Senior Estimator – Heavy Civil Infrastructure

Location: San Diego County, Southern California |
Schedule: Full-time, on-site |
Compensation: $140,000 – $190,000+ base salary, depending on experience

An established heavy civil construction firm is seeking a Senior Estimator to lead estimating and bid preparation for major heavy civil, highway, roadway, grading, paving, structural concrete, and airport infrastructure projects throughout Southern California. This role is central to developing competitive estimates, evaluating project risk, and shaping construction strategy for some of the region's most significant transportation and infrastructure projects.

• Lead preparation of detailed estimates and competitive bids for large-scale heavy civil infrastructure projects
• Review and interpret Caltrans Standard Specifications, Standard Plans, Special Provisions, project drawings, and contract documents
• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and develop pricing for labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors, and indirect costs
• Estimate major scopes including mass excavation and earthwork, grading and subgrade preparation, asphalt paving, structural concrete, bridges and civil structures, retaining walls, underground utilities, drainage and stormwater systems, roadway improvements, and traffic control
• Develop crew-based production rates for high-production grading, excavation, paving, and civil operations
• Analyze construction sequencing, equipment requirements, site logistics, and means and methods when developing estimates
• Review geotechnical information, earthwork quantities, haul requirements, and material balances
• Solicit and evaluate subcontractor and supplier proposals to ensure complete scope coverage and competitive pricing
• Coordinate with DBE/UDBE subcontractors and vendors to meet applicable public works participation requirements
• Identify bid risks, opportunities, constructability concerns, and value engineering alternatives
• Develop preliminary schedules and coordinate estimating assumptions with Primavera P6 schedules when required
• Maintain historical cost and production data to improve estimating accuracy
• Monitor changes in labor, equipment, fuel, asphalt, concrete, aggregate, and other material costs
• Participate in bid reviews and final pricing strategy with senior management
• Coordinate successful project handoffs with Project Managers, Superintendents, and operations teams
• Support change order pricing and project cost analysis as required

• 10+ years of heavy civil construction estimating experience
• Proven experience estimating Caltrans highway and California public works projects
• Strong knowledge of Caltrans specifications, plans, bid requirements, and construction standards
• Extensive understanding of heavy civil construction means and methods
• Strong knowledge of earthwork, grading, paving, structural concrete, underground utilities, and roadway construction
• Experience developing production-based estimates using labor and equipment crews
• Strong understanding of subcontractor bid leveling, scope coverage, and vendor pricing
• Ability to analyze complex plans, specifications, schedules, and contract requirements
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage multiple estimates while meeting strict public agency bid deadlines

• Estimating experience with Caltrans projects, heavy highway construction, interstate and freeway improvements, roadway reconstruction, mass grading and earthwork, asphalt paving, structural concrete, bridges and structures, retaining walls, underground utilities, drainage infrastructure, airport and airfield construction, runways and taxiways, public works infrastructure, and design-build/alternative delivery projects is…