Senior Cost Estimator - Substation & Transmission
About The Position
Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Senior Cost Estimator to support transmission line and substation project activities. The role includes cost estimating, project engineering, scheduling, and project controls. It uses company tools, databases, and historical information to develop estimates from conceptual design through construction, coordinating with project teams and engineering to validate scope, quantities, drawings, and equipment information. The position has a hybrid arrangement, combining work from home and office work, and requires approximately 10–25% domestic travel. The role also involves project controls and earned-value analysis, helping teams reconcile estimates with budgets, bids, and actual costs. Employees may use relevant digital tools and are expected to apply professional judgment and review when doing so.
Requirements
- At least 7 years of experience in utility, construction, engineering, or other relevant work.
- Understanding of estimating functions from a project's conceptual design phase through its construction phase.
- Experience with engineering or construction oversight.
- Proficiency with Excel and building moderately complex spreadsheets.
- Related engineering work experience including project controls, project planning, project scheduling, and earned-value performance.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
- High school diploma or GED.
- Comfort with approximately 10–25% domestic travel.
- The employer does not sponsor U.S. work authorization for this position.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, Business, Engineering, or a similar field.
- Related engineering internship, co-op, or work experience involving project controls, project planning, project scheduling, and earned-value performance, preferably in the power industry.
- Familiarity with Primavera P6.
- PMP certification.
- Interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies relevant to the role; experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued but not required.
Responsibilities
- Prepare detailed capital cost estimates using company tools, databases, and historical data.
- Perform material quantity take-offs and labor pricing, and obtain vendor pricing for materials and equipment to support rough-order-of-magnitude, conceptual, construction, and fair-cost estimates.
- Apply appropriate mark-ups and productivity factors.
- Coordinate information flow and schedules with project team members to complete estimates on time.
- Organize and enter cost and quantity information into existing databases.
- Prepare cash flow, escalation, and interest calculations for estimates.
- Develop Estimate Basis documents.
- Coordinate with engineering to obtain and validate quantities, scope definitions, drawings, and equipment lists.
- Author and lead development of engineering equipment lists, studies, and reports.
- Implement project controls and project management tools and methodology.
- Perform CPI/SPI calculations using earned-value principles.
- Assist project teams in reconciling estimates against budgets, bids, and actual costs, and provide variance explanations.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision health plans.
- Life and accident insurance.
- Disability coverage.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Back-up daycare.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA).
- 401(k).
- Pre-tax commuter account.
- Merit scholarship program.
- Employee discount program.
- Corporate charitable giving program.
- Tuition assistance.
- First professional licensure bonus.
- Employee referral bonus.
- Paid annual personal/sick time.
- Paid vacation.
- Paid holidays.
- Paid parental leave.
- Paid bereavement leave.
- Flexible work arrangements.
- Eligible employees may participate in a yearly discretionary bonus.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
High school or GED
