Senior Estimator

Compensation: $95,000–$125,000 base salary; higher compensation may be considered for an exceptional candidate based on experience and current market conditions

Equity: Not currently offered

Location: Westlake Village, California

Work Policy: Primarily onsite during the first two to three months; limited hybrid flexibility after successful ramp-up

Level: Senior individual contributor with leadership growth potential

Hiring Count: 1

Core KPIs: Estimate accuracy, on-time bid delivery, scope completeness, pricing reliability, margin protection, Project Manager confidence, bid throughput, and cost-catalog development

Who we are

We are a growing design-build commercial general contractor serving corporate and institutional customers across the Western United States.

Our work spans tenant improvements, commercial renovations, offices, manufacturing and logistics environments, site improvements, parking projects, concrete work, electrical projects, and other special-project construction. We deliver projects through an experienced network of Project Managers, Superintendents, subcontractors, suppliers, and operational partners.

We are entering an important stage of growth. We have established the systems, customer relationships, and operating foundation needed to scale, and we are now adding experienced people who can strengthen their functions and help build the company’s next chapter.

What’s in it for you

As our Senior Estimator, you will have the opportunity to become the company’s trusted estimating authority—not one estimator buried inside a large department.

You will work directly with the founder, construction leadership, Project Managers, procurement, subcontractors, suppliers, and customers. You will influence how the company develops pricing, evaluates risk, prepares proposals, manages historical cost data, and turns opportunities into profitable projects.

This is a hands-on position today with meaningful leadership potential. The right person will help build the estimating function and may grow toward an Estimating Director or Chief Estimator role as the company expands.

You will also gain:

1. Direct visibility and influence with company leadership
2. Ownership of estimates from initial documents through customer-ready proposal
3. A broad mix of project types, sizes, and delivery methods
4. The opportunity to improve estimating systems, templates, and cost data
5. Limited hybrid flexibility after completing the initial ramp-up period
6. A collaborative environment where practical judgment is valued
7. The opportunity to help shape a growing commercial construction company

What you’ll do

1. Review drawings, specifications, narrative scopes, customer requirements, and site information.
2. Prepare conceptual budgets, ROM estimates, schematic estimates, design-build pricing, GMPs, negotiated proposals, hard bids, and change-order estimates.
3. Perform and verify multi-trade quantity takeoffs.
4. Independently develop pricing for labor, materials, equipment, logistics, general conditions, and project-specific risks.
5. Solicit subcontractor and supplier proposals while independently determining what the work should reasonably cost.
6. Level subcontractor bids and identify missing scope, exclusions, qualifications, inconsistencies, and unusually high or low pricing.
7. Write complete, customer-ready scopes of work that clearly define inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, allowances, alternates, and clarifications.
8. Evaluate constructability, site access, phasing, scheduling, weather, equipment needs, and other field conditions that affect cost.
9. Conduct project site visits when physical conditions or incomplete information could materially affect the estimate.
10. Develop value-engineering options that preserve project requirements while improving cost or execution.
11. Manage larger pursuits alongside urgent estimates, revisions, and change-order requests.
12. Present and explain estimates to internal stakeholders and customers when needed.
13. Coordinate closely with Project Managers, construction leadership, procurement, subcontractors, suppliers, and field teams.
14. Turn awarded projects over to the Project Management team with clear scope, pricing, risk, and procurement information.
15. Build and maintain estimating templates, historical cost information, and a reliable cost catalog.
16. Help establish consistent estimating standards and workflows across the company.
17. Use Procore, Excel, takeoff software, and other digital tools to improve speed and accuracy.
18. Explore responsible uses of AI and automation while independently validating all outputs.

What you’ll need

1. At least five years of substantive commercial construction estimating or preconstruction experience.
2. Experience working for a commercial general contractor or holding equivalent responsibility for complete, multi-trade estimates.
3. Strong knowledge of commercial construction costs, trades, sequencing, means, and methods.
4. The ability to develop and validate pricing independently rather than relying exclusively on subcontractor proposals.
5. Demonstrated experience performing quantity takeoffs.
6. Experience writing detailed scopes of work.
7. Experience soliciting, analyzing, leveling, and negotiating subcontractor and supplier proposals.
8. The ability to read and interpret architectural, civil, structural, electrical, low-voltage, and related construction documents.
9. Field exposure sufficient to identify constructability, access, phasing, equipment, scheduling, and logistics risks.
10. Experience preparing complete, professional estimates and proposals.
11. Strong Excel and general computer skills.
12. Clear written and verbal communication.
13. Strong organization, attention to detail, and deadline management.
14. The ability to manage multiple active estimates and last-minute requests without sacrificing accuracy.
15. A hands-on, collaborative approach and willingness to gather necessary information personally.
16. Comfort working in a growing company where processes and infrastructure are still being developed.
17. The ability to work primarily from the Westlake Village office during the initial ramp-up period.
18. The ability to visit project sites as required.

Preferred qualifications

1. Seven or more years of commercial GC estimating experience.
2. Special Projects, tenant improvement, commercial interiors, or renovation experience.
3. Experience estimating projects ranging from approximately $50,000 to $5 million.
4. Experience managing both quick-turn estimates and larger multi-trade pursuits.
5. Conceptual, negotiated, design-build, GMP, and hard-bid estimating experience.
6. Procore proficiency.
7. Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, PlanSwift, BuildingConnected, BidMail, Sage Estimating, CostX, or comparable software experience.
8. Experience developing historical cost databases or cost catalogs.
9. Experience leading junior estimators or improving estimating processes.
10. Commercial field experience as a Project Manager, Project Engineer, or Superintendent.
11. Experience with concrete, site work, parking improvements, commercial interiors, offices, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, retail, aviation, education, or institutional projects.
12. Public-works estimating experience.
13. Southern California subcontractor and supplier relationships.
14. Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related education.
15. OSHA 10, OSHA 30, or comparable safety training.
16. Spanish proficiency.

Additional requirements

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a standardized estimating exercise using a confidential project-document set. The exercise will evaluate estimating methodology, drawing interpretation, scope development, field judgment, pricing logic, and customer-ready communication.

Candidates must agree to protect all confidential project and customer information provided during the interview process.

Compensation

The initial base salary target is $95,000–$125,000.

We recognize that established Senior Estimators in the Southern California market may command compensation above this range. Exceptional candidates may be considered at a higher base based on experience, technical depth, current market conditions, and the value they can bring to the estimating function.

Final compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, demonstrated estimating capability, leadership potential, and overall alignment with the position.

Benefits

The company does not currently offer a traditional employer-sponsored medical, dental, vision, or retirement-benefits package.

The current compensation structure may include:

1. A negotiable weekly benefits stipend
2. Mileage reimbursement for approved business travel
3. Cellphone allowance
4. Discretionary annual bonus based on company and individual performance
5. Limited hybrid flexibility after successful ramp-up

These details will be discussed transparently during the interview process.

Compliance

We are an equal-opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to legally protected characteristics.