Chief Estimator - Infrastructure/Data Center - Warrenton, VA

About the role

Our client is a well‑established, $50M+ specialty contractor with more than 15 years in business and a strong reputation across mission‑critical and infrastructure construction. With 70+ employees and continued growth ahead, the company offers an entrepreneurial environment where ambitious people can have a genuine impact on processes, teams, and future expansion.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of detailed estimates for underground dry utility projects, including electrical and telecommunications scopes.
• Review drawings, specifications, bid documents, and project requirements to develop complete and competitive estimates.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for labor, materials, equipment, and subcontracted work.
• Manage the bid process from initial document review through final submission, ensuring deadlines and client requirements are met.
• Solicit and evaluate vendor and subcontractor pricing to identify competitive and dependable partners.
• Partner with project management and field teams to ensure estimates accurately reflect site conditions and construction methodologies.
• Review project budgets and identify opportunities for cost savings, value engineering, and risk mitigation.
• Evaluate project risks relating to site conditions, scheduling, regulations, labor, and material pricing.
• Compare estimated costs with actual project performance to improve the accuracy of future bids.
• Monitor market conditions, material pricing, and industry trends that could impact project costs.
• Maintain organized estimating records, assumptions, pricing information, and project changes.
• Help strengthen estimating processes and procedures as the organization continues to scale.
• Support and mentor junior estimating talent while helping build a high‑performing preconstruction function.

Requirements

• 10+ years of estimating experience, ideally within underground utilities, site development, or related civil infrastructure construction.
• Strong understanding of underground utility construction methods, labor, materials, and equipment.
• Experience estimating dry utility scopes, including electrical and telecommunications infrastructure.
• Proven ability to independently manage estimates from initial review through final bid submission.

Qualifications

• Strong quantity takeoff, cost analysis, subcontractor solicitation, and bid leveling capabilities.
• Experience with HeavyBid, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to read and interpret civil drawings, specifications, contracts, and bid documents.
• Strong commercial judgment with an understanding of project risk and constructability.
• Comfortable collaborating with project managers, field leadership, vendors, and subcontractors.
• Leadership mentality with the ability to mentor junior employees and improve estimating processes.

Skills

• Quantity takeoff and cost analysis.
• Subcontractor solicitation and bid leveling.
• Proficiency with HeavyBid, Bluebeam, and Excel.
• Reading and interpreting civil drawings and specifications.
• Commercial judgment and risk assessment.