Senior Estimator – Heavy Civil Construction

Capo Projects Group (CAPO); Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CAPO Projects Group in Southern California is seeking a collaborative Senior Estimator to join our independent cost estimating team. You will provide high-level cost validation and bidding support for large-scale Heavy Civil Construction projects, with emphasis on water and wastewater infrastructure.

Leveraging a GC background, you will help scope trades, develop defensible budgets, and perform detailed takeoffs and cost modeling.

Qualifications

• 6–12+ years of estimating experience in Heavy Civil Construction.
• GC background provides realistic multi-trade coordination and site overhead insight.
• Strong experience with Water/Wastewater infrastructure projects is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent cost estimates and validations for heavy civil projects.
• Support bidding with high-level cost validation and risk assessment.
• Develop defensible budgets and cost models in early design phases (planning to 45%).
• Scope out subcontractor packages with GC insight to ensure full coverage.
• Perform digital take-offs and cost modeling to support bid packages.
• Utilize estimating software to produce accurate estimates.

Skills

Heavy Civil Estimating

GC Background

Water/Wastewater experience

Team Player

Cost Modeling

Digital Takeoffs

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Construction Management degree or equivalent

Tools

Estimating software

Job description

Location: [Southern California / Hybrid]

Company: CAPO Projects Group

Position Overview

We are looking for a collaborative and detail-oriented Senior Estimator to join our independent cost estimating team. In this role, you will work alongside senior leadership to provide high-level cost validation and bidding support for large-scale Heavy Civil Construction projects.

While our core focus is on major infrastructure; including mass grading and structural concrete, we are specifically looking for a professional who brings General Contracting experience and a strong background in Water and Wastewater projects. You will be a key contributor to our team, helping us navigate complex public agency requirements and providing objective, accurate cost data for multi-disciplinary project scopes.

Key Responsibilities

• Third-Party & Independent Validation: Join an integrated team to provide independent cost estimates and validations for heavy civil infrastructure, focusing on accuracy in self-perform earthwork and concrete.
• Water/Wastewater Integration: Provide technical expertise for water resource and storage projects, ensuring all specialized mechanical and process-related costs are accurately captured.
• Conceptual Estimating & Assumption Development: Develop defensible budgets and cost models in early-phase design environments (planning, 30%, 45%), where drawings and details are incomplete. Identify gaps, make reasonable and documented assumptions, and progress the estimate without over-reliance on RFIs.
• GC-Informed Analysis: Leverage your General Contracting background to accurately scope out subcontractor packages and ensure no gaps exist between trades in the overall estimate.
• Quantity & Cost Analysis: Perform detailed digital take-offs and cost modeling to support the development of comprehensive cost reports and bid packages.
• Software Utilization: Proficient in Estimating Software
• Market Insight: Assist the team in identifying potential risks or market contractions that could impact project viability and delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience: 6–12+ years of estimating experience in Heavy Civil Construction.
• GC Background: Prior experience working within a General Contracting environment is preferred to provide a realistic perspective on multi-trade coordination and site overheads.
• Sector Preference: Strong experience with Water/Wastewater infrastructure (treatment plants, reservoirs, pump stations, transmission pipelines, and aqueducts) is highly desirable.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent industry experience.

Technical Skills

• Estimating software experience.
• Team Player: A proven ability to work effectively within a team-based environment, contributing to a shared goal of delivering defensible and highly accurate cost data.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience supporting On-Call estimating services for public agencies.
• Strong analytical skills for performing independent constructability reviews and value engineering.
• A focus on precision and a proactive approach to identifying potential project bottlenecks during the estimating phase.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, early-stage design environments with limited information. Able to make sound judgment calls, clearly document assumptions, and keep estimates moving forward without getting stalled on incomplete details.

Capo Projects Group is a premier construction management, cost estimating and project controls firm specializing in high-stakes infrastructure and heavy civil projects. While we offer a full suite of project services, a core strength lies in providing Independent Cost Estimating and validation services that ensure financial transparency and project viability for public agencies, private owners and general contractors.

Our independent cost estimating team is comprised of seasoned professionals with deep roots in General Contracting and Heavy Civil Construction. This practical, "builder-centric" perspective allows us to move beyond simple spreadsheets, providing a realistic assessment of labor productivity, equipment utilization, and market conditions.