Senior Estimator

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world? Watch Our Story:' ' Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it’s about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, you’ll help design the critical infrastructure that supports the digital age and shapes the spaces where people work, connect, and thrive. From high-performance data centers driving the future of AI to dynamic commercial environments, your work will directly support technological advancement, sustainability, and human experience. We bring together mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering experts to solve complex design challenges with precision, creativity, and collaboration. Whether you're optimizing energy efficiency, integrating resilient systems, or engineering the backbone of next-generation facilities, your contributions will help define the future of the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead innovation, engineer impact, and build a legacy of excellence.

In the role of Senior Estimator, we'll count on you to:

• Perform general or discipline cost estimating generating capital cost and/or services estimates; data analysis identifying problems and make recommendations; and control activities for project and/or proposal efforts
• Support estimate reporting and reviews
• Provide technical direction to assigned personnel when delegated
• Execute simultaneous tasks within broadly defined parameters
• Prepare services, distributable, contractor indirect and/or capital cost estimates in specialized discipline areas using current techniques and market pricing
• Prepare cost/schedule products for proposals or contract negotiations
• Provide input on the level of effort required (cost/job hours) through coordination with functions and/or vendors, and consolidate input for costing
• Perform and review methodology for quantity takeoffs from design drawings for multidiscipline sections and customize forms to reflect best effort
• Prepare detail pricing field office non-manual labor/other direct costs (ODC) and home office labor/ODCs
• Produce capital costs estimate using a crew-based approach including formation of crews from multiple disciplines
• Provide detail pricing for manual labor rates
• Develop unit rates for discipline specific items
• Assist in developing conceptual quantities to supplement partial design-build design documents
• Prepare basis and assumption documentation denoting rationale, inclusions and exclusions
• Calculate fee based on established fee model
• Quantify and spread escalation based on project schedule and estimated costs
• Develop and perform analysis of project cash models and the corresponding time value of money as the cost of working capital correlating scheduled activities and cost
• Generate payment schedules
• Support risk analysis assessment by identifying areas of risk
• Support contingency efforts as directed
• Assist in developing unit staffing, job hour and pricing data for a specific discipline or other specialty, including estimating parameters, factors, indices, and craft distribution reference data based on analysis of HDR and industry experience
• Perform data analysis, identify problems and make recommendations
• Identify or define data sources and techniques for data acquisition
• Prepare reports and estimate summaries for estimate reviews, as directed by supervisor
• Participate in estimate reviews and presentations as appropriate
• Support training activities as needed
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous field experience
• Knowledge and understanding of MEP systems
• Preferred project experience to include: Data Center, Chip Manufacturing, Industrial, Healthcare or Lab Science
• Experience with Sage, Timberline, Bluebeam, Revit, HCSS, Excel, Navisworks or Synchro
• Certifications (one or more): AEP, CCT, CEP, CACM, CMIT, PSP, EVP, PMI-SP, EIT
• Ability to interpret construction schedules

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or Construction Science Engineering or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 10 years' related experience
• Advanced understanding of Microsoft Office software
• Advanced understanding of construction estimating concepts, construction scheduling and elements associated with Risk
• Intermediate Management fundamentals
• Able to lead small project estimates
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• Sponsorship (visa) for US employment authorization is not available now or in the future for this position

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) $107,464 - $202,000

Primary Location: United States-Nebraska-Omaha

Other Locations: United States-Pennsylvania-Philadelphia, United States-Texas-Round Rock, United States-North Carolina-Charlotte, United States-Georgia, United States-Texas-Austin, United States-Texas, United States-Nebraska-Lincoln, United States-Washington-Bellevue, United States-Virginia-Portsmouth, United States-Missouri-Kansas City, United States-Colorado-Denver, United States-Texas-Taylor, United States-New York-New York, United States-Arizona-Tucson, United States-Texas-Fort Worth, United States-Utah-Salt Lake City, United States-North Carolina-Winston-Salem, United States-Texas-Houston, United States-Colorado-Colorado Springs, United States-Virginia-Alexandria, United States-Arizona-Phoenix, United States-Texas-Tyler, United States-Georgia-Atlanta, United States-South Carolina-Greenville, United States-South Carolina-Charleston, United States-Colorado, United States-South Carolina, United States-South Carolina-Columbia, United States-New York, United States-Washington, United States-Virginia-Richmond, United States-Texas-Waco, United States-North Carolina, United States-Pennsylvania-Harrisburg, United States-Arizona, United States-Missouri, United States-Utah, United States-Pennsylvania, United States-North Carolina-Raleigh, United States-Washington-Seattle, United States-Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh, United States-Texas-San Antonio, United States-Virginia, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Virginia-Arlington, United States-Virginia-Norfolk

Industry: Construction, Project Controls & Design/Build

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Project Controls

Job Posting: Jul 29, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affine Action and Equal Opportunity Employer ( We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.