Senior Estimator (Civil)

Clark Construction Group, LLC•McLean, VA

3d•$110,000 - $225,000•Onsite

About The Position

Clark is seeking a highly analytical and driven Senior Civil Construction Estimator to take ownership of complex preconstruction lifecycles. The role leads cost modeling, hard bids, and design-build proposals for high-profile regional and national projects, collaborating directly with trade partners to produce precise, competitive, and value-engineered estimates. The position oversees estimates across conceptual, schematic, design-development, and guaranteed maximum price (GMP) phases for large-scale commercial and civil developments. It includes developing scopes of work, leading trade leveling sessions, ensuring bid-day coverage, identifying cost-effective design alternatives, and evaluating regional commodity fluctuations, labor availability, and urban logistical challenges. The estimator works with Clark Civil Project Managers and Superintendents to transition successful bids into operations, and supports the development of project engineers and junior estimators. The primary workspace is Clark’s McLean, Virginia office, with occasional travel to other locations, including active construction sites. Office work involves prolonged focused desk and computer work in quiet-to-moderate noise and light conditions. Construction sites may involve outdoor weather, louder noise, and moving equipment. The role requires adherence to company safety policies and applicable laws. It also requires flexibility for extended hours during critical project phases or deadlines, and responsiveness to time-sensitive business needs outside regular hours. A pre-employment drug fitness-for-duty screening and random quarterly tests are required. The compensation package includes base salary, bonus potential, and benefits. The stated base salary range is $110,000–$225,000, with compensation potentially varying based on education, experience, and skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
7 to 10+ years of dedicated estimating experience.
Experience with hard bid, design-build, progressive design-build, and construction manager at-risk estimates.
Estimating experience on large-scale projects valued at $50 million or more across civil sectors such as heavy rail, light rail, airports and associated facilities, electrical substations, and federal infrastructure projects.
Comprehensive knowledge of trade partners, labor dynamics, and building regulations in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas.
Ability to perform takeoffs and create crew/self-perform estimates for earthwork, cast-in-place concrete, miscellaneous metals, and one-off trades.
Mastery of modern digital construction workflows, specifically Heavy Bid, Building Connected, and Bluebeam.
Ability to pass standard federal background screenings to access local government, secure agency, and institutional project sites.
Alignment with Clark Standards of Excellence: self-motivated, results oriented, adaptable, team player, accountable, ethical, innovative, resilient, builds relationships, builds people/teams and followership, and sets direction and executes.
Comfort with prolonged periods of focused desk and computer work, effective communication, and sharp visual acuity for reviewing complex documents and detailed computer work.
Ability to move throughout the office and travel occasionally to different locations, including construction sites.
Ability to lift and move up to 10 pounds regularly and up to 25 pounds occasionally.
Flexibility to work extended hours during critical project phases or client deadlines and respond to communications when business needs require it.
Completion of a pre-employment drug fitness-for-duty screening and participation in random quarterly drug fitness-for-duty tests.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AGTEK Earthwork.

Responsibilities

Direct conceptual, schematic, design-development, and guaranteed maximum price (GMP) estimates for large-scale commercial and civil developments.
Build comprehensive scopes of work, lead trade leveling sessions, and ensure total coverage on bid days.
Identify creative, cost-effective design alternatives that align with the designer’s intent.
Monitor regional commodity fluctuations, local labor availability, and urban logistical challenges in dense urban corridors.
Partner with Clark Civil Project Managers and Superintendents to transition winning bids into the operations phase.
Provide guidance, software training, and professional development support to project engineers and junior estimators.
Respond to time-sensitive business needs and communications outside regular working hours when required.