MEP Estimator - Data Center Construction

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Worldwide Mission Critical is a global owner’s representation and project management company dedicated to the mission-critical industry, helping companies deliver their data centers on time and under budget. Founded on the principle that the right team of experienced data center professionals will deliver great projects, our ability to provide oversight for all aspects of a project sets us apart.

The MEP Estimator will serve as a critical member of the preconstruction team, providing leadership for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) and related trades, including fire protection, fire alarm, BMS/controls, communications, and security systems. The MEP Estimator will be responsible for initial market research, conceptual budgeting, cost estimating, change order forensics, and buyout support for MEP-related scopes of work within the preconstruction team, working in concert with the CSA Estimator to deliver complete, well-coordinated project budgets.

Key Responsibilities

Market Research & Analysis

· Conduct regionally-specific market research on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including labor availability for MEP trades, commodity trends for copper, conduit, switchgear, and generators, equipment lead times for long-lead items (generators, switchgear, transformers, chillers, UPS, CRAH/CRAC units), and other factors affecting costs.

· Maintain detailed records of historical project costs, including labor, materials, and equipment.

· Analyze historical data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for cost optimization.

Conceptual Budgeting & Cost Estimation:

· Develop conceptual budgets for MEP scope elements based on market analysis and project scope.

· Prepare detailed estimates for labor, materials, and equipment, factoring in project complexity and location.

· Generate cost variance reports at major design milestones to track trends and inform stakeholder decisions and identify value-engineering opportunities.

· Lead and support takeoffs using Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, or similar tools.

· Solicit and analyze subcontractor, vendor, and OEM pricing for electrical distribution, generators, switchgear, UPS, mechanical cooling systems, plumbing, fire protection, fire alarm, BMS/controls, and low-voltage/security systems.

Cost Reconciliation and Change Order Support:

· Collaborate with general contractors and trade-partners to reconcile project costs and ensure scope alignment.

· Provide support for change order forensics and perform cost reconciliation with trade-partners as needed to verify pricing accuracy.

Constructability Reviews and Value Engineering:

· Conduct thorough constructability reviews focused on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and low-voltage scopes to identify potential challenges and improvements in design, including coordination of MEP systems with the building structure and architecture.

· Work with project stakeholders to implement value-engineering solutions that optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

· Evaluate alternative materials, methods, and technologies to enhance constructability and reduce long-term maintenance expenses.

RFP Documentation and MEP Contractor Selection:

· Assist in developing comprehensive RFP documentation for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and low-voltage/security scopes, including specifications, scope of work, and evaluation criteria.

· Ensure clarity and accuracy in RFP documents to support competitive bidding and selection.

· Help with bid-leveling by compiling and analyzing data for informed decisions. Evaluate contractor proposals based on experience, qualifications, and cost competitiveness.

· Participate in GC/contractor selection meetings and offer input on firm suitability.

MEP Buyout Support:

· Draft specific language for RFPs to ensure precise scope definitions and requirements.

· Coordinate with bidders during the procurement phase.

· Assist with pre-bid RFIs by reviewing and responding to related inquiries.

· Support the coordination and conduction of site walks focused on relevant elements.

· Perform bid leveling for bids to compare and normalize proposals. Conduct post-bid interviews with bidders to clarify assumptions, resolve discrepancies, and negotiate terms.

· Occasional travel to project sites for kick-offs, pre-bid walks, and constructability reviews.

• 4+ years of estimating experience with a strong emphasis on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and low-voltage scopes in mission-critical, data center, or other heavy industrial projects
• Proven ability to estimate projects $50M+ in total construction value, with deep focus in these areas.
• Ability to perform quantity takeoffs for MEP systems, including electrical distribution and conduit/feeders, generators and switchgear, mechanical cooling and air handling, piping and plumbing, fire protection, fire alarm, BMS/controls, and structured cabling/low-voltage.
• Proficiency with estimating software (Destini, RIB CostX, WinEst, or similar) and Microsoft Excel
• Solid understanding of data center-specific challenges, including critical power and cooling topologies, redundancy concepts, and the ability to read and interpret MEP drawings, single-line diagrams, and specifications
• Familiarity with electrical and mechanical equipment lead times and procurement strategy for long-lead items such as generators, switchgear, transformers, and UPS systems
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment while collaborating with the estimating team.