Principal Estimator SME

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description:

Arcadis is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Principal Estimator SME to support one of the most iconic and consequential infrastructure initiatives in the United States — the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP). In this role you will be responsible for managing field operations, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, driving safety and quality, and ensuring schedule and budget adherence for one of the largest infrastructure projects in the region.

We are working as the Delivery Partner along with team members and selected by the Gateway Development Commission to deliver this transformative project.. The HTP is a critical component of the broader Gateway Program — one of the most ambitious and impactful transportation initiatives in the nation — and is designed to strengthen mobility, enhance resiliency, and ensure the long-term reliability of the Northeast Corridor.

The project encompasses the construction of a new, two-track rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River, along with the full rehabilitation of the existing 113-year-old North River Tunnel. This vital infrastructure supports more than 200,000 daily passengers via Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT and serves as a backbone for economic activity and connectivity between New York and New Jersey.

This is more than just a job — it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant infrastructure program that will reshape rail transportation, drive sustainable economic growth, and improve regional accessibility for millions. As part of this high-performing, multidisciplinary team, you will help deliver excellence on one of the most technically complex and high-profile projects in the world.

If you're seeking to make a meaningful, lasting impact — while advancing your career alongside some of the best minds in the industry — this is your moment.

Role accountabilities:

• Develop, assemble, and maintain comprehensive capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates for major infrastructure programs.
• Develop and review conceptual, ROM, design-stage, pre-tender, and progressively mature cost estimates.
• Review and challenge quantities, unit rates, productivity assumptions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, allowances, risk, and other estimate components.
• Consolidate estimates from multiple projects, contracts, designers, consultants, and delivery teams into an integrated program-level capital budget.
• Lead estimate reconciliation, clearly identifying movements associated with scope development, design maturity, quantities, pricing, escalation, risk, procurement strategy, and market conditions.
• Develop and maintain cost benchmarks using historical project data, comparable programs, productivity information, market intelligence, and contractor/supplier pricing.
• Perform comparative cost and option analyses to support decisions regarding scope, design, packaging, procurement, phasing, and delivery strategy.
• Support development and review of Basis of Estimate documentation, cost breakdown structures, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, and estimate methodologies.
• Evaluate the cost implications of design development, scope changes, procurement results, contract changes, and emerging project conditions.
• Maintain traceability between approved budgets, current estimates, commitments, changes, contingency, and forecast outturn cost.
• Prepare clear executive-level cost reports, reconciliations, variance analyses, trends, and decision-support materials.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, project controls, commercial, procurement, risk, schedule, finance, and project leadership teams.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 10+ years of civil construction estimating experience.
• Develop, assemble, and maintain comprehensive capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates for major infrastructure programs.
• Develop and review conceptual, ROM, design-stage, pre-tender, and progressively mature cost estimates.
• Review and challenge quantities, unit rates, productivity assumptions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, allowances, risk, and other estimate components.
• Consolidate estimates from multiple projects, contracts, designers, consultants, and delivery teams into an integrated program-level capital budget.
• Lead estimate reconciliation, clearly identifying movements associated with scope development, design maturity, quantities, pricing, escalation, risk, procurement strategy, and market conditions.
• Develop and maintain cost benchmarks using historical project data, comparable programs, productivity information, market intelligence, and contractor/supplier pricing.
• Perform comparative cost and option analyses to support decisions regarding scope, design, packaging, procurement, phasing, and delivery strategy.
• Support development and review of Basis of Estimate documentation, cost breakdown structures, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, and estimate methodologies.
• Evaluate the cost implications of design development, scope changes, procurement results, contract changes, and emerging project conditions.
• Maintain traceability between approved budgets, current estimates, commitments, changes, contingency, and forecast outturn cost.
• Prepare clear executive-level cost reports, reconciliations, variance analyses, trends, and decision-support materials.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, project controls, commercial, procurement, risk, schedule, finance, and project leadership teams.

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Arcadis offers benefits for full time and part time positions. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. We offer nine paid holidays and 15 days PTO that accrue per year. The salary range for this position is $190,000 - $320,000. Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors, such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project and location.

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