Preconstruction Engineer

Eastern Commercial is the full-service commercial general contracting division of Eastern Companies. Building on decades of experience in building envelope construction, we deliver comprehensive construction solutions across the education, healthcare, hospitality, multifamily, commercial, and institutional sectors.

Our team is committed to excellence in every phase of construction, combining technical expertise, collaboration, and accountability to deliver high-quality projects safely, on time, and within budget. With offices in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, Eastern Commercial serves clients throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, helping transform visions into lasting structures.

At Eastern Commercial, you'll be part of a growing organization built on integrity, accountability, and quality craftsmanship. We empower our team members to take ownership, collaborate with experienced professionals, and contribute to projects that shape communities across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. If you're looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, grow your career, and be part of a team committed to excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Preconstruction Engineer to support our preconstruction and estimating efforts across a diverse portfolio of commercial, institutional, and government projects. This role plays a critical part in developing accurate cost estimates, evaluating project feasibility, and supporting design and budgeting decisions early in the project lifecycle.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge with a collaborative mindset and has experience in quantity takeoffs, cost analysis, and scope development. Exposure to unit price estimating and Job Order Contracting (JOC) platforms is valued.

• Assist in the preparation of detailed construction cost estimates, including labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor pricing.
• Perform accurate quantity takeoffs using drawings, specifications, and digital tools.
• Support development of conceptual, schematic, and GMP-level budgets throughout project phases.
• Help maintain organized and well-documented cost breakdowns for internal and external use.
• Apply value engineering concepts and cost-saving strategies where appropriate.

• Review architectural and engineering drawings, specifications, and proposals to understand project scope and requirements.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, and potential risk areas.
• Coordinate with the design team to evaluate materials, systems, and construction approaches.
• Assist in constructability reviews and early-stage design coordination efforts.
• Work closely with project managers, architects, engineers, and subcontractors to clarify project scope, construction methods, and pricing assumptions.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams to ensure accurate handoff of awarded estimates for project execution.
• Assist in developing bid strategies and coordinating bid submissions with estimating and operations leadership.

• Usegeneralestimating software (e.g.,Plan Swift,Building Connected,Bluebeam,Pro Est, or similar) and spreadsheets to develop, document, and present cost data.
• Use Job Order Contracting estimating software (e.g.,RSMeans,eGordian,Simple Bid, or similar systems) to create unit price proposals.
• Leverage databases and digital tools to streamline quantity takeoffs and pricing accuracy.
• Maintain digital archives of past estimates for reference and benchmarking.

• Attend and contribute to pre-bid meetings, site walkthroughs, and RFI discussions as required.
• Coordinate subcontractor and supplier solicitations, gather pricing, and perform bid-leveling comparisons.
• Participate in post-bid reviews and support final negotiations, clarifications, or scope adjustments.

• Monitor industry cost trends, labor rates, and commodity pricing to ensure estimates reflect current market conditions.
• Track subcontractor and supplier performance and pricing history to inform bid strategies.
• Maintain and update internal cost databases for ongoing accuracy and reliability.

• 1-5years of experience as a construction estimator or in a related preconstruction role.
• Proficiency in reading construction drawings, specifications, and technical documents.
• Strong knowledge of estimating principles, methods, and best practices.
• Experience with…