Senior Estimator, Commercial Construction

Location: Duluth, GA
Work Setting: In office with occasional job site visits as needed
Employment Type: Full-time, direct hire
Salary Range: $120,000 to $140,000 base salary

Key Required Experience:
Commercial general contractor estimating experience
Full-project estimating across multiple construction divisions
Large commercial projects, ideally in the $5M to $50M range
Light industrial, big box retail, grocery, warehouse, distribution, or similar commercial construction
Stable employment history strongly preferred

Quick Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Estimator with a strong background working directly for commercial general contractors and preparing full-project estimates for substantial commercial construction projects.

The strongest candidates will have recent estimating and preconstruction experience involving light industrial, big box retail, grocery, warehouse, distribution, or similar commercial projects, ideally in the $5 million to $50 million range.

This position requires the ability to review complete construction documents, perform detailed takeoffs, develop scopes of work, solicit and level subcontractor and supplier bids, analyze project costs, identify scope gaps and risks, and prepare accurate estimates for competitive and negotiated commercial work.

Position Overview

A growing commercial general contractor is seeking a Senior Estimator to support and lead estimating and preconstruction efforts for commercial construction projects.

This individual will be responsible for developing complete project estimates across multiple divisions, reviewing architectural, structural, civil, and MEP documents, coordinating subcontractor and vendor pricing, evaluating scope coverage, and helping establish accurate project budgets.

The ideal candidate has direct commercial GC estimating experience and understands how projects are built in the field, not simply how individual trade packages are priced.

Relevant project experience includes light industrial, big box retail, grocery, warehouse, distribution, and other substantial commercial construction. Experience with ground-up construction is strongly preferred.

Candidates whose experience is primarily trade-specific, mechanical-only, plumbing-only, electrical-only, civil/sitework-only, supplier/materials-only, residential, owner-side, or specialty subcontractor estimating are unlikely to align unless they also have significant full-project estimating experience with a commercial general contractor.

Key Responsibilities

Lead preparation of detailed estimates and budgets for commercial construction projects.

Review architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings, specifications, bid documents, and scopes of work.

Perform and review quantity takeoffs across multiple construction divisions.

Develop detailed cost breakdowns, conceptual budgets, and final estimates.

Solicit subcontractor and supplier pricing and ensure adequate bid coverage.

Analyze, level, and compare subcontractor and vendor proposals.

Develop scopes of work and identify scope gaps, exclusions, overlaps, alternates, and assumptions.

Communicate with subcontractors and vendors to clarify scope and negotiate pricing.

Identify project risks, constructability concerns, and potential cost impacts during preconstruction.

Collaborate with project managers, superintendents, ownership, and design teams throughout estimating and preconstruction.

Identify value engineering opportunities and alternative construction approaches.

Prepare bid proposals, estimate summaries, budgets, and internal review documentation.

Maintain historical cost information, unit pricing, subcontractor data, and current market information.

Support competitive bids, negotiated work, GMP, design-build, and other commercial project delivery methods.

Assist and mentor junior estimating staff when needed.

Required Qualifications

Minimum 7 years of commercial construction estimating or closely related preconstruction experience.

Direct experience working for a commercial general contractor is strongly preferred.

Strong experience preparing complete commercial construction estimates across multiple divisions.

Experience estimating substantial commercial projects, ideally in the $5 million to $50 million range.

Experience with light industrial, big box retail, grocery, warehouse, distribution, or similar commercial construction is strongly preferred.

Ground-up commercial construction estimating experience is strongly preferred.

Strong knowledge of commercial construction methods, materials, sequencing, subcontractor scopes, labor, and current costs.

Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, civil, and MEP drawings and specifications.

Experience performing quantity takeoffs and developing detailed project budgets.

Strong experience soliciting, analyzing, leveling, and negotiating subcontractor and supplier bids.

Ability to identify scope gaps, exclusions, pricing risks, constructability concerns, and value engineering opportunities.

Experience with competitive bids, conceptual estimates, negotiated work, GMP, design-build, preconstruction, or similar delivery methods.

Proficiency with estimating and takeoff platforms such as Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, Sage Estimating, Procore, BuildingConnected, ConstructConnect, Destini, or similar tools.

Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and organizational skills.

Stable employment history with consistent tenure is strongly preferred.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field is preferred.

Equivalent commercial construction estimating experience will be considered in place of a degree.

Additional Requirements

Ability to work regularly from the Duluth, Georgia office.

Ability to visit active project sites as needed.

Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Strong professional references preferred.