Job Description

Construction Estimator

Etzel Engineer and Build, Inc.

Location: Saxonburg, PA / Greater Pittsburgh Area

Compensation: Competitive base salary, based on experience, plus performance-based incentive program

Estimate Complex Projects from Concept Through Buyout

Etzel Engineer and Build, Inc. is seeking an experienced Construction Estimator with a background in design-build, mission-critical, data center, healthcare, and commercial construction.

This role will be responsible for developing accurate estimates throughout the full preconstruction process, from early conceptual budgeting and design development through hard bid and subcontractor buyout. The Estimator will work closely with project managers, design teams, subcontractors, vendors, and clients to develop competitive budgets, identify project risks, and keep projects aligned with cost expectations as designs evolve.

Etzel is a growing construction firm with an established reputation in the High Reliability and Mission Critical markets, with a strong emphasis on challenging projects and long-term client relationships.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare complete and accurate conceptual, schematic, design-development, and hard-bid estimates across all CSI divisions for design-build projects.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs from drawings, specifications, and models for civil, structural, architectural, and MEP scopes.
• Develop and maintain cost models, ROM budgets, and capacity reconciliations as projects progress through each phase of design.
• Solicit, level, and analyze subcontractor and vendor bids to ensure complete scope coverage and competitive pricing.
• Prepare bid packages, scope sheets, and trade-specific scopes of work for subcontractors and suppliers.
• Lead the design-build estimating process and work with design teams to ensure projects remain aligned with established budgets.
• Identify constructability issues, value-engineering opportunities, potential risks, and cost-saving alternatives.
• Communicate estimating findings and recommendations to project and design teams.
• Build and maintain unit-cost and historical-cost databases to support accurate and efficient budgeting.
• Monitor construction materials, processes, market pricing, and labor trends.
• Support the subcontractor buyout process by preparing scope comparisons and assisting with final subcontract negotiations.
• Participate in bid strategy, risk analysis, and proposal development for new project opportunities.
• Support business development efforts by producing competitive budgets and proposals that help win new work.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of commercial construction estimating experience.
• Experience estimating design-build construction projects through multiple stages of design.
• Mission-critical, data center, high-reliability, healthcare, or technically complex construction experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of MEP systems and MEP estimating, particularly for data center or mission-critical environments.
• Experience preparing conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, quantity takeoffs, and hard bids.
• Ability to solicit, analyze, and level subcontractor and vendor proposals.
• Strong understanding of construction materials, methods, costs, and trade scopes.
• Familiarity with preparing estimates in CSI format.
• Ability to identify constructability issues, project risks, and value-engineering opportunities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex estimates and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to confidently interact with clients, designers, subcontractors, vendors, and internal project teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word, Bluebeam or Adobe Acrobat, and on-screen takeoff software.
• Experience with Sage 100 is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

Etzel offers a competitive compensation package based on experience and project background, including:

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based incentive/bonus program
• Medical benefits
• 401(k)
• Opportunities for professional growth and increased responsibility
• Opportunity to work on complex mission-critical, data center, high-reliability, and design-build projects

Why Etzel Engineer and Build?

At Etzel, Estimators play an important role throughout the entire preconstruction process, from early conceptual budgeting through final bid and subcontractor buyout.

You’ll have the opportunity to work on technically challenging projects, collaborate directly with design and project teams, and help shape project decisions through accurate estimating, value engineering, and cost analysis.

If you have a strong commercial construction estimating background and want to work on complex mission-critical and data center projects, we want to hear from you.