Senior Estimator - Mechanical / Industrial Construction

Senior Estimator – Mechanical / Industrial Construction

St. Louis, MO | Direct Hire | On-Site
$110,000–$140,000 annually, depending on experience

An established St. Louis organization is expanding its estimating and proposals function and is seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to take ownership of complex project estimates from initial scope review through final proposal.

This is an opportunity for someone who is an estimator by trade and enjoys digging into project requirements, developing costs, working with vendors and subcontractors, identifying risk, and putting together complete, defensible proposals.

Your experience does not have to come from one specific industry. Strong estimating backgrounds within mechanical construction, MEP, industrial construction, design-build, capital projects, process systems, engineered equipment, or similar technical environments are encouraged.

What You'll Do

• Develop detailed estimates for complex industrial and capital projects.
• Review drawings, specifications, RFQs/RFPs, scopes of work, and customer requirements.
• Develop labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, freight, and other project costs.
• Perform or validate quantity takeoffs and labor requirements.
• Obtain pricing from vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors.
• Level competing bids and identify scope gaps, exclusions, and pricing risks.
• Prepare conceptual, budgetary, and firm-price estimates.
• Develop customer-facing proposals, scopes, assumptions, inclusions, exclusions, and clarifications.
• Participate in pricing strategy, proposal review, and customer discussions.
• Work closely with engineering, project management, procurement, operations, and leadership.
• Support project handoff after award and use actual project results to improve future estimating accuracy.
• Help strengthen estimating tools, historical cost data, processes, and standards as the department grows.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of professional estimating, preconstruction, or project cost estimating experience.
• Estimating has been a significant day-to-day responsibility, not simply an occasional part of a project management or engineering position.
• Experience personally developing detailed project estimates.
• Experience working from drawings, specifications, scopes, RFQs, RFPs, or similar technical project documentation.
• Experience developing labor, material, equipment, vendor, and/or subcontractor costs.
• Experience obtaining and evaluating vendor or subcontractor quotations.
• Ability to identify scope gaps, assumptions, exclusions, risk, and cost exposure.
• Experience preparing proposals or supporting final project pricing.
• Strong Excel and analytical skills.
• Experience with estimating, takeoff, construction, or project costing software is highly desirable.

Relevant Backgrounds May Include

• Mechanical / MEP estimating
• Industrial construction estimating
• Commercial construction estimating
• Process piping or process systems
• Capital project estimating
• Design-build construction
• Heavy industrial projects
• Engineered or custom equipment
• Preconstruction

You do not need previous experience with the employer's exact products or industry. We are looking for a strong estimator who understands the fundamentals of building accurate project costs and can learn a new technical environment.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This isn't a position where estimating is a small portion of a broader Project Manager role. You'll be joining a growing proposals function where estimating is the job.

The organization is looking for someone who can bring experience, structure, and sound estimating judgment to the team while having meaningful ownership of the process.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, and additional company benefits.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require current or future employment sponsorship.

Join a team that values hard work, professional growth, and employee success. Our clients are established organizations that invest in their people, provide opportunities for advancement, and foster collaborative work environments.