Cost Estimator

Cost Estimator

Leidos Engineering is seeking a Cost Estimator. Our Strategic Program Consulting team provides program and project solutions support for electric utility customers across the US within Leidos' Power Delivery Solutions division. This position is pending a contract win, which we anticipate will be awarded to Leidos in the near future. This role has remote working capabilities, but candidates in the Northeastern US may be preferred due to proximity to customer facilities. However, well-qualified candidates located elsewhere throughout the US will be considered.

Project Estimating plays a critical role in shaping short and long term capital budgets for electric utilities within the US. By working closely with numerous other departments including Engineering, Project Management, and Construction, the estimator will be a part of a highly collaborative developing detailed, defensible estimates using nationally recognized estimating techniques. The Estimator will prepare accurate and timely construction estimates for large scale and complex electric utility Transmission and Substation projects across client Service Territory. Estimates include all aspects of a project including scoping, materials, engineering, permitting, environmental compliance, construction, labor and equipment, and right-of-way, among others. The Estimator will be part of a larger estimating team created for each project that consists of a PM, construction resources, project scheduler and engineering. Engineering will still be creating the design and providing engineering costs. Construction will be giving feedback to the design and providing construction costs. The project scheduler will be creating the schedule with input from the team. The estimator will be taking all the information and creating the estimate. The Estimator will be part of a greater estimating group, supported by a multidisciplined Leidos team, that will be responsible for creating and maintaining the estimating tools including costs, resources and materials.

Key Responsibilities:

• Create, test and maintain assemblies and models in InEight Construction Estimating Software.
• Prepare accurate and timely construction estimates based on engineering designs, drawings, site visits, contractual agreements, materials, permitting, environmental, construction labor, schedules, and equipment. Incorporate solid understanding of the utility industry into complex estimates.
• Analyze key themes and trends to ensure all factors are properly considered, priced and included in the project estimate.
• Determine understanding of risk associated with large capital projects and the application of contingency. This would include application and development of risk registers, Quantitative Risk Assessments, and/or Monte Carlo Simulations.
• Revise and update the estimating system software database to support storage and retrieval of estimating information and enhance efficiency and operability of the system.
• Monitor year-on-year accuracy of estimated costs and challenge business processes in order to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and deliver projects on budget. Perform planned versus actual evaluations upon project completions for costs and schedule. Document findings and develop improvement plans based on the analysis.
• Work independently to manage schedule and workload in order to meet need dates.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management or closely related field + 3 years of relevant estimating experience, OR Associate Degree with 5+ years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree; 10+ years of relevant work experience and training may be considered without an Associate's degree
• Proficient MS Office computer skills (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, etc.).
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Proven interpersonal and written communication skills/ability to work and interact with engineers and operations during all phases of projects.
• Knowledge of planning, design, procurement, and construction process.
• Able to work and interact with various team members during all phases of projects.
• Must have a valid driver's license with safe driving history.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Utility Project Management, Engineering, Risk Management and/or utility Estimating experience.
• Professional Estimator Certification in AACE International, ICEAA, or ASPE.
• 5+ years of estimating or relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of construction means and methods, costs and engineering principles.
• Experience managing the unit cost libraries of professional estimating software programs.
• Knowledge of InEight or other estimating software applications.
• Significant portfolio of completed engineering and/or construction estimates with documented success in actual results achieved.
• Experience working on Electric Utility projects.