a growing civil construction firm working across heavy civil and underground infrastructure projects, is seeking a Senior Estimator to join their team in Santa Rosa. This position is a high impact role : you will develop cost estimates for large scale projects, support business growth through client engagement, and contribute to the company’s long term success.
What You’ll Do as the Senior Estimator :
- Consult with clients, vendors, internal team members and stakeholders to build comprehensive project estimates.
- Review and analyse project drawings, specifications and other documentation to generate detailed cost estimates for civil engineering construction work.
- Quantify project costs for materials, labour, equipment and subcontractor bids; negotiate costs and track bid status through to selection.
- Develop and maintain strong client relationships—both existing and prospective—to support business development and meet growth targets.
- Lead bid review meetings and present cost estimates to management and clients, answering questions and providing clarifications.
- Use estimating software, historical data and cost databases to build accurate cost models and pricing databases.
- Monitor industry trends (material prices, labour rates, equipment rates) and integrate that insight to keep estimates current and competitive.
- Maintain accurate records of estimates, proposals and related documentation; participate in project close out review meetings.
- Collaborate with architects, engineers, subcontractors and suppliers to gather essential data for bids; understand project specific minority / inclusion goals when applicable.
- Mentor junior estimators or interns; support their development and guide them in estimate assembly and cost modeling.
- Communicate clearly and proactively with internal teams and field operations to ensure job progress aligns with bid assumptions; adapt to changes in scope, technology or methodology.
Must Haves as the Senior Estimator :
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline (strong preference).Proven experience as an estimator in civil engineering or heavy construction industry.Deep knowledge of construction methods, materials, equipment and cost structures.Proficiency in estimating software / tools such as Bluebeam, HCSS, CostX (or equivalent).Excellent analytical, mathematical and interpretative skills—able to read complex technical drawings and documents.Strong communication and negotiation skills—comfortable interacting with clients, vendors, subcontractors and internal teams.Ability to handle multiple projects / deadlines concurrently, prioritise effectively and work under tight timeframes.Demonstrated ability to work well in team settings and collaborate closely with operations, engineering and business development teams.Nice to Haves as the Senior Estimator :
Experience with project management or scheduling software.Experience researching local jurisdiction requirements (permits, taxes, etc.).Experience generating change order estimates and conducting estimator to project manager handoff meetings.Familiarity with heavy construction equipment capabilities and crew compositions (especially for underground or surface heavy civil work).Proven track record of leveraging emerging technologies, market trends or process innovations to drive efficiency or improve estimating accuracy.Our Client Offers :
A strategic role with meaningful business impact and leadership opportunities.A collaborative, forward thinking culture where your expertise will be valued and your ideas heard.Competitive compensation and benefits package aligned with industry standards (to be discussed).Opportunity to work on diverse, challenging civil construction projects and build deep expertise in heavy infrastructure.Mentorship environment and career growth path for those who demonstrate initiative and results.Trueline and its clients are unabashed equal opportunity employers committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome smart and ambitious applicants and recruit, refer, hire, place, and promote without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.