Electrical Estimator – Industrial Projects

Location:

Crown Mines, Johannesburg

Employment Type:

Permanent

Salary: R25,000 - R30,000 per month

Department:
Projects

Travel:
Site assessments and project visits required

An established engineering company is seeking an experienced Electrical Estimator to join its Projects team in Johannesburg.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the costing and estimation of electrical scopes for industrial projects, with a particular focus on industrial refrigeration projects and plants
.

This is a technically specialised estimating position requiring a strong understanding of industrial electrical installations, including compressor drives and starters, motor control centres (MCCs), control panels, PLC/SCADA systems, field instrumentation, hazardous-area equipment, gas detection systems and heating systems
.

• Take full ownership of the costing and estimation of electrical scopes from initial enquiry through to final tender price.
• Analyse electrical drawings, single-line diagrams, schedules and technical specifications.
• Conduct detailed quantity take-offs for electrical equipment, cabling, containment, lighting, earthing and terminations.
• Build up material, labour/man-hour, plant, subcontractor and preliminary costs.
• Obtain and compare quotations from electrical suppliers, panel builders and subcontractors.
• Incorporate appropriate contingencies and allowances for technical, commercial, site and environmental risks.

• Estimate complete electrical scopes for industrial refrigeration projects and plants.
• Cost compressor motor starting systems including VSDs, soft starters, star-delta and DOL starters.
• Estimate MCCs, distribution boards, PLC/SCADA control panels and field instrumentation.
• Price plant-room and cold-store electrical requirements.
• Allow for hazardous-area (Ex) equipment used in ammonia plant rooms.
• Cost refrigerant gas detection and emergency ventilation interlocks.
• Estimate low-temperature and high-IP lighting.
• Price underfloor/frost-heave heating, door and drain-line trace heating and evaporator/condenser fan circuits.
• Verify sizing of major electrical items including motors, cables, protection, power-factor correction and supply capacity in consultation with engineering.
• Clearly define interfaces between electrical, refrigeration/mechanical, civil and client scopes.

• Prepare electrical sections of tender submissions.
• Compile priced Bills of Quantities (BOQs) and schedules of rates.
• Prepare technical clarifications, qualifications, inclusions and exclusions.
• Review tender specifications and clarify requirements with relevant stakeholders.
• Attend pre-tender meetings and conduct site surveys.
• Assess existing plants for extensions and upgrades.
• Consolidate electrical pricing with mechanical/refrigeration estimates to establish the overall project price.
• Hand awarded projects over to the project team with a clearly defined electrical cost baseline.

• Engage with clients to understand technical and project requirements during the tender phase.
• Work closely with project managers, engineers and procurement teams.
• Maintain relationships with electrical suppliers, panel builders and subcontractors.
• Negotiate and obtain competitive pricing and appropriate lead times.

• Establish the electrical cost baseline for awarded projects.
• Assist project managers in tracking actual costs against estimates.
• Price electrical variations and change orders during project execution.
• Review supplier and subcontractor performance.
• Prepare project cost reports, profitability analyses and variance reports.
• Conduct post-project reviews comparing actual costs and man-hours against original estimates.
• Use project outcomes to continuously improve future estimating accuracy.

• National Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering – Heavy Current or a related field; OR
• Trade-Tested Electrician qualification supported by relevant electrical estimating experience.

Registration as an Installation Electrician, Master Installation Electrician or with ECSA will be advantageous.

Certification in Cost Estimation or Project Management will also be advantageous.

• Minimum 5 years' experience in electrical estimating within an engineering, construction or industrial contracting environment.
• Proven experience estimating the full electrical scope of industrial projects.
• Strong…