Senior Estimator - Utility Infrastructure

Calqulate; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Medical, dental & vision coverage

Career training

Job summary

Calqulate is seeking a Senior Estimator for utility infrastructure in San Diego County. You will lead a small estimating team, break down RFPs into costs, and stay hands-on with estimates, ensuring accurate pricing and defensible bids.

You will work closely with operations, join pre-bid activities, set subcontractor packages, and refine pricing databases for subs and suppliers to support project work.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years in project estimating with increasing responsibility.
• Hands-on experience estimating utility infrastructure construction; dry utility preferred.
• Bachelor's in engineering, construction management or finance preferred; equivalent field experience considered.
• Fluent in commercial estimating software such as B2W, Accubid or HCSS.
• Comfortable with Excel, MS Project and P6 scheduling.
• Able to read plans, specifications and bid documents and pull a clean scope.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of three to five estimators.
• Break down client RFPs and scopes into complete, defensible cost estimates.
• Run quantity take-offs and build project schedules from plans and specs.
• Join pre-bid meetings and site walks to catch what drawings do not show.
• Define subcontractor and supplier packages and test their pricing.
• Build and maintain a pricing database for subs and suppliers.
• Assemble bid proposal packages to client requirements and approvals.
• Maintain unit pricing that supports blanket contract work.
• Review final estimates with operations before quoting.
• Compare actual costs against budget to improve future estimates.
• Support project managers through hand-off, resource planning and change orders.

Skills

Team leadership

Estimating focus

Bid/proposal writing

Education

Engineering/CM/Finance degree

Tools

B2W

Accubid

HCSS

Excel

Job description

SENIOR ESTIMATOR - UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE

| Confidential Search | San Diego County, CA | On-Site | Direct Hire

We are recruiting on behalf of an established Southern California utility contractor. The employer will be disclosed to candidates who move forward.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is the senior estimating seat at a contractor that bids regulated dry utility work in a competitive market. You own the numbers behind the bids: reading the scope, pricing it accurately, and standing behind it. The role sits close to operations, and you will lead a small estimating team while staying hands-on with the estimates yourself.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

• Lead a team of three to five estimators.
• Break down client RFPs and scopes of work and turn them into complete, defensible cost estimates.
• Run quantity take-offs and build project schedules from plans and specifications.
• Join pre-bid meetings, internal bid strategy sessions and site walks to catch what the drawings do not show.
• Define subcontractor and supplier packages and pressure-test their pricing.
• Build and maintain a pricing database for subs and suppliers.
• Assemble bid proposal packages to client requirements and carry them through internal approval.
• Maintain unit pricing that supports blanket contract work.
• Review final estimates with operations before anything is formally quoted.
• Compare actual costs against budget and feed what you learn back into the next estimate.
• Support project managers through hand-off, resource planning and change orders.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Eight or more years in project estimating with responsibility that has grown over that time.
• Hands-on experience estimating utility infrastructure construction. Dry utility strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's in engineering, construction management or finance preferred. Equivalent field experience will be considered.
• Fluent in commercial estimating software such as B2W, Accubid or HCSS.
• Comfortable in Excel, MS Project and P6 scheduling.
• Able to read plans, specifications and bid documents and pull a clean scope out of them.
• Strong on contract, cost and risk management.
• A clear writer. Proposals, reports and presentations are part of the job.

WHAT IS OFFERED

Competitive base salary, full medical, dental and vision, career training, and a stable, long-established contractor with steady work in the region.