Lead Estimator

Digco Utility Construction LP•Houston, TX

About The Position

North Houston Pole Line (NHPL), a Quanta Services company, is seeking a Lead Estimator to develop accurate and competitive bids for high-voltage transmission line and substation construction projects. The role manages the estimating process from initial bid review through proposal submission, including quantity takeoffs, labor and equipment production assumptions, subcontractor and material pricing, and proposal preparation. The Lead Estimator works closely with operations, project management, and leadership to develop construction approaches and pricing that reflect how NHPL executes work in the field. The ideal candidate understands utility construction, independently manages bid deadlines, and provides estimates that leadership can confidently approve and project teams can execute.

Requirements

Five or more years of experience estimating high-voltage transmission line construction within the 69 kV to 765 kV range.
Experience developing quantity takeoffs from transmission plan and profile drawings, structure lists, and applicable substation plans and one-line drawings.
Demonstrated ability to develop crew-based labor and equipment estimates using construction production rates.
Experience pricing lump-sum, unit-price, and time and materials work, including EPC and design-build proposals.
Ability to interpret bid documents, technical specifications, and contract terms and identify scope gaps, qualifications, and project risks.
Experience evaluating subcontractor and material supplier quotes and preparing complete proposals for leadership review.
Working knowledge of Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project to support bid schedules and construction sequencing assumptions.
Practical understanding of field construction, including access constraints, outage requirements, construction sequencing, and wire-pulling operations.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to independently manage competing deadlines, resolve scope questions early, and explain the assumptions supporting an estimate.

Nice To Haves

Substation estimating experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Familiarity with AEP, CenterPoint Energy, Entergy, LCRA, or CPS Energy bid processes and specifications.
Experience using HCSS HeavyBid, B2W, or similar estimating software, along with advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
Field experience as a lineman, foreman, or field engineer on transmission or substation projects.

Responsibilities

Manage estimates from bid kickoff through proposal submission for high-voltage transmission line and substation projects, including lump-sum, unit-price, time and materials, EPC, and design-build opportunities.
Review bid documents, drawings, specifications, and contract terms to define scope, develop quantity takeoffs, and identify scope gaps, exclusions, clarifications, and commercial risks.
Build crew-based labor and equipment estimates using production rates that account for site access, construction sequencing, outage windows, wire pulls, and other project conditions.
Solicit, evaluate, and compare subcontractor and supplier quotes to confirm scope coverage, resolve discrepancies, and incorporate competitive pricing.
Collaborate with operations and project management to establish construction methods, resource requirements, and bid schedules using Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project.
Assemble complete proposal packages, present estimates and supporting assumptions to leadership for approval, and communicate the estimate basis to project teams during turnover.
Develop and maintain pricing libraries, production-rate history, and estimating records, incorporating feedback from completed projects to improve future bids.