Senior Mechanical Estimator

Innovative Refrigeration Systems, Inc.; Lyndhurst (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovative Refrigeration Systems, Inc. is seeking a Senior Mechanical Estimator to develop accurate, competitive estimates for complex industrial projects, including pharmaceutical, data center, and other mission-critical applications.

The candidate should have broad experience with process piping, boilers, chillers, hydronic systems, and system integration, and will coordinate electrical requirements within larger mechanical projects in a fast-paced design-build environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field, or equivalent estimating experience.
• 5+ years estimating industrial mechanical construction projects.
• Experience with multiple mechanical systems (HVAC, chillers, boilers, piping, hydronic systems, pumps, ductwork).
• Experience in design-build/design-assist environments to develop estimates from concepts or incomplete docs.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems and construction scope to coordinate with larger projects.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, organizational, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with estimating software.

Responsibilities

• Develop accurate estimates for complex industrial mechanical and design-build projects.
• Review drawings, specifications, P&IDs, equipment schedules, and bid documents to determine requirements.
• Prepare labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and installation estimates with pricing.
• Identify risks, exclusions, scope gaps, and value engineering opportunities.
• Coordinate electrical pricing and scope with internal resources and subcontractors.
• Develop clear scopes, assumptions, exclusions, and supporting proposal documentation.
• Participate in estimate reviews and communicate the basis of estimates to stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Estimating software

Reading drawings

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

Bluebeam

AutoCAD

Job description

Company Overview

Innovative Refrigeration Systems, Inc. is the leading provider of industrial refrigeration and process cooling solutions. We design and deliver custom engineered systems utilizing natural refrigerants such as ammonia and CO₂. Our fully vertically integrated approach encompasses engineering, manufacturing, construction, commissioning, nationwide service, and advanced aftermarket solutions. We provide world-class custom solutions for our customers across the food and beverage, cold storage, pharmaceutical, industrial manufacturing, data center, and mission-critical markets.

Position Summary

The Senior Mechanical Estimator is responsible for developing accurate, competitive estimates and conceptual mechanical solutions for complex industrial projects, with a particular focus on pharmaceutical, data center, and other mission-critical applications.

This position is intended for an experienced mechanical estimator with broad experience across industrial mechanical systems, including but not limited to process piping, boilers, chillers, heat pumps, and system integration. The ideal candidate has estimated complex projects involving multiple mechanical systems and can apply that experience to new, unique, or non-standard applications. Working knowledge of electrical systems and construction scope is also important for coordinating electrical requirements within larger mechanical projects.

Innovative operates in a fast-paced design-build environment where projects frequently begin with early-stage customer concepts that are developed into fully functional solutions. The Senior Mechanical Estimator must be capable of developing these concepts into sufficiently defined mechanical solutions to support accurate estimating and proposal generation.

Essential Responsibilities Mechanical Estimating & Concept Development

• Develop accurate, competitive estimates for complex industrial mechanical and design-build projects, evaluating customer requirements and early-stage concepts to determine system approaches, equipment, quantities, and project scope.
• Demonstrate technical understanding of chillers, process piping, boilers, hydronic systems, compressors, condensing systems, pumping systems, and mechanical system integration.
• Work with Engineering to develop conceptual solutions based on customer concepts.
• Review drawings, specifications, P&IDs, equipment schedules, bid documents, and other technical information to determine project requirements and formulate system-based solutions.
• Prepare detailed labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, manufacturing, and installation estimates, including takeoffs and vendor/subcontractor pricing.
• Identify project risks, assumptions, exclusions, scope gaps, constructability concerns, and value engineering opportunities.
• Ensure estimates accurately reflect project scope, execution requirements, pricing strategy, and profitability expectations.

Electrical Scope Coordination

• Review electrical drawings, specifications, equipment requirements, and subcontractor scopes to identify electrical requirements, interfaces, gaps, and major cost drivers.
• Coordinate electrical pricing and scope with internal resources, vendors, and subcontractors, recognizing when specialized electrical estimating expertise is required.

Design-Build & Proposal Support

• Collaborate with Engineering, Business Development, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Construction throughout estimating and proposal development.
• Develop clear scopes of work, assumptions, exclusions, and supporting proposal documentation.
• Participate in estimate and proposal reviews and communicate the technical and commercial basis of estimates to internal stakeholders.
• Maintain estimating documentation and historical cost information to improve future estimating accuracy.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field OR equivalent relevant mechanical estimating, construction, or industry experience.
• 5+ years of experience estimating industrial mechanical construction projects.
• Demonstrated estimating experience across multiple mechanical systems, including experience with multiple areas such as HVAC, chillers, boilers, process piping, hydronic systems, pumping systems, air handling systems, ductwork, process equipment, and related mechanical infrastructure.
• Experience in a design-build, design-assist, or similar environment, with the ability to develop comprehensive estimates from early-stage concepts or incomplete construction documents.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems, construction scope, and estimating principles sufficient to coordinate electrical requirements within larger mechanical projects.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, equipment, construction methods, installation requirements, and project cost drivers.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and electrical drawings, P&IDs, specifications, equipment schedules, and related technical documentation.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with estimating software or related tools.

Preferred

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, data center, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, or other mission-critical industrial facilities.
• Experience with pharmaceutical process equipment, central utility plants, process cooling, hydronic distribution, or similar industrial infrastructure.
• Experience estimating or coordinating electrical scopes as part of multidisciplinary projects.
• Familiarity with Bluebeam, AutoCAD, or similar software.
• Experience working for a mechanical contractor, industrial contractor, or design-build organization.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain in a stationary position, seated or standing, for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift or carry items weighing up to 25 pounds.