Senior MEP Estimator

About the role

Suffolk is seeking a bold, curious, and innovative Senior MEP Estimator for Advanced Manufacturing. This role involves estimating the most complex and large-scale jobs, including pre-construction, hard bids, negotiated bids, budgets, general conditions, systems studies, value engineering, and subcontractor relations. You will stay abreast of industry developments applicable to estimating while leading the estimate lifecycle for advanced-technology projects.

Responsibilities

• Estimate Development and Cost Planning
  • Lead the estimate lifecycle for conceptual, schematic, design-development, construction-document, GMP, negotiated, design-build, and lump-sum bid phases.
  • Perform detailed quantity takeoffs for electrical systems, including labor, material, equipment, supplier, subcontractor, testing, and indirect requirements.
  • Use multiple pricing methods (detailed takeoff, unit rates, standard assemblies, historical benchmarks, supplier quotations, and factored models).
  • Establish the estimate basis, including assumptions, clarifications, alternates, allowances, contingencies, escalation, location factors, schedule premiums, logistics impacts, and procurement considerations.
  • Reconcile progressive estimates, compare versions, explain design and market variances, and recommend updates to cost models.
  • Prepare narratives, executive summaries, system comparisons, and presentations for owners, designers, leadership, and project teams.
• Electrical, Low-Voltage, and I&C Technical Scope
  • Estimate complete electrical systems, including utility interfaces, medium- and low-voltage distribution, substations, transformers, switchgear, motor control centers, busway, feeders, branch power, grounding, lighting, emergency power, generators, UPS, fire alarm, communications, security, and temporary power.
  • Interpret high-tech design information, including one-line diagrams, risers, panel schedules, control schematics, cable/conduit schedules, P&IDs, instrument indexes, I/O lists, loop diagrams, and control narratives.
  • Address gas and chemical system interfaces, including electrical and controls infrastructure for bulk/specialty gas systems, chemical delivery, hazardous material monitoring, leak detection, abatement, ventilation interlocks, and emergency shutdown functions.
  • Quantify I&C scope, including field instruments, control panels, PLC, SCADA, BMS/EPMS interfaces, control power, raceway, cable, terminations, communications networks, calibration, testing, and system integration.
  • Account for testing and turnover, including inspections, energization, startup support, factory/field testing, integrated systems testing, commissioning, training, spare parts, and documentation.
  • Evaluate constructability and productivity, applying labor factors for cleanroom protocols, gowning, congestion, elevation, access restrictions, outages, phasing, off-shift work, overtime, and schedule compression.
  • Maintain working knowledge of relevant codes, authority requirements, owner design criteria, quality standards, and project-specific safety/installation requirements.
• Trade Partner and Supplier Bid Management
  • Develop procurement plans, build qualified bidder lists, and identify electrical contractors, low-voltage integrators, I&C partners, equipment manufacturers, and specialty suppliers.
  • Prepare bid packages with clear scopes of work, bid forms, responsibility matrices, alternates, schedule requirements, logistics criteria, and pricing instructions.
  • Manage bidder communication, including pre-bid reviews, site walks, scope meetings, and RFIs to ensure timely participation.
  • Level and analyze proposals, normalizing labor, material, equipment, exclusions, clarifications, allowances, testing, commissioning, schedule, and scope boundaries.
  • Validate pricing and lead times, confirming major equipment quotations, commodity exposure, escalation assumptions, freight, taxes, storage, warranty, and long-lead procurement constraints.
• Value, Risk, Procurement, and Modularization
  • Develop value options for system/equipment alternatives, distribution strategies, redundancy approaches, feeder/busway concepts, low-voltage architecture, temporary systems, and installation methods.
  • Lead scope and risk reviews, identifying design incompleteness, coordination issues, system interfaces, schedule constraints, temporary conditions, and market risks.
  • Evaluate modular construction, including prefabricated electrical rooms, e-houses, equipment skids, modular utility assemblies, multi-trade racks, and off-site fabrication.
  • Support procurement strategy by identifying long-lead electrical equipment and release requirements, and recommending early procurement or substitutions.
  • Support operations post-award through estimate turnover, scope clarification, subcontractor buyout, and lessons learned.
• Cost Intelligence, Collaboration, and Leadership
  • Maintain cost intelligence by updating unit-rate databases, labor productivity factors, assemblies, commodity trackers, supplier benchmarks, and historical cost records.
  • Improve estimating accuracy by comparing estimate assumptions to procurement/field results and implementing procedural improvements.
  • Coordinate across disciplines with owners, architects, engineers, commissioning providers, procurement, project executives, managers, superintendents, VDC teams, and estimators.
  • Mentor and review junior estimators and project team members, promoting consistent estimating standards and knowledge sharing.

Requirements

• Experience: Seven or more years of progressive electrical estimating, preconstruction, project management, project engineering, or field experience with a general contractor, electrical trade partner, or similar organization.
• Advanced-Technology Background: Demonstrated experience estimating semiconductor, battery, life sciences manufacturing, data centers, or other process-intensive facilities.
• GC Estimating Capability: Proven ability to develop complete estimates at multiple design stages, identify missing scope, lead trade partner bid analysis, and balance cost, risk, schedule, constructability, and project objectives.
• Technical Fluency: Strong understanding of electrical construction methods, labor productivity, equipment procurement, low-voltage systems, I&C interfaces, process utility connections, and testing/commissioning requirements.
• Document Interpretation: Ability to read and reconcile incomplete/complete design documents, including drawings, specifications, P&IDs, one-lines, controls information, equipment data, and digital models.
• Cost-Modeling Skills: Proficiency in detailed takeoff, unit-rate/assembly development, conceptual estimating, estimate reconciliation, historical benchmarking, and estimated-versus-actual analysis.
• Technology: Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and working proficiency with digital takeoff, estimating, document-management, and collaboration software (e.g., Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff).
• Communication: Ability to write clear estimate narratives, lead scope discussions, present recommendations, negotiate clarifications, and build productive relationships.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent electrical trade, field leadership, project management, or estimating experience will be considered.

Working Conditions

The role primarily involves office work with regular sitting, talking, hearing, and fine motor skills (keyboard, telephone, writing). Frequent standing, walking, and reaching may be required. Specific vision abilities include close/distance vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment. Occasional job site walking may be necessary. The office environment ranges from quiet to moderate noise levels.

Pay

Base salary is one component of Suffolk’s total rewards package. Actual salaries depend on skill set, experience, education, and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package and regularly reviews salary ranges to reflect market trends.