Senior Estimator
About this role
Senior Estimator
Department: Estimating
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Compensation: $125,000 - $180,000 / year
Description
The Senior Estimator leads the full budget lifecycle for complex projects, ensuring accurate and competitive estimates from conceptual design through bid. This role drives estimating strategy, oversees cost development and risk management, and coordinates client budget presentations and design-phase cost guidance. The Senior Estimator partners closely with Preconstruction, Operations, and trade partners to influence project outcomes, support successful project delivery, and continuously improve estimating practices.
Key Responsibilities
Budget Lifecycle Ownership
- Lead and control the full budget lifecycle (conceptual through bid), developing accurate estimates using historical data, market intelligence, and subcontractor input.
- Prepare and present budgets and executive summaries to clients, clearly communicating cost drivers, risks, and changes.
- Ensure alignment between estimate intent, project buyout, and historical cost feedback.
Scoping, Bid Analysis & Change Management
- Oversee trade scoping and subcontractor bid analysis, ensuring full scope coverage, pricing accuracy, and risk alignment.
- Apply and validate allowances, qualifications, exclusions, plugs, and contingency to manage risk and support estimate strategy.
- Track and explain cost variances between estimate phases and support value engineering development.
- Influence bid strategy through scope definition, pricing approach, and subcontractor selection.
Subcontractor Coverage
- Ensure strong, strategic subcontractor coverage through proactive planning, relationship management, and targeted engagement.
- Identify and address coverage gaps early while leveraging key trade, supplier, and manufacturer relationships to enhance competitiveness and reduce risk.
Partnering with Preconstruction & Operations
- Partner with Preconstruction and Operations to develop and execute winning pursuit strategies.
- Engage with clients and design teams, providing real‑time cost input and influencing design decisions.
- Lead project handoff and post‑award reviews to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
Staff Development
- Mentor and develop Estimators and Estimating Engineers, improving technical capabilities and team consistency.
- Provide feedback, coaching, and support performance development.
- Manage team workload and staff responsibilities to optimize performance.
Department Initiatives
- Lead and support initiatives that improve estimating processes, tools, and efficiency.
- Drive adoption of new practices and contribute to continuous improvement across the department.
- Ensure alignment between SPG and department standards, practices, and objectives.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Advanced expertise in construction estimating, cost modeling, and preconstruction processes.
- Advanced understanding of conceptual and detailed estimating, cost drivers, and risk management strategies.
- Ability to develop budgets with incomplete information and apply appropriate assumptions and risk strategies.
- Strong proficiency in cost analysis, subcontractor bid evaluation, and scope development.
- Proficiency in Excel, Bluebeam, PlanGrid/ProCore (or equivalent Electronic Document Viewer), OST (or equivalent Quantity Take-off Software)
Business and Management
- Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines.
- Basic understanding of business operations and workflows.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate with diverse teams.
- Professional demeanor and customer service orientation.
Personal
- Detail-oriented and self-motivated.
- High degree of integrity and accountability.
- Willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic environment.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field preferred.
- 8+ years of experience in construction estimating or preconstruction with a commercial general contractor.
- Proven experience leading budgets, client presentations, and project pursuits.
- Strong knowledge of multiple project types, delivery methods, and construction systems.
- Proficiency in Excel, Bluebeam, PlanGrid/ProCore (or equivalent Electronic Document Viewer), OST (or equivalent Quantity Take-off Software)
Benefits
- 100% ESOP
- Competitive Pay
- Bonus Program
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
- PTO/Sick
- 100% Life Insurance
- 401(K) with Match
- Student Debt Program
Physical Demands:
Performance of the required duties will require physical ability to climb permanent and temporary stairs, passenger use of construction personnel hoists, ability to climb ladders and negotiate work areas under construction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Performing this job requires use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls, sit, talk and hear, stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Performance of the required duties will require physical ability to climb permanent and temporary stairs, passenger use of construction personnel hoists, ability to climb ladders and negotiate work areas under construction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Performing this job requires use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls, sit, talk and hear, stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works on-site at the construction work site where the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, outside weather conditions and risk of electrical shock. The noise in these work environments is usually moderate to very loud.
These are considered the core responsibilities of the position. Employees are encouraged to reach beyond their current responsibilities in an effort to foster professional growth, but only as they are able to remain accountable for their core responsibilities.
Equal Employment:
W.E. O’Neil is committed to an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and will make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability or veteran status.
Company at a glance
"WE value people. WE build dreams." -- since 1925! 100% employee-owned general contractor. We build nationally, with locations in AZ, CA, CO, IL, TN, and TX.
W.E. O'Neil Construction has seen steady growth since its founding in 1925 in Chicago by the O'Neil family. Now 100% employee-owned (ESOP), we embrace people as our number one asset.
Our award-winning teams are recognized as industry leaders. Our longevity can be attributed to our excellent staff of professionals, our integrity, our commitment to customer satisfaction, and our ability to embrace technology. Our combination of the financial strength of a large national contractor and the responsiveness of a small company brings the best of both worlds to our clients.
Our experience covers virtually every commercial market sector using a broad range of project delivery methods including design-build, design assist, construction management at risk and lump sum bid.
Founded1925
Team Size501-1,000 employees
WorkspaceOn-site
IndustryConstruction
Location
El Segundo, California, United States
Websiteweoneil.com
LinkedInLinkedIn
Top Benefits
- 100% ESOP
- Competitive Pay
- Bonus Program
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Sick Leave
- 100% Life Insurance
- 401(k) with Match
- Student Debt Program
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