Project Manager Civil

Title

Senior Estimator — Heavy Civil Construction

$175,000 annually

IRVINE

Full‑Time

InEight/Hard Dollar Estimating

Major Plus

We are a well‑established heavy civil contractor with a proven track record delivering complex infrastructure projects across California. We specialize in earthwork, grading, paving, highway construction, and structures work — building the roads, bridges, and public infrastructure that communities depend on. We are seeking a Senior Estimator who brings serious Hard-Dollar bidding experience and the technical instincts to win the right work at the right price.

As Senior Estimator, you will own the full bid cycle on large‑scale heavy civil and public works projects — from initial scope review through final bid submission. You will work directly with operations leadership, project managers, and field teams to produce accurate, defensible hard‑dollar estimates that reflect real conditions and give us a competitive edge. If you have Caltrans, highway, or bridge estimating experience, you will step into a role where that expertise is immediately valued.

Estimating & Bidding

• Develop comprehensive hard‑dollar cost estimates for heavy civil projects including excavation, grading, paving, drainage, underground utilities, and structural work.
• Build and manage complete bids end‑to‑end in InEight Estimate (formerly Hard Dollar), leveraging its cost library, production rate database, and bid management tools to produce clean, auditable bid packages.
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs from civil, structural, and traffic drawings — ensuring full scope capture and accurate unit pricing.
• Prepare lump sum, unit price, and design‑build estimates depending on project delivery method.

Caltrans & Public Works

• Apply working knowledge of Caltrans Standard Specifications, Standard Plans, and contract requirements when estimating state highway, freeway, and bridge projects.
• Navigates public agency bidding requirements including DBE documentation, prevailing wage compliance, and bid bond requirements.
• Interpret plan sheets, geotechnical reports, environmental documents, and special provisions to identify scope, risk, and opportunity.

Strategy & Collaboration

• Collaborate with project managers, field superintendents, and operations leadership to ensure estimates reflect real‑world execution strategies and crew productivity.
• Solicit, evaluate, and level subcontractor and supplier bids — vetting scope coverage, exclusions, and pricing to build a complete and competitive bid.
• Lead value engineering assessments to identify cost‑reduction opportunities and alternate construction methods without compromising project quality or schedule.
• Participate in bid review meetings and present estimate assumptions, risk areas, and markup recommendations to leadership.

Data & Records

• Maintain accurate bid records, historical cost data, and project files in InEight and Microsoft Excel.
• Conduct post‑bid analysis to capture lessons learned and continuously refine estimating benchmarks and production rates.
• Support project buyout and handoff to operations teams following contract award.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of estimating experience in heavy civil construction (earthwork, grading, paving, underground utilities, or structures).
• Hands‑on, daily proficiency with Hard Dollar Estimate— this is a non‑negotiable requirement.
• Demonstrated experience with hard dollar, lump sum, and unit price bidding on public works projects.
• Strong command of quantity takeoff methodologies and plan reading across civil, structural, and traffic drawings.
• Thorough understanding of construction means and methods, crew productivity, and equipment costs for heavy civil work.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for cost modeling, bid tabulations, and data analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present and defend estimates to leadership and owners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience estimating Caltrans highway, freeway, or bridge projects — including familiarity with Caltrans Standard…