Senior Electrical Estimator Utilities & Infrastructure

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Project Estimator – Construction (Electrical Focus)

Location: Detroit, MI (Hybrid – Tues, Wed, Thurs On-Site | Mon & Fri Remote)
Pay Rate: $65/hour
Contract: 12-month contract with strong potential for extension or direct hire

About the Role

Our client is seeking a Senior Project Estimator to support large-scale construction and infrastructure projects, with a strong focus on electrical systems and utilities. This role plays a critical part in ensuring projects are accurately scoped, cost-effective, and executed efficiently.

You will partner closely with project managers, engineers, and contractors to develop and validate estimates across the full project lifecycle—from early conceptual planning through execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project estimates including ROM, budgetary, unit pricing, and detailed estimates

• Review engineering designs and scope packages for completeness and accuracy

• Validate contractor and engineering estimates, including quantities and pricing

• Analyze and challenge contractor bids to ensure scope alignment and cost optimization

• Review and evaluate change orders for accuracy and impact

• Build estimate structures by WBS to support cost-loaded schedules

• Perform cost analysis, risk assessments, benchmarking, and value engineering

• Support constructability reviews and claims analysis

• Contribute to the development and improvement of estimating standards, tools, and processes

• Participate in lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives

• Collaborate across matrixed teams and support multiple concurrent projects

Required Qualifications

• One of the following:

  • High School Diploma or GED + 10+ years of electrical estimating experience, OR

  • Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (or related) + 8+ years of relevant experience, OR

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (or related) + 6+ years of relevant experience

• Strong experience estimating electrical systems in construction environments

• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with large-scale construction or utility projects, ideally in renewables (solar, wind)

• Background in substations, overhead (OH), and underground (UG) electrical work

• Experience estimating full project lifecycle costs including engineering, construction, and commissioning

• Familiarity with On-Screen Takeoff or similar estimating software

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work in industrial or power plant environments (stairs, confined spaces, varying temperatures)

• Willingness to travel occasionally for site visits and project walkdowns

• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels

• Proven analytical, problem-solving, and project coordination capabilities

Why This Role

• High-impact role supporting major infrastructure and energy projects

• Competitive pay at $65/hour

• Hybrid flexibility with consistent schedule

• Strong potential for long-term extension or direct hire

• Opportunity to work on complex, high-visibility projects

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