Chief Estimator, AMER Estimating and Cost Control

About the role

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. The Data Center Planning and Delivery (DCPD) organization builds and scales the infrastructure that powers AWS. This position leads the estimating function within the AMER Estimating and Cost Control (ECC) organization, managing a team of Regional Estimating Managers and Discipline‑Specific Technical Estimators (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil/Structural/Architectural). The team provides end‑to‑end construction estimating for a portfolio focused on North and South America with significant global cross‑functional work, supporting billions of dollars in annual data‑center construction.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and develop a team of estimating professionals and vendors across regional, product, and discipline lines, including hiring, performance management, and career development.
• Own delivery and performance of key ECC estimating scope areas: Basis of Design (BOD) Estimating, Design Intercept and Innovation Estimating, New Regions Planning, Project‑Level Estimating (AMER), Operational Plan (OP) Support, Capital Appropriations Requests Assembly, Initial Budget Creation Support, and End‑to‑End Cost Planning.
• Manage third‑party estimating vendor contracts and deliverables, ensuring quality, timeliness, and cost‑effectiveness at scale.
• Drive the estimate‑to‑actual feedback loop with Cost Control, benchmarking estimates against portfolio actuals to improve accuracy each cycle.
• Lead estimating team inputs into the annual Operating Plan (OP) capital planning cycle alongside Preconstruction, Finance, and Cost Control, delivering estimate‑anchored market‑relevant forecasting.
• Own Estimating Team inputs into pre‑award budget packages: CAR assembly, estimate‑to‑CAR handoff with Preconstruction and Technical Infrastructure Project Manager (TIPM), and initial budget creation for new projects based on AMER and global benchmarks.
• Collaborate globally on Basis of Design estimates, PDCM/First‑of‑Kind/Intercept/Innovation costing, and new regions planning with Design Engineering and global estimating teams.
• Develop and maintain cost databases, estimating tools, templates, and methodologies that reflect current market conditions across multiple AMER geographic markets.
• Produce conceptual and detailed cost estimates for data‑center construction from schematic design through construction documents.
• Communicate cost insights, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership, translating complex estimating data into actionable capital‑governance decisions.
• Partner with Construction Management, Design Engineering, Finance, DCSP, and Preconstruction as the subject‑matter expert for all estimating matters.

About the team

The AMER Estimating and Cost Control (ECC) organization unifies estimating and cost control under a single leader. ECC provides end‑to‑end cost‑lifecycle ownership—from initial estimate through final account—creating a structured feedback loop between estimate and actual costs. The estimating pillar works alongside Cost Control (regional managers delivering commercial management, change management, progress payments, and final accounts) and Portfolio & Analytics expertise (cost governance, benchmarking, AI/analytics, and startup support) to deliver cost optimization across the AMER data‑center portfolio.

Basic qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil Engineering, or a similar technical discipline.
• Experience in construction of data‑center delivery (design, commissioning, and construction), mission‑critical facilities, or equivalent industrial/manufacturing facility builds.
• 3+ years of people‑management experience.
• Experience working with and managing third‑party vendors.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in construction cost estimating, cost management, or quantity surveying in commercial, industrial, or infrastructure construction.
• Demonstrated experience producing conceptual through detailed construction cost estimates for large‑scale, complex projects ($500M+).
• Proficiency with cost estimating tools and databases (e.g., RSMeans, CostX, Sage/Timberline, proprietary cost databases, Bluebeam, On‑Screen Takeoff, or equivalent).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents across multiple disciplines (MEP, civil, structural, architectural).
• Experience with multi‑geography pricing—understanding regional labor markets, material escalation, and supply‑chain dynamics across the U.S.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to present cost insights to senior leadership (L8+) and translate estimating data into capital‑governance recommendations.

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree in construction management, engineering, or MBA.
• Experience with Basis of Design estimating, design‑phase cost input, and value engineering.
• Track record of building estimating programs from the ground up—establishing tools, templates, processes, and cost databases.
• Experience with capital‑planning cycles, budget assembly, or capital‑governance processes.
• Experience reverse‑engineering awarded contracts to validate subcontractor pricing and identify cost‑optimization opportunities.
• Familiarity with hard‑bid, negotiated, and design‑build delivery methods.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription), Basic Life & AD&D insurance, optional supplemental life plans.
• Employee Assistance Program, mental‑health support, medical advice line.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and adoption/surrogacy reimbursement coverage.
• 401(k) matching.
• Paid time off and parental leave.
• Sign‑on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs) as part of the compensation package.

Pay

Base salary range: $153,200 – $254,500 USD annually (positions in Herndon, VA and Seattle, WA). Final compensation is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location.