Civil Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Civil Estimator – Substation / Transmission Projects

Job Description

This role focuses on providing civil estimating support for transmission and substation capital projects from early concept through detailed design and construction. The Civil Estimator collaborates closely with civil engineers, designers, project managers, and field personnel to develop accurate cost estimates, validate contractor pricing, and support successful project execution throughout the full project lifecycle. The position is ideal for a professional with a strong background in civil construction estimating for utility infrastructure who can interpret engineering drawings, perform quantity takeoffs, and contribute to schedule and budget development.

Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual, budgetary, and detailed civil construction cost estimates for substation projects.
• Prepare detailed material quantity takeoffs from engineering drawings and design packages.
• Review civil engineering and site development drawings for constructability and estimating accuracy.
• Develop civil construction estimates for site earthwork, foundations, drainage systems, and related civil components.
• Work alongside civil design engineers throughout project development to align design and cost assumptions.
• Support estimate development from early concept through Issued for Construction (IFC) design.
• Validate contractor pricing by benchmarking against historical project costs and internal data.
• Coordinate closely with project management, engineering, procurement, and construction teams to ensure estimates reflect project scope and execution strategy.
• Participate in estimate reviews with internal stakeholders and incorporate feedback into final estimates.
• Assist with schedule and budget development for capital projects, ensuring alignment with estimating assumptions.
• Support multiple concurrent projects across the broader service territory, managing priorities and deadlines.
• Contribute to scope validation and constructability reviews during periodic visits to project sites.

Essential Skills

• 3+ years of civil estimating experience (preferred), ideally within utility or heavy civil environments.
• Proven experience developing conceptual, preliminary, and detailed civil construction estimates.
• Strong experience in civil construction estimating for utility infrastructure, including transmission and substation projects.
• Ability to interpret civil engineering drawings and design packages to perform accurate quantity takeoffs.
• Strong understanding of earthwork, concrete, foundations, and drainage systems in a civil construction context.
• Experience working on utility, transmission, substation, or heavy civil construction projects (strongly preferred).
• Proficiency with civil estimation tools and workflows, including experience with civil design software such as Civil 3D.
• Ability to review site development drawings for constructability and cost implications.
• Strong analytical skills for validating contractor pricing and benchmarking historical project costs.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with engineers, designers, project managers, procurement, and construction teams.
• Ability to support multiple projects simultaneously and manage competing priorities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
• Will also be interested in Civil Design experience instead of Civil engineering.
• Experience with industrial and commercial construction projects.
• Exposure to heavy civil job environments and associated estimating practices.
• Familiarity with tools such as Civil 3D and Global Mapper for civil design and planning.
• Comfort working alongside civil design engineers throughout project development.
• Experience participating in internal estimate reviews and presenting findings to stakeholders.
• Interest in long-term project work, including multi‑year contracts with potential for full‑time opportunities.

Work Environment

This role operates in a mixed office and field setting, with approximately 75% of the time spent in the office and about 25% in the field. The position typically follows a Monday–Thursday in‑office schedule, with Friday worked remotely based on business needs. Standard work hours generally fall between 6:00 AM/8:00 AM and 3:00 PM/5:00 PM. Initially, the role is best aligned to an 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM schedule to support learning and collaboration alongside other team members. Periodic travel to project sites is required for scope validation and constructability reviews. The work environment emphasizes collaboration with civil design engineers, project managers, and field personnel, and involves the use of civil design and estimating software tools in a professional office setting.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Forest Park, GA.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $45.00/hr.

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 hybrid position in Forest Park,GA.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 15, 2026.

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 ziprecruiter.com 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.