Construction Estimator / Comerical & Utility Scale Solar

Company is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Construction Estimator with experience in commercial and/or utility-scale solar construction to join its growing renewable energy team in New Braunfels, TX. This role involves developing accurate, competitive, and comprehensive estimates for large-scale solar construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Estimating & Bid Preparation
  • Review project plans, specifications, contracts, scopes of work, and bid documents.
  • Prepare complete and accurate cost estimates for commercial and utility-scale solar construction projects.
  • Develop detailed estimates covering materials, labor, equipment, subcontractors, and other project costs.
  • Prepare competitive bid proposals in accordance with project requirements.
  • Analyze project requirements and identify potential cost and schedule impacts.
  • Ensure estimates are complete, accurate, and submitted within established deadlines.
• Quantity Takeoffs
  • Perform detailed quantity takeoffs from architectural, civil, electrical, structural, and solar construction drawings.
  • Calculate quantities for materials, equipment, labor, and other construction requirements.
  • Review takeoffs for accuracy and completeness.
  • Identify discrepancies, missing scope, and potential cost exposures.
  • Update estimates as plans and specifications evolve.
• Subcontractor & Vendor Pricing
  • Solicit pricing from subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors.
  • Review, compare, and evaluate subcontractor and supplier quotations.
  • Confirm that vendor and subcontractor proposals accurately reflect the project scope.
  • Identify pricing discrepancies and clarify inclusions and exclusions.
  • Maintain relationships with vendors and subcontractors to obtain competitive pricing.
  • Incorporate current market pricing into project estimates.
• Solar Construction Estimating
  • Estimate commercial and utility-scale solar construction projects.
  • Apply knowledge of renewable energy construction methods to project pricing.
  • Evaluate civil, electrical, and solar-specific scopes.
  • Review electrical distribution and infrastructure requirements.
  • Analyze costs associated with underground electrical systems and medium-voltage infrastructure.
  • Support estimating for EPC and utility-scale solar projects.
  • Review utility interconnection-related scope and requirements when applicable.
• Budget Development & Cost Analysis
  • Develop project budgets based on plans, specifications, takeoffs, and market pricing.
  • Maintain current pricing databases for labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and other construction resources.
  • Monitor market pricing trends and update estimating databases accordingly.
  • Assist with project cost analysis.
  • Support change-order pricing when requested.
  • Compare estimated costs against actual project information to improve future estimates.
• Risk & Value Engineering
  • Identify potential project risks during the estimating process.
  • Evaluate constructability issues that could affect project costs.
  • Identify scope gaps, exclusions, and potential cost exposures.
  • Develop and evaluate value-engineering opportunities.
  • Communicate significant risks and pricing assumptions to management.
  • Assist project teams in developing cost-effective construction solutions.
• Preconstruction Coordination
  • Coordinate with project managers, engineering teams, field personnel, subcontractors, and vendors during preconstruction.
  • Participate in internal bid reviews.
  • Discuss scope, pricing assumptions, project risks, and estimating methodology with project stakeholders.
  • Participate in project handoff meetings after successful bids.
  • Ensure estimating information is accurately transferred to the project management and construction teams.

Requirements

• 3-5+ years of construction estimating experience.
• Experience in commercial construction, solar construction, or related construction industries.
• Strong understanding of construction estimating principles and methodologies.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, civil plans, electrical plans, project specifications, contracts, and bid documents.
• Demonstrated experience performing detailed quantity takeoffs.
• Strong understanding of construction materials, labor, equipment, and subcontractor pricing.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple bids and competing deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Experience using construction estimating software or related technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Commercial solar estimating experience.
• Utility-scale solar estimating experience.
• EPC project estimating experience.
• Renewable energy construction experience.
• Experience estimating large-scale solar farms.
• Knowledge of medium-voltage electrical systems.
• Knowledge of underground electrical systems.
• Familiarity with utility interconnection projects.
• Experience working with electrical, civil, and renewable energy scopes.
• Experience with Bluebeam, PlanSwift, HeavyBid, Procore, or similar construction estimating platforms.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, or a related field (preferred but not required with strong relevant estimating experience).

Skills

• Construction Estimating
• Solar Construction Estimating
• Utility-Scale Solar
• Commercial Solar
• EPC Estimating
• Quantity Takeoffs
• Cost Estimating
• Labor Calculations
• Material Pricing
• Subcontractor Pricing
• Vendor Quotations
• Bid Preparation
• Construction Drawings
• Construction Specifications
• Civil Construction
• Electrical Construction
• Medium-Voltage Systems
• Underground Electrical Systems
• Utility Interconnection
• Value Engineering
• Cost Analysis
• Change Order Pricing
• Microsoft Excel
• Bluebeam
• PlanSwift
• HeavyBid
• Procore

Work Environment & Travel

The position is associated with the New Braunfels, TX market and may involve on-site, hybrid, or remote work arrangements depending on business needs and project requirements. Travel is required for project locations, vendor/subcontractor meetings, site visits, preconstruction meetings, and other business-related activities.

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience, including performance bonuses.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• Career growth opportunities
• Opportunity to work on large-scale renewable energy projects
• Growth potential within a rapidly expanding renewable energy organization

About the Role

This is an opportunity to join a growing renewable energy construction company where the Estimator will have a direct impact on project success. The successful candidate will play an important role in helping the company identify profitable opportunities, develop accurate project budgets, improve bid competitiveness, and successfully transition awarded projects from preconstruction through execution.