Metal Fabrication Estimator

We are seeking an experienced Metal Fabrication Estimator to support custom metal fabrication, structural steel, production manufacturing, and specialty construction projects.

This is a great opportunity for someone who understands both estimating and how metal parts and assemblies are actually produced. The strongest candidates will be comfortable reviewing drawings and specifications, developing material and labor estimates, and working closely with shop teams across cutting, forming, welding, machining, assembly, finishing, and fabrication.

We are especially interested in candidates who have worked inside or alongside a fabrication shop and understand the capabilities, limitations, setup requirements, labor, and production time associated with equipment such as laser cutters, press brakes, turret punches, welding stations, saws, CNC equipment, and other metal-fabrication machinery.

Candidates may come from estimating, fabrication, production, project management, detailing, engineering, machining, welding, or other metal-manufacturing backgrounds.

Key Responsibilities

• Review drawings, specifications, RFQs, customer requirements, and bid documents.
• Develop accurate estimates for labor, materials, machine time, outside processing, freight, and other project costs.
• Perform material and quantity takeoffs for fabricated metal parts, assemblies, structural components, and specialty products.
• Evaluate how parts and assemblies will move through the fabrication process.
• Estimate machine and production requirements for cutting, forming, punching, welding, machining, assembly, and finishing.
• Work closely with production, shop leadership, purchasing, engineering, and project management.
• Identify efficient fabrication methods and potential production challenges before work is released to the shop.
• Review material requirements, nesting considerations, scrap, yields, and purchasing needs.
• Solicit and evaluate pricing from material suppliers, vendors, subcontractors, and outside processors.
• Develop labor assumptions based on fabrication complexity, machine setup, production rates, welding requirements, and assembly time.
• Identify scope gaps, constructability issues, drawing inconsistencies, and project risks.
• Prepare quotes, proposals, cost breakdowns, assumptions, and exclusions.
• Support project turnover from estimating into production and project management.
• Maintain historical pricing, labor rates, production data, and cost information to improve future estimating accuracy.
• Partner with shop personnel to compare estimated versus actual production performance and improve future estimates.

Experience with any combination of the following is highly valuable:

• Laser cutting
• Press brake forming
• Turret punching
• CNC machinery
• Welding
• MIG / TIG / Flux-Core welding
• Structural steel fabrication
• Sheet metal fabrication
• Plate fabrication
• Sawing and material preparation
• Machining
• Drilling
• Hardware installation
• Assembly
• Grinding and finishing
• Powder coating
• Material handling
• Shop drawings
• Production routing
• Fabrication sequencing

Candidates do not need hands-on experience operating every machine. We are looking for someone who understands how fabricated parts are produced and can translate drawings and customer requirements into realistic material, labor, equipment, and production estimates.

Preferred Background

• Experience in estimating, metal fabrication, manufacturing, production, project management, detailing, engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience working in or closely with a metal fabrication or manufacturing shop.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fabrication drawings, blueprints, specifications, and customer requirements.
• Understanding of fabrication processes such as cutting, forming, welding, machining, and assembly.
• Experience estimating material, labor, machine time, outside processing, and production costs.
• Familiarity with sheet metal, plate, structural steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or other fabricated materials.
• Experience working with material suppliers, vendors, subcontractors, or outside processors.
• Understanding of production rates, machine setup, shop labor, material utilization, and fabrication sequencing.
• Experience with both custom and production fabrication is highly valuable.
• Strong communication, organization, mathematical, and problem-solving skills.

Highly Relevant Backgrounds

Metal Fabrication | Sheet Metal | Structural Steel | Precision Manufacturing | Welding | Machining | CNC Manufacturing | Production Manufacturing | Custom Fabrication | Miscellaneous Metals | Steel Erection | Industrial Fabrication | Construction Estimating | Manufacturing Estimating | Project Management | Detailing | Engineering

Candidates who started their careers as welders, fabricators, machinists, operators, shop leads, detailers, or project coordinators and later moved into estimating are strongly encouraged to apply.

Technology | Experience with Bluebeam Revu and Microsoft Excel is highly desirable.

Experience with any of the following is also valuable:

• AutoCAD
• SolidWorks
• Tekla
• SDS/2
• Procore
• PlanSwift
• On-Screen Takeoff
• ERP / MRP systems
• Manufacturing estimating software
• Production scheduling or job-costing systems

Preferred Certifications | Certifications are not required, but relevant credentials may include:

• AACE Certified Estimating Professional (CEP)
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
• AWS welding certifications
• Relevant welding, fabrication, machining, or manufacturing certifications
• Experience working within AISC-certified fabrication environments

Practical fabrication knowledge and strong estimating ability are more important than holding a specific certification.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate understands that estimating fabricated metal work is more than reading a drawing and assigning a price.

You should be able to look at a part or assembly and think through:

• What material is required?
• How should it be cut?
• What machines will be needed?
• How many setups are involved?
• How difficult is the forming?
• How much welding and finishing is required?
• What can be completed internally versus outsourced?
• How much labor will realistically be required?
• Where are the potential production risks?
• Can the shop build it efficiently and profitably?

If your background combines metal fabrication knowledge with estimating, project management, production, engineering, or shop experience, we encourage you to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.