Project Estimator / Project Controls Manager

Project Estimator / Project Controls Manager

Paducah, KY OR Los Angeles, CA

General Matter is enriching uranium in America.

Our goal is to design, build, and operate the world's lowest-cost enrichment services in the United States.

Our mission is to restore America's ability to produce nuclear fuel—fuel that will power AI, advanced manufacturing, critical industries, and the next generation of nuclear reactors.

Ultimately, our work will help power national ambitions and enable a high-energy society.

We were incubated by Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by top-tier investors. Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production.

We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency.

Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable.

Position Summary: Project Estimator

The Project Estimator is a vital strategic role responsible for the development of comprehensive Capital Expenditure (CapEx) estimates and initial financial modeling. This position focuses on the precise quantification of costs required for materials, labor, equipment, and infrastructure for large-scale industrial projects.

Operating at the intersection of finance and engineering, the Project Estimator deconstructs complex technical scopes into granular cost structures during the conceptual and design phases. This role provides the foundational data necessary for investment approval, resource allocation, and project feasibility assessments, directly influencing the company's ability to scale efficiently.

Responsibilities Will Include

• Estimation & Financial Modeling.
• CapEx Development: Formulate detailed and accurate cost estimates for projects, encompassing all primary capital drivers including materials, specialized labor, industrial equipment, and associated expenses.
• Conceptual Phase Integration: Partner with design engineers at the project's inception to gather requirements and provide cost feedback that shapes the initial design-to-cost strategy.
• Scope Quantification: Analyze and interpret project drawings, engineering plans, and technical specifications to create precise material take-offs and cost loadings aligned with project milestones.
• Pricing & Procurement Strategy: Prepare comprehensive cost breakdowns and assess pricing and procurement strategies, ensuring they align with both industry standards and project-specific constraints.

Data Management & Market Analysis

• Market Benchmarking: Evaluate current market rates and historical data to provide realistic, competitive cost projections that account for volatility in the industrial and technology sectors.
• Database Stewardship: Maintain and continuously update a proprietary database of historical costs, material pricing, and labor rates to serve as a reference for future scalable project estimates.
• Supply Chain Collaboration: Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to validate vendor quotes and ensure the accuracy of pricing for long-lead equipment and specialized materials.

Risk Mitigation & Project Oversight

• Risk Assessment: Conduct formal cost-risk analysis to identify potential variances and propose appropriate contingencies to protect the project's capital integrity.
• Variance Monitoring: Monitor ongoing project costs against initial estimates, providing data-driven insights on variances and recommending corrective adjustments to leadership.
• Executive Presentations: Prepare and present formal project cost proposals, offering clear and detailed explanations of pricing assumptions, methodologies, and financial risks.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or construction management or a related technical field. Equivalent professional experience in a high-density industrial environment may be considered.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of direct experience in CapEx or construction estimating. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in large-scale petro-chem, technology infrastructure, or complex manufacturing projects.

Technical Skills & Competencies

• Software Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is a core requirement for this role.
• Engineering Aptitude: A strong interest in and the ability to comprehend material processing equipment, manufacturing methodologies, and industrial engineering workflows.
• Estimation Expertise: Deep knowledge of construction processes, labor rates, and sophisticated cost estimation methodologies (e.g., bottom-up, parametric, or analog estimation).
• Analytical Rigor: Proven experience with cost-risk analysis and a high level of comfort performing cost variance analysis.

Interpersonal & Cultural Fit

• Strategic Communication: Ability to translate complex engineering data into clear financial narratives for project managers and stakeholders.
• Startup Agility: A highly motivated self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and possesses the grit to manage multiple high-priority estimates simultaneously.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Equal Opportunity Employer

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $100,000–$150,000 annually.

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.