Senior Preconstruction Engineer

Sky Mavis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Annual Bonus

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Job summary

Clayco, a leading full‑service real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm, seeks a Senior Preconstruction Engineer. You will drive bidding, craft precise estimates, develop proposals, and manage subcontractor bids to support commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential projects.

You will perform quantity take-offs, conduct constructability reviews, and apply value engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CM, CE, Arch, or related field.
• 3–5 years of estimating experience in commercial construction.
• Proficiency in estimating and quantity takeoff software.
• Strong analytical and mathematical calculation skills.
• Experience in Preconstruction meetings and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Proposal Preparation across Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and Residential units.
• Quantity take-offs for specific scopes of work.
• Subcontractor management and bid solicitation.
• Prepare and analyze Bid Evaluation sheets.
• Review schedules and conditions; assist in assembling estimates for owners.
• Handoff estimates and drawings to Project Management; support negotiations and changes.
• Maintain historical data on unit prices.

Skills

Estimating

Quantity takeoffs

Bid management

Analytical skills

Contract negotiations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the art and science of building, providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential building projects.

The Role We Want You For

As a Senior Preconstruction Engineer, you will drive the bidding process for construction projects by crafting precise conceptual and hard dollar estimates, developing proposals, and managing subcontractor bids. You will ensure the accuracy and completeness of all project documents, perform quantity take-offs, conduct constructability reviews, and implement value engineering analyses. Your contributions will be crucial in shaping departmental strategies and fostering continuous improvement.

The Specifics of the Role

• Proposal Preparation: Collaborate with the Preconstruction team to deliver accurate proposals across various business units, including Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and Residential sectors.
• Quantity Take-Offs: Perform detailed quantity take-offs for specific scopes of work to support accurate estimating.
• Subcontractor Management: Oversee the solicitation process for subcontractor bids, build and nurture relationships with subcontractors, and maintain a comprehensive master list of subcontractors/vendors.
• Bid Evaluation: Prepare and analyze Bid Evaluation sheets to ensure competitive and fair bidding processes.
• Schedule and Conditions Review: Evaluate project schedules, assist in drafting General Conditions, and contribute to the final assembly of estimates for presentation to owners.
• Handoff and Support: Facilitate a seamless transition of estimates, bid information, drawings, and specifications to Project Management, and assist Project Managers with contract negotiations, change orders, and other project needs.
• Historical Data Management: Develop and maintain historical data on unit prices to inform future estimating and bidding processes.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• Experience: 3-5 years of estimating experience in commercial construction, with a strong track record in project bidding and management.
• Technical Skills: Deep understanding of building construction, materials, systems, and market conditions. Proficiency in estimating and quantity takeoff software.
• Software Proficiency: Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Analytical Skills: Strong conceptual abilities with a knack for working with limited information, and proven technical skills in mathematical calculations.
• Meeting Experience: Experience participating in Preconstruction meetings and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The Clayco Nationwide salary range for this position is approximately $80,000 - $90,000 +/- annually (not adjusted for location).