Sr. Cost Estimator

Luster National•New York, NY

71d

About The Position

Are you the go-to person for keeping massive, complex infrastructure projects on budget and on track? Do you thrive in the high-stakes world of $500M+ ventures in transit, transportation, or aviation? If so, let’s talk. We’re on the hunt for sharp, detail-driven Sr. Cost Estimators to join our team and help lead the charge on some of the largest and most transformative heavy civil projects out there, think rail and bus systems, highways, bridges, and airports. The Sr. Cost Estimator roles have responsibility for developing and managing project cost estimates from the earliest conceptual phases all the way through final design and construction. You'll monitor trends in cost escalation, labor rates, and market conditions to ensure accuracy and competitiveness at every stage. As the trusted cost expert, you’ll also serve as the primary point of contact for clients, communicating clearly, offering strategic guidance, and keeping them informed with regular updates throughout the lifecycle of each project. Your ability to build strong relationships and align internal and external teams will be key to keeping projects moving smoothly and successfully. This is more than a numbers game. It’s an opportunity to make your mark on legacy-level projects that reshape how people move and connect. This posting is for future roles and not for a specific opportunity that is available right now. We accept applications and conduct interviews in advance of upcoming hiring needs. When a candidate is selected, their profile is activated in our talent pool for this specialty area. We notify our talent pool candidates first whenever we have a project need. This posting targets New York, NY.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, quantity surveying, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
10+ years’ relevant construction estimating/cost control experience for heavy civil highways, roads, bridges, airports, or transit projects.
Strong knowledge of construction methods, materials, and techniques related to heavy civil rail or bus projects.
Significant experience developing project and construction estimates, schedules, and costs.
Experience with cost escalation, orders of magnitude, cost of materials, and labor rates.
Proficiency with industry-standard estimating and project-controls software (e.g., HCSS, RSMeans, etc.)
Proficiency with Primavera P6 or MS Project.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering, construction management, or quantity surveying.
Active professional certifications such as CCE, CCEA, CCP, CEP, PSP (AACE); PMP or PMI-SP (PMI).
PE license in relevant jurisdiction(s).
Experience with large (>$500M), complex, heavy-civil infrastructure projects in the transit industry.
Experience delivering projects through both traditional and alternative methods (e.g., DB, CM/GC, P3).
Experience with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

Responsibilities

Preparation of detailed cost estimates for all phases of heavy civil projects—conceptual, schematic, design development, and final construction documents.
Review engineering plans and specifications to determine scope, pricing strategy, and estimate accuracy.
Analyze and apply historical data, cost databases, and market trends to forecast cost escalation and resource requirements.
Collaborate closely with project managers, schedulers, engineers, and procurement teams to align cost assumptions with construction methodologies and timelines.
Develop and maintain unit cost databases, cost benchmarking, and productivity standards.
Evaluate subcontractor and supplier quotes for completeness, accuracy, and competitiveness.
Prepare and present detailed cost reports, variance analyses, and risk assessments to senior leadership and client stakeholders.
Incorporate construction means and methods, logistics constraints, and phasing strategies into the estimating process.
Serve as a key liaison with clients—providing clear, timely communication and participating in project meetings, scope reviews, and value engineering sessions.
Ensure estimates comply with internal quality standards and meet client and regulatory requirements.
Track and integrate real-time feedback from ongoing projects to improve future estimate accuracy and reliability.

Benefits

Unlimited flexible time off
Paid holidays
Paid parental leave
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent or elder care)
Long-term disability insurance
Short-term disability insurance
Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
401(k) plan with guaranteed employer contribution
Formal career planning and development program
$2,500 annually toward professional development
Wellness program with monthly wellness stipend
Company cell phone or cell phone plan reimbursement
Free personalized meal planning and nutrition support with a registered dietitian
Free personal financial planning services
Employee assistance program
Employee discounts
Employee referral bonus