Underground Utility Estimator

Hinterland Group; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Hinterland Group is seeking an experienced Underground Utility Estimator to turn plans and specifications into competitive, defensible bids for water, sewer, and related infrastructure. You will work directly with leadership to shape pricing strategies and win work, with real field exposure beyond desk work.

Five to ten years in estimating underground utility or heavy civil projects, strong plan-reading skills, and experience with estimating software are required.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years estimating underground utility or heavy civil projects
• Ability to read civil plans and specs and translate to numbers
• Experience with takeoff/estimation software
• Strong attention to detail under deadline
• Bachelor's degree preferred in CM or CE

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, specs, and bid documents to build accurate estimates
• Run quantity takeoffs for pipe, structures, excavation, backfill, and restoration
• Price labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and indirect costs
• Source vendor/subcontractor quotes to keep bids sharp
• Spot risks and constructability issues before they impact field operations
• Build polished bid proposals and pricing summaries
• Attend pre-bid meetings and site walks with field teams
• Hand off winning bids to project managers and engineers
• Shaping pricing for change orders and value‑engineered projects

Skills

Estimating experience

Civil plans reading

Detail orientation

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Estimating software

Takeoff software

Job description

Join a company scaling fast — and bring your career along for the ride.

Why Hinterland Group

Hinterland Group is a fast‑growing construction and field services company powering critical underground utility work across Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. We're scaling quickly, which means real ownership, real visibility with leadership, and real room to grow — not just another seat on a big team where your work gets lost in the shuffle.

The Opportunity

We're looking for an experienced Underground Utility Estimator to be the driving force behind winning the projects that matter — water, sewer, storm drain, lift stations, and water treatment infrastructure. You'll take a set of plans and turn them into a sharp, competitive, defensible bid — the kind that wins work and keeps our field teams building. This role works directly to the leadership team, so your numbers, your judgment, and your instincts will directly shape company strategy.

What You'll Own

• Reviewing drawings, specs, geotechnical reports, and bid documents to build accurate, complete estimates
• Running detailed quantity takeoffs for pipe, structures, excavation, backfill, and restoration work
• Pricing labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and indirect costs with precision
• Sourcing and comparing vendor and subcontractor quotes to keep bids sharp and competitive
• Spotting risk and constructability issues before they become field problems
• Building polished bid proposals and pricing summaries that win work
• Getting out to pre‑bid meetings and site walks — this is a role with real field exposure, not just a desk
• Handing off winning bids cleanly to project managers, superintendents, and engineers
• Shaping how we price change orders and value‑engineer projects going forward

What You Bring

• 5–10 years estimating underground utility or heavy civil projects — you know this world inside and out
• Sharp instincts for reading civil plans and specs, and translating them into numbers that hold up
• Comfort with estimating and takeoff software
• A real feel for production rates, labor costs, and equipment usage — not just formulas
• Precision and attention to detail, especially against a deadline
• Confidence working independently, and the communication skills to keep everyone aligned
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field preferred

What You'll Get

• A direct line to the leadership and real influence over how we price and win work
• A growing company where your impact compounds as we scale
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Work that matters — the infrastructure you estimate becomes the water and sewer systems communities rely on every day

Ready to build something that lasts? We'd love to see what you can do.