Project Estimator / Project Controls Manager

General Matter•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

General Matter is enriching uranium in America. Our mission is to restore our country’s ability to make nuclear fuel. Our fuel will help power AI, manufacturing, and other critical industries. It will power our next generation of reactors. Ultimately, it will power our national ambitions. We were incubated by Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and we are backed by top tier investors. Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production. We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability and transparency. The Project Estimator is a vital strategic role responsible for the development of comprehensive Capital Expenditure (CapEx) estimates and initial financial modeling. This position focuses on the precise quantification of costs required for materials, labor, equipment, and infrastructure for large-scale industrial projects. Operating at the intersection of finance and engineering, the Project Estimator deconstructs complex technical scopes into granular cost structures during the conceptual and design phases. This role provides the foundational data necessary for investment approval, resource allocation, and project feasibility assessments, directly influencing the company's ability to scale efficiently.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or construction management or a related technical field. Equivalent professional experience in a high-density industrial environment may be considered.
Minimum of 3–5 years of direct experience in CapEx or construction estimating.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is a core requirement for this role.
A strong interest in and the ability to comprehend material processing equipment, manufacturing methodologies, and industrial engineering workflows.
Deep knowledge of construction processes, labor rates, and sophisticated cost estimation methodologies (e.g., bottom-up, parametric, or analog estimation).
Proven experience with cost-risk analysis and a high level of comfort performing cost variance analysis.
Ability to translate complex engineering data into clear financial narratives for project managers and stakeholders.
A highly motivated self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and possesses the grit to manage multiple high-priority estimates simultaneously.
Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Nice To Haves

Experience in large-scale petro-chem, technology infrastructure, or complex manufacturing projects.

Responsibilities

Formulate detailed and accurate cost estimates for projects, encompassing all primary capital drivers including materials, specialized labor, industrial equipment, and associated expenses.
Partner with design engineers at the project’s inception to gather requirements and provide cost feedback that shapes the initial design-to-cost strategy.
Analyze and interpret project drawings, engineering plans, and technical specifications to create precise material take-offs and cost loadings aligned with project milestones.
Prepare comprehensive cost breakdowns and assess pricing and procurement strategies, ensuring they align with both industry standards and project-specific constraints.
Evaluate current market rates and historical data to provide realistic, competitive cost projections that account for volatility in the industrial and technology sectors.
Maintain and continuously update a proprietary database of historical costs, material pricing, and labor rates to serve as a reference for future scalable project estimates.
Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to validate vendor quotes and ensure the accuracy of pricing for long-lead equipment and specialized materials.
Conduct formal cost-risk analysis to identify potential variances and propose appropriate contingencies to protect the project's capital integrity.
Monitor ongoing project costs against initial estimates, providing data-driven insights on variances and recommending corrective adjustments to leadership.
Prepare and present formal project cost proposals, offering clear and detailed explanations of pricing assumptions, methodologies, and financial risks.