Lead Estimator - Air Side HVAC Equipment

Job Description

Job Description

Lead Estimator — Air-Side HVAC Equipment

Earth City, MO | Full-time | In-Office

Position Snapshot

Employment Type: Full-time, in-office — Monday through Friday

Location: St Louis, MO

Compensation: $60,000–$85,000 base, Plus bonuses [depending on experience]

Team: Lead role — directs a team of estimators and manages the bid board

Experience: 3–5+ years estimating air-side HVAC equipment

Benefits

• Competitive base salary, $60,000–$85,000 PLUS Bonuses – (base rate depending on experience)

• Full benefits package Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

• Structured onboarding with training at 3–4 manufacturer facilities (all travel covered)

• Work with current Established book of contractor business — you're not building from zero

• Hands-on transition period with the outgoing lead — a genuine training handoff, not a thrown-into-the-deep-end situation

About the Role

This is a lead estimator seat opening due to a planned retirement — which means something rare: a real, structured handoff from the person who built the role. You'll have time to learn the accounts, the rhythm, and the quirks of the bid board before you're running it solo. The customers are established, the contractor relationships are in place, and the team around you is already functioning. You're stepping into something that works, with the chance to make it yours.

The work itself is air-side HVAC equipment estimating — VAV boxes, fan terminals, fire dampers, louvers, heaters — for an established manufacturer's rep serving the St. Louis metro market. You'll own the bid board, which means pricing your own projects and directing three other estimators: assigning bids, tracking deadlines, and making sure nothing slips. The pace is steady — roughly 25 bids a week across the team — not a sweatshop, but a role that rewards people who stay organized and keep others accountable.

If you're detail-obsessed about specs and pricing and also comfortable telling your teammates what's on their plate for the day, this is exactly the role built for you. The position is fully in-office in St Louis, MO, five days a week.

Responsibilities

Estimating & Bid Management

• Prepare accurate cost estimates, pricing, and proposals for air-side HVAC equipment on commercial projects

• Read and interpret plans, specifications, and addenda to produce complete, accurate quotations

• Manage the bid board — assign approximately 25 bids per week across a team of four estimators

• Track deadlines and follow up with the estimating team to ensure on-time submittal of every bid

• Document and organize project files to maintain a complete, accurate record of all bids and proposals

Customer & Technical Support

• Build and maintain relationships with contractor, engineering, and architectural customers

• Provide technical guidance on product capabilities, system design, and equipment selection

• Prepare submittals, release orders, and track orders through to delivery for customers

• Communicate shipping information, expedite when needed, and manage warranty or damage claims as required

• Address customer questions and concerns quickly and professionally

Team Leadership

• Direct day-to-day workflow for a team of three estimators — assigning projects and managing throughput

• Hold the team accountable to deadlines without micromanaging the technical work

• Support onboarding and development of junior estimators as needed

Requirements

Required

• 3–5+ years of estimating experience specifically in air-side HVAC equipment — VAV boxes, fan terminals, fire dampers, louvers, heaters, or similar air distribution products

• Background from a manufacturer's rep, mechanical contractor, or HVAC distributor — all three are strong fits

• Ability to read and interpret commercial construction plans, specs, and addenda

• Comfortable directing others and managing deadlines across a small team

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences

• Must reside within approximately 30 minutes of St Louis, MO — this is a fully in-office role

Preferred

• Associate or Bachelor's degree in engineering technology, construction management, or a related field

• Experience with Bluebeam Revu or similar takeoff software

• Familiarity with manufacturer pricing programs (note: these are learned on the job — not a screen-out)

This Job Is

• A strong fit for air-side HVAC estimators who are ready to step into a lead role and run a bid board, not just fill one

• Ideal for someone who's detail-obsessed about specs and pricing AND comfortable directing people — both matter equally here

• Open to candidates from manufacturer's reps, mechanical contractors, or distributors with the right equipment background

• A genuine leadership opportunity with an established team, established accounts, and a structured transition from the outgoing lead

• Not the right fit for construction, structural, or piping estimators — this role is specific to air-side equipment and air distribution products

• Competitive base salary, $60,000–$85,000 PLUS Bonuses – (base rate depending on experience)

• Full benefits package Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO AND More

Requirements

• 3–5+ years of estimating experience specifically in air-side HVAC equipment — VAV boxes, fan terminals, fire dampers, louvers, heaters, or similar air distribution products

• Background from a manufacturer's rep, mechanical contractor, or HVAC distributor — all three are strong fits

• Ability to read and interpret commercial construction plans, specs, and addenda

• Comfortable directing others and managing deadlines across a small team

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences

• Must reside within approximately 30 minutes of Earth City, MO — this is a fully in-office role

Benefits

• Competitive base salary, $60,000–$85,000 PLUS Bonuses – (base rate depending on experience)

• Full benefits package Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO AND More