Chief Estimator

Position Overview

We are seeking a Chief Estimator to lead and scale a growing estimating department supporting a diverse portfolio of mechanical construction, design-build, industrial, fabrication, and infrastructure projects. This individual will play a critical leadership role in expanding the organization’s design-build mechanical and mission-critical construction capabilities while ensuring estimating accuracy, consistency, and competitiveness across all markets served.

The ideal candidate comes from a mechanical contractor or large mechanical construction environment
, with deep experience estimating complex piping, mechanical systems, and integrated design-build work.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 13+ estimators
  , with continued growth anticipated
• Establish estimating standards, best practices, workflows, and quality controls across all project types
• Partner with executive leadership to support strategic growth in design-build, mechanical construction, and mission-critical projects
• Oversee workload planning, staffing, and estimator assignments to meet bid schedules and company priorities

• Provide executive-level oversight of conceptual, budgetary, and hard-bid estimates
• Lead estimates for complex mechanical, piping, industrial, and multi-discipline design-build projects
• Review and validate takeoffs, labor projections, material pricing, subcontractor scopes, and risk factors
• Drive value engineering, constructability reviews, and cost-saving strategies during preconstruction
• Ensure estimates are competitive, accurate, and aligned with operational execution capabilities

• Collaborate closely with engineering, BIM/VDC, operations, and fabrication teams during preconstruction
• Support early-stage budgeting and feasibility analysis to eliminate redesigns and costly change orders
• Leverage CAD/BIM coordination to improve estimating accuracy and field execution outcomes

• Support estimating efforts across a broad range of services, including:
• Mechanical piping systems (steam, chilled water, hot water, process, fuel, gas, chemical, sanitary)
• Design-build mechanical and industrial construction
• Fabrication and pipe processing (steel, stainless, HDPE, pressure vessels, structural steel)
• Industrial services, plant maintenance, civil infrastructure, mining, and specialty coatings
• Assist with bid strategy, go/no-go decisions, and pricing approaches for new markets and clients

• Drive continuous improvement in estimating systems, tools, databases, and historical cost tracking
• Ensure consistent use of estimating software, BIM inputs, and standardized cost models
• Improve handoff from estimating to project execution to minimize scope gaps

Required

• 10+ years of experience in construction estimating, with strong mechanical contractor or mechanical construction experience
• Proven leadership experience managing and scaling estimating teams
• Extensive background in mechanical piping systems and design-build construction
• Experience estimating large-scale, complex, or technically demanding projects
• Strong understanding of labor productivity, fabrication workflows, and field execution realities
• Ability to work full-time in office in Tempe, AZ

Preferred

• Experience supporting mission-critical, industrial, or infrastructure projects
• Familiarity with BIM-driven estimating and design coordination
• Background working closely with fabrication shops and self-perform crews
• Strong executive communication and cross-functional leadership skills

• Key leadership role in a growing estimating department with significant influence on company direction
• Opportunity to help build and expand design-build and mechanical construction market presence
• Highly technical and diverse project mix
• Long-term leadership opportunity with executive visibility