Senior Estimator

Job Title: Senior Estimator Industrial Mechanical Construction

Job Description

The Senior Estimator plays a key role in leading full-cycle estimating for an industrial mechanical contractor, with a primary focus on battery plant and data center projects. You develop conceptual budgets, detailed estimates, and competitive bids for equipment installation, piping, rigging, and structural steel scopes. In this client-facing position, you collaborate closely with engineers, subcontractors, and internal teams to define scope, sequencing, constructability, and pricing strategies that help secure profitable work and support ongoing growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle estimating efforts for industrial mechanical construction projects, including battery plants, data centers, and other heavy industrial facilities.
• Develop accurate conceptual budgets and detailed cost estimates for equipment installation, piping, rigging, structural steel, and related mechanical scopes.
• Prepare competitive bids that align with project requirements, company standards, and profitability goals.
• Partner with engineers, subcontractors, and internal project teams to define project scope, sequencing, constructability, and pricing strategies.
• Analyze drawings, specifications, and technical documents to identify materials, labor, equipment, and subcontract needs.
• Evaluate installation sequencing and constructability to ensure realistic schedules and resource requirements are reflected in estimates.
• Assess labor, trades, and construction management needs and incorporate them into detailed estimates and proposals.
• Participate in client-facing discussions to clarify scope, present estimates, and support negotiations as needed.
• Collaborate with operations, fabrication, and field teams to ensure alignment between estimates and execution plans.
• Support continuous improvement of estimating processes, tools, and templates to increase accuracy and efficiency.
• Contribute to winning new work and supporting the launch and growth of a new fabrication division through high-quality estimating.
• Maintain organized estimate documentation, assumptions, and backup information for internal review and future reference.

Essential Skills

• 35+ years of experience in construction estimating, with a strong focus on mechanical and equipment-related scopes.
• Mechanical or equipment-focused background with direct exposure to industrial projects.
• Solid understanding of sequencing and installation of mechanical and industrial equipment.
• Field experience in construction or mechanical trades, with the ability to translate real-world installation practices into accurate estimates.
• Ability to work effectively with trades and labor resources and incorporate their input into estimates.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly strong skills in Microsoft Excel for estimating and data analysis.
• Experience working on projects involving battery plants, data centers, or similar industrial facilities.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with attention to detail and accuracy in estimating.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with engineers, subcontractors, and internal teams in a client-facing environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• background in millwright services, rigging, steel erection, piping, fabrication, plant relocations, shutdowns, or industrial maintenance is a plus.
• Experience estimating battery and automotive equipment is highly valued.
• Exposure to heavy industrial equipment, manufacturing, and material handling systems.
• Experience with data center and power equipment projects.
• Familiarity with piping, structural steel, and modular systems in industrial environments.
• Knowledge of process and utility equipment used in industrial facilities.
• Experience with food and beverage equipment installations or upgrades.
• Understanding of construction management practices and how they impact cost, schedule, and resource planning.
• Ability to work in a lean team environment and manage a high workload in a growing organization.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based in Frankfort, IL, with standard hours of approximately 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The estimating team is lean, with around four estimators, and the workload is high due to ongoing growth and the launch of a new fabrication division. Travel requirements are minimal, typically a few day trips per month within the Midwest, with very limited overnight travel. Site visits are infrequent, generally fewer than five days per month, and are conducted as needed to support accurate estimating and client coordination. Some flexibility for remote work exists, though it is informal rather than fully structured. The environment is professional, fast-paced, and collaborative, with frequent use of Microsoft Office toolsespecially Excelto manage data, estimates, and project information.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Frankfort, IL.

The pay range for this position is $57.69 - $67.31/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Frankfort, IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 5, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Frankfort,IL.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.