and assemble bids and proposals across contract types (Lump Sum, GMP, Cost Plus).
• Evaluate trade partner proposals, organize bid comparisons, and participate in post-bid review and scope award recommendations.
• Collaborate with project managers, architects, engineers, and trade partners throughout preconstruction.
• Develop value engineering and value analysis options to meet client budgets without compromising quality.
• Maintain organized estimating files, historical cost data, and documentation to support a clean handoff to field execution.

Skills

Bluebeam Revu

Takeoffs

Cost modeling

Bid solicitations

Microsoft Excel

Sage Estimating

Autodesk Navisworks

CAD

Construction drawings

Education

Bachelor's in Construction Management or related

Tools

Sage Estimating

Autodesk Navisworks

CAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

KDW is seeking an experienced Estimator to prepare accurate, competitive cost estimates across Industrial, Manufacturing, and General Commercial Construction markets. Lead bid solicitations, develop detailed takeoffs, and coordinate with project managers and subcontractors to ensure complete, on-schedule pricing.

You will shape planning and pricing strategy, identify risk, support value engineering, and mentor junior estimators within a collaborative preconstruction team.