Senior Cost Estimator

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Estimator plays a central role within the Planning and Cost Engineering (PACE) team by developing precise, fast-paced, and competitive cost estimates for custom exterior and interior static signage, structural metal fabrications, and digital visual communication projects.

Reporting directly to the VP of Operations, this role is responsible for analyzing complex architectural drawings, shop blueprints, and bid specifications to establish comprehensive material takeoffs (BOM), labor projections (BOL), equipment needs, vendor outsourcing, freight, and field installation costs.

This position acts as a crucial link across Sales, Concept Design, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and field installation teams. Operating in a high-volume environment handling 120–150 estimate requests monthly across the team, the Estimator ensures margin integrity and pricing accuracy on projects ranging from $700 change orders to $4M+ multi-site national programs.

The ideal candidate brings a strong technical grasp of sign manufacturing, a winning attitude toward supporting Sales, and a passion for building a long-term career in cost engineering.

• Detailed Cost Estimating & Takeoffs: Review architectural drawings, scope documents, surveys, and bid specs to perform detailed material and labor quantity takeoffs (BOM/BOL) using Excel templates and Bluebeam.
• Scope Risk & Constructability Evaluation: Evaluate fabricated metals (aluminum/steel), plastics, acrylics, specialty finishes, LED illumination, structural components, electrical requirements, and field installation constraints to identify scope gaps and margin risks.
• High-Pace Bid Management: Timely execute accurate estimates across a wide volume of bids (from small change orders to multi-million-dollar national rollout programs) while adhering to strict customer and GC RFI/bid deadlines.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & PACE Huddles: Active participation in tri-weekly morning PACE huddles (Mon/Wed/Fri) with technical design, engineering, supply chain, and operations to align on project execution strategy before bids go out.
• Vendor & Subcontractor Coordination: Work closely with Supply Chain and external vendors to secure current raw material pricing, evaluate make-versus-buy options, and price specialized field labor, crane/lift rentals, permitting, and freight.
• Sales & Margin Support: Partner positively with Sales Reps and Account Managers to help win work, providing pricing updates for design revisions, value engineering options, and scope changes without being overly rigid.
• Continuous Improvement & Historical Variance: Conduct post-award cost reviews comparing estimated budgets against actual project performance to refine cost models, standard hour databases, and labor rate assumptions.

• 3–5+ years of hands-on estimating or cost engineering experience within custom architectural signage, structural metal fabrication, electrical signs, or custom manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated ability to read and accurately interpret architectural drawings, shop blueprints, structural specs, site surveys, and construction bid documents.
• Technical understanding of sign manufacturing processes (routing, welding, forming, painting, wiring, LED illumination) and field installation dynamics (permitting, cranes, electrical hookups, field labor).
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (for model building and templated estimating workflows) and Bluebeam (for scaling drawings).
• Proven track record of managing multiple bid deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• High attention to detail, strong math/analytical skills, and high documentation standards.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills with a collaborative, winning attitude.
• Alignment with Gable’s 5 Core Values.

• Educational background or degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Industrial) or Construction Management.
• Estimating experience across multi-scope projects combining static signage, digital displays, AV integration, and architectural graphics.
• Experience working in small-to-midsize custom electrical sign manufacturing companies…