Senior Mechanical Estimator - Design​/Build, Preconstruction & Sales Enablement

Senior Mechanical Estimator - Design/Build, Preconstruction & Sales Enablement

Company: Premi Star

As a senior, highly autonomous member of the Lippert Mechanical team, the HVAC Senior Mechanical Estimator leads the full estimating lifecycle for commercial, industrial, and institutional HVAC projects—including service, repairs, retrofits, replacements, maintenance agreements, and design/build opportunities. This role combines advanced technical estimating expertise with independent opportunity generation, strategic bid selection, and negotiation authority. The Senior Estimator proactively builds market relationships, sets pricing strategy, evaluates project risk, and provides executive‑level technical guidance to sales and operations.

Partnering with clients, field technicians, sales, and project management, the Senior Estimator delivers value‑driven solutions and measurable margin improvement, consistently upholding Lippert’s mission of exceeding customer expectations.

• Independently prepare and approve detailed cost estimates for HVAC service work, repairs, retrofits, replacements, maintenance contracts, and design/build projects.
• Lead comprehensive reviews of service requests, site assessments, blueprints, technical documents, and technician feedback to develop highly accurate labor and material estimates.
• Own analysis of project specifications and drawings; attend and lead pre‑bid meetings to determine scope, risk profile, and required resources.
• Direct vendor and subcontractor sourcing and pricing strategies; negotiate terms to ensure cost‑effective and timely delivery aligned with margin targets.
• Establish and maintain accurate records of estimates, job costing data, benchmarking, and pricing trends to inform future quotations and strategy.
• Ensure all estimates comply with Lippert standards, client specifications, and applicable codes; implement estimating QA/QC processes.
• Identify and champion value engineering opportunities; present cost‑saving alternatives with lifecycle and ROI analysis.
• Support commissioning and warranty closeout with technical documentation and performance analytics; recommend continuous improvements to standards.
• Proactively identify, qualify, and secure new project opportunities through networking, client outreach, and market research—owning a personal pipeline and conversion targets.
• Collaborate with sales leadership to develop market‑entry strategies, pursuit plans, and key account growth roadmaps.
• Build and sustain executive‑level relationships with clients, general contractors, and industry partners to expand Lippert’s market presence.
• Lead bid strategy and presentation efforts; make recommendations on go/no‑go decisions based on risk, capacity, and margin objectives.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for the sales team, driving proposal development, solutioning, and client presentations.
• Translate complex technical options into clear value propositions, differentiators, and pricing strategies.
• Ensure proposals are accurate, compelling, and aligned to client priorities; develop standard scopes, alternates, and clarifications to reduce risk.
• Coordinate with project managers and field teams to ensure seamless project handoff, prefabrication planning, and execution alignment with estimate assumptions.
• Lead negotiation of contract scope, terms, change orders, and buy‑out of projects; set procurement strategy and award recommendations.
• Support project management with pricing extra work items and change orders; oversee major equipment procurement alignment with budgets and schedules.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, HVAC Technology, Construction Management, or related field (Associate degree with exceptional experience considered).
• 5+ years of HVAC estimating experience for commercial/industrial service and projects; 10+ years preferred for complex design/build leadership.
• Proven design/build leadership with ability to develop creative, code‑compliant solutions and alternatives.
• Advanced understanding of commercial HVAC systems, components, controls, and service operations, including lifecycle cost analysis.
• Track…