Field Mechanical Estimator

Field Mechanical Estimator

M.J. Nester is seeking a detail-oriented and field-experienced Field Mechanical Estimator to take ownership of estimating for industrial and commercial mechanical work. This role focuses on field-validated estimating for mechanical installations, piping, equipment setting, rigging, structural supports, fabrication-to-field coordination, facility upgrades, maintenance work, and outage or shutdown support.

The estimator will develop accurate, competitive, and profitable bids by translating technical documents, site conditions, production assumptions, supplier and subcontractor coverage, schedule constraints, safety requirements, permit assumptions, temporary-works needs, and cost history into a clear written basis of estimate. The role remains focused on estimating, scope validation, preconstruction decision support, project handoff, and cost feedback rather than day-to-day project execution.

This role assesses time, money, materials, labor, equipment, subcontractor requirements, and risk for a documented scope at a specific location and point in time. The estimator reads technical documents, collaborates with engineers, clients, contractors, and internal leaders, and maintains records of estimated and actual costs so estimates support project feasibility, alternatives analysis, control, and funding decisions.

Organizational Context / Reporting:

• Reports to the Managing Partner-Operations within a preconstruction-focused estimating function.
• Operates within a hub-and-spoke model: one estimating leader responsible for shared standards, review gates, and historical cost data, with discipline-aware estimators aligned to major service lines.
• Maintains formal working ties with business development, operations, project management, shop and fabrication leadership, safety, procurement, and finance.
• Supports an estimating structure that stays closely connected to preconstruction and operations leadership while providing responsive input to sales and client-facing pursuits.

Work Environment / Field Structure:

• Primary work performed through a mix of office-based estimating, site walks, and customer-site scope validation.
• Frequent travel to customer sites required; travel expectations vary by bid workload and field investigation needs.
• Field visits, job walks, and pre-bid reviews required for scope verification, logistics planning, access review, and constructability input.
• Collaborative environment with strong support from operations, field leadership, shop and fabrication teams, safety, procurement, and finance.

Job Responsibilities:

Estimating, Scope & Basis of Estimate:

• Lead full-scope estimating efforts for assigned industrial and commercial mechanical projects, including piping, process mechanical systems, equipment setting, rigging, structural supports, fabrication, maintenance work, and facility upgrades.
• Own scope mapping, quantity logic, production assumptions, quote coverage, temporary-works allowances, stated safety and permit assumptions, explicit exclusions, clarifications, and the written basis of estimate.
• Review drawings, specifications, addenda, P&IDs, piping plans, isometrics, spool drawings, equipment specifications, rigging information, structural details, shop/fabrication requirements, and contract documents to fully define project scope.
• Perform complete material, labor, equipment, and subcontractor takeoffs; determine manpower, crew mix, productivity assumptions, crane and lift needs, tooling, trucking, staging, and pricing strategy.
• Perform system analysis of mechanical systems, piping, equipment setting, rigging requirements, access constraints, tie-ins, sequencing, logistics, constructability, and field execution requirements.
• Conduct site walks and field measurements to validate scope, site conditions, access, existing utilities, safety constraints, and practical installation assumptions.
• Collaborate with engineers, clients, contractors, project managers, field leadership, and business-line leadership to clarify technical requirements, commercial intent, and execution assumptions.
• Develop accurate and competitive estimates using historical data, current market pricing,…