Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

 

Department: Estimating / Operations
Reports To: [COO / Principal Engineer / Controller – depending on Sonoran’s structure]
Location: Phoenix / Scottsdale, AZ Area
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

Sonoran Sales Company is seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Estimator to support the preparation of accurate and competitive estimates for our steel water pipe, fabrication, and infrastructure projects.

The Estimator is responsible for reviewing project plans, specifications, bid documents, and customer requirements to determine material, labor, fabrication, subcontractor, freight, and other project costs.

This position works closely with Engineering, Project Management, Plant Operations, Purchasing, Accounting, vendors, and customers to develop complete estimates and ensure awarded projects transition accurately from estimating into production and execution.

The ideal candidate is technically minded, highly organized, comfortable interpreting engineering and construction documents, and capable of identifying both the obvious costs and the details that can make or break a project's profitability.

Primary Responsibilities

Estimating & Bid Preparation

• Review plans, specifications, drawings, bid packages, addenda, and customer requirements to determine project scope. 
• Prepare detailed material and quantity takeoffs for steel pipe, fittings, fabricated components, coatings, linings, and other project requirements. 
• Estimate material, labor, fabrication, equipment, subcontractor, freight, and other costs associated with completing the work. 
• Develop clear, accurate, and competitive project estimates in accordance with Sonoran's estimating processes. 
• Identify assumptions, exclusions, alternates, allowances, and potential project risks. 
• Maintain supporting calculations, worksheets, vendor quotes, and documentation for each estimate. 
• Review bid requirements and deadlines to ensure estimates and proposals are completed accurately and on time. 

Plan, Specification & Technical Review

• Read and interpret engineering drawings, pipeline plans, specifications, details, and technical documentation. 
• Review pipe sizes, wall thicknesses, fittings, specials, connections, coatings, linings, materials, quantities, and other project requirements. 
• Identify discrepancies, missing information, unusual specifications, or scope conflicts requiring clarification. 
• Coordinate technical questions with Engineering and Project Management before finalizing estimates. 
• Assist with preparing bid questions, clarifications, and Requests for Information when necessary. 
• Review applicable project standards and customer requirements that may affect material selection, fabrication, testing, inspection, or cost. 

Vendor & Material Pricing

• Obtain and evaluate pricing from suppliers, subcontractors, freight providers, and other vendors. 
• Maintain current knowledge of material pricing, lead times, freight considerations, and vendor capabilities. 
• Compare vendor quotations for pricing, scope, exclusions, delivery requirements, and commercial terms. 
• Work with Purchasing and Operations to identify appropriate sourcing strategies. 
• Maintain organized vendor quotations and historical pricing information to support future estimates. 

Production & Fabrication Costing

• Work with Plant Operations to understand fabrication methods, labor requirements, equipment needs, and production capacity. 
• Estimate fabrication hours and manufacturing requirements based on project scope. 
• Consider material utilization, scrap, welding, fit-up, coatings, linings, testing, inspection, and other manufacturing requirements when developing estimates. 
• Use historical project information and actual production results to improve future estimating accuracy. 
• Identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency while maintaining project specifications and quality requirements. 

Project Handoff & Coordination

• Participate in estimate reviews prior to bid submission. 
• Provide Project Managers with a clear handoff when projects are awarded. 
• Communicate estimated quantities, pricing assumptions, vendor quotations, exclusions, special requirements, and identified risks. 
• Assist Project Management with resolving questions regarding the original estimate throughout project execution. 
• Compare estimated versus actual project costs when appropriate and use findings to improve future estimates.

Requirements:

 

Qualifications

• Previous experience in estimating, manufacturing, steel fabrication, heavy civil construction, pipeline construction, water infrastructure, or a related industry preferred. 
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, construction plans, specifications, and bid documents. 
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills. 
• Experience performing material takeoffs and cost calculations. 
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel . 
• Experience with estimating, ERP, project management, or manufacturing software preferred. 
• Ability to obtain, organize, and evaluate vendor and subcontractor quotations. 
• Strong attention to detail and documentation. 
• Ability to manage multiple estimates, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Engineering, Project Management, Production, Purchasing, Accounting, vendors, and customers. 

Preferred Experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:

• Large-diameter steel water pipe 
• Water transmission or water/wastewater infrastructure 
• Steel fabrication and manufacturing 
• Heavy civil construction 
• Pipe, fittings, flanges, and fabricated specials 
• Welding and fabrication processes 
• Protective coatings and linings 
• Material and quantity takeoffs 
• Freight and heavy-haul logistics 
• AWWA specifications and standards 
• Reading engineering and fabrication drawings 
• Cost analysis and project budgeting 

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required. 
• Associate or bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, or a related discipline preferred. 
• Relevant industry and estimating experience may be considered in place of a degree. 

Key Attributes for Success

The successful Estimator will be analytical, organized, curious, commercially aware, and extremely detail-oriented .

This person should be comfortable digging into plans and specifications, asking questions when something doesn't make sense, and understanding how engineering requirements translate into materials, shop labor, logistics, schedule, and ultimately cost .

Success in this position means producing estimates that are not only competitive enough to help Sonoran win work, but complete and accurate enough for Sonoran to execute that work profitably.

Work Environment

This position primarily operates in an office environment but will regularly interact with Engineering, Project Management, and Plant Operations . The Estimator may periodically enter manufacturing or fabrication areas to understand production processes, verify project requirements, or coordinate with plant personnel.

Required PPE and all Sonoran safety procedures must be followed while in designated plant or production areas.