Underground Wet Utility Estimator in Austin

Job Description

The Utilities Estimator performs detailed estimates for wet utilities projects and manages the estimating process for the company’s wet utilities division. This role requires strategic thinking, technical skills, and the ability to prioritize workload. The estimator ensures the accuracy, competitiveness, and presentation of all utilities proposals prior to submission and evaluates bid opportunities, calculates project costs, maintains a healthy sales pipeline, and supports project handoff, startup, ongoing plan revisions, and cost management.

• Analyze plans, specifications, geotechnical reports, schedules, and other bid documents.
• Communicate with GCs to clarify assumptions and resolve issues.
• Request and secure information needed to produce accurate bids.
• Identify errors, omissions, ambiguities, and constructability issues; submit pre-bid RFIs as needed.
• Request and review supplier and specialty vendor quotes for accuracy and compliance.
• Assess scope location to ensure constructability and analyze cost implications.
• Conduct site walks and field investigations to analyze existing conditions.
• Analyze scopes, calculate durations for each phase, and produce accurate, detailed takeoffs and cost estimates.

• Ensure proposals are submitted on or before deadlines with all required bid documentation.
• Manage risk exposure by adding exclusions and clarifying scope inclusions, exclusions, qualifications, and assumptions.

• Review incoming bid invitations and use strategy and judgment to select opportunities.
• Maintain an organized estimating schedule and manage time efficiently.
• Collaborate with leadership on bid/no-bid decisions and client responses.
• Follow up on bids, gauge award likelihood, and record feedback in the sales pipeline.
• Analyze backlog and projected awards; communicate with project managers and superintendents on manpower availability.
• Coordinate with operations to balance workload and avoid over-commitment.

• Assist project managers with handoff and job startup.
• Monitor cost fluctuations and inform project managers to minimize overruns.

• Estimating Quality
  • Minimal quantity takeoff errors.
  • Minimal volume calculation errors (CY/CF).
  • Complete and timely bid submissions.
  • Minimal corrections and re‑work before bid submission.
  • High bid‑hit ratio through selective opportunity evaluation.
• Backlog & Resource Management
  • Accurate forecasting of project start dates.
  • Balanced backlog aligned with available manpower.
  • Minimal crew downtime due to insufficient awarded work.
  • Avoidance of over‑commitment and operational strain.
• RFI & Design Management
  • Proactive RFIs.
  • Minimal assumptions made at bid time.
• Systems and Process Improvement
  • Progress on standardizing and improving systems and processes.
  • Implementation of workflow and database improvements.

We are a homegrown, local Texas company that started with a plan that has now become our mission and purpose: to serve our clients and candidates alike. Our forged relationships have withstood many challenges because of hard work and our core values. A quote we live by: "If you hire people just because they can do a job, they'll work for your money.

But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they'll work for you with blood, sweat, and tears." — Simon Sinek