Senior Cost Estimator

Urban Engineers•Columbia, MD

61d•$165,000 - $195,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Urban Engineers is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Estimator for its Construction Services Department (Estimating and Project Controls Team) in the Baltimore region. The successful candidate will initially support a major, complex rail infrastructure program and provide project controls expertise across Urban’s transportation portfolio. The role provides senior-level cost estimating, project controls, and project management support for complex heavy civil, rail, transit, and transportation infrastructure assignments, with additional scheduling and multidisciplinary team coordination responsibilities. The position involves hands-on development and review of construction cost estimates and CPM schedules, cost and schedule reconciliation, and collaboration with project teams, clients, and contractors. The successful candidate will work closely with the Project Manager and project controls team, and may progressively take on greater project leadership and client-management responsibilities as familiarity with the program, client, and team develops. The role requires working on-site in Baltimore at least three days per week, with additional in-person meetings or workshops as project needs require.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in project controls, construction cost estimating, scheduling, or related disciplines supporting complex heavy civil, rail, transit, or transportation infrastructure projects.
At least 5 years of experience in passenger rail or related transportation modes.
Experience coordinating multidisciplinary project teams and collaborating with cost estimating, scheduling, risk, and other project controls personnel.
Working knowledge of HCSS HeavyBid or comparable construction estimating software, including the ability to review estimates, understand estimate structure and development, and provide hands-on estimating support as needed.
Familiarity with Oracle Primavera P6 and CPM scheduling principles, including the ability to review and understand construction schedules and provide scheduling support as needed.
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work on-site in Baltimore, Maryland, at least three days per week and attend additional in-person meetings or workshops as project needs require.

Nice To Haves

Contractor-side construction experience or demonstrated knowledge of construction means and methods, production rates, crew development, estimating, and construction sequencing.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field (preferred).
Professional certifications in cost estimating, scheduling, project controls, construction management, or project management are desirable but not required.
Experience with Bluebeam software or similar.
Experience with alternative project delivery methods, including CMAR/CMGC, Progressive Design-Build, Design-Build, or similar methods.
Experience participating in cost and schedule reconciliation meetings, technical workshops, and negotiations with owners, contractors, designers, and other project stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams while remaining actively engaged and able to provide hands-on support in cost estimating, scheduling, and project controls.
Demonstrated ability to develop client relationships, lead meetings, resolve issues, and progressively assume responsibility for overall project delivery.

Responsibilities

Support the Project Manager in day-to-day management and delivery of project controls services for a major, complex rail infrastructure program.
Coordinate a multidisciplinary project controls team, including cost estimators, schedulers, risk professionals, and other technical personnel, in collaboration with technical leads.
Serve as a key interface with clients, project teams, contractors, designers, and other stakeholders on cost, schedule, risk, and related project controls matters.
Provide hands-on technical support in cost estimating and project controls, with scheduling support as needed.
Support development and review of detailed construction cost estimates using HCSS HeavyBid, evaluating quantities, production rates, labor, equipment, materials, subcontractor pricing, indirect costs, contingencies, allowances, and contractor markups.
Support review and analysis of CPM construction schedules using Oracle Primavera P6, evaluating schedule logic, sequencing, durations, critical path, constructability, and alignment between the schedule and estimate.
Coordinate and participate in cost and schedule reviews and reconciliation, evaluating contractor assumptions, pricing, means and methods, risk, contingency, and schedule impacts.
Coordinate integration of cost estimating, scheduling, and risk analysis to support project controls recommendations, client discussions, and project decisions.
Coordinate and participate in client, contractor, and internal workshops, technical reviews, reconciliation meetings, risk workshops, constructability reviews, and value engineering or optimization efforts.
Support review and coordination of team deliverables to promote technical consistency, completeness, and compliance with project requirements.
Prepare and review Basis of Estimate documentation, technical memoranda, schedule review documentation, presentations, meeting materials, and other project controls deliverables.
Assist the Project Manager with team coordination, workload planning, deliverable tracking, meeting preparation, client communications, and day-to-day project management activities.
Represent project leadership independently in client and technical meetings when required and serve as a client-facing member of the project management team.
Progressively assume greater leadership and client-management responsibility as appropriate.