Senior Pre-Construction Estimator

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Full Time Charlotte, NC, US

Climate Systems is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Estimator to lead estimating and preconstruction for healthcare and industrial HVAC projects, with a strong emphasis on work contracted directly with facility owners.

This position combines technical estimating expertise with customer relationship skills. The Senior Estimator will work with Climate Systems account managers to meet with owners, facility managers, engineers, and capital project teams to understand their needs, evaluate existing systems, develop practical solutions, and present clear, complete proposals.

The ideal candidate can independently manage opportunities from initial site assessment through proposal presentation, scope negotiations, and turnover to operations.

• Serve as a primary estimating and preconstruction contact for healthcare and industrial owners.
• Work with Climate Systems account managers to assist building relationships with facility directors, plant managers, engineering teams, purchasing departments, and other decision-makers.
• Conduct discovery meetings and site visits to identify operational needs, project objectives, budget constraints, and scheduling requirements.
• Help account managers along with owners define project scope when complete drawings or specifications are unavailable.
• Present budgets, proposals, alternatives, and recommendations in language that supports informed decisions.
• Follow up on proposals, resolve scope questions, and support contract negotiations.

• Prepare detailed estimates for HVAC renovations, equipment replacements, system upgrades, and mechanical infrastructure projects.
• Perform takeoffs and develop labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and general condition costs.
• Evaluate existing conditions, access limitations, demolition requirements, rigging, temporary systems, and installation sequencing.
• Solicit and evaluate vendor and subcontractor quotations for scope completeness and pricing.
• Develop conceptual budgets from site observations, owner discussions, narratives, and preliminary engineering.
• Identify scope gaps, project risks, allowances, exclusions, and contingencies.
• Develop value engineering options that address cost, reliability, maintainability, and operating requirements.
• Coordinate scope interfaces with controls, electrical, plumbing, insulation, testing and balancing, and commissioning.
• Estimate projects in hospitals, medical offices, outpatient facilities, laboratories, and other healthcare environments.
• Account for occupied spaces, infection prevention measures, restricted access, noise limitations, and uninterrupted facility operations.
• Coordinate with owner teams to understand ventilation, pressure relationships, filtration, redundancy, and shutdown requirements.
• Include project phasing, temporary conditioning, after-hours work, and facility-specific requirements in estimates and proposals.
• Estimate projects in manufacturing plants, warehouses, production facilities, and other industrial environments.
• Evaluate HVAC, process cooling, ventilation, exhaust, makeup air, and supporting mechanical systems.
• Understand how installation activities and system shutdowns affect production.
• Develop pricing and execution assumptions that address plant access, safety requirements, equipment coordination, and shutdown windows.

• Prepare professional proposals with clear scope, pricing, alternates, assumptions, exclusions, and schedule considerations.
• Review proposed execution plans with operations before finalizing pricing.
• Maintain organized estimate files and document owner commitments and scope changes.
• Conduct thorough project turnover meetings following award.
• Review completed project costs and apply lessons learned to future estimates.
• Support and mentor other estimating team members.

• At least 10 years of commercial or industrial mechanical estimating experience, including substantial experience with healthcare or industrial facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to estimate HVAC renovations, equipment replacements, and projects within operating facilities.
• Experience developing and presenting proposals directly to facility owners.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, construction…