Entry Level Estimator

The Estimating Engineer assists the Estimating Department in the development of accurate, timely and detailed cost estimates on large, complex heavy civil and mechanical construction projects for bid-build, design-build, CM/GC, PPP and Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) projects. The Estimating Engineer supports delivery of properly organized estimates, budgets, and schedules, including managing Skanska’s risk. The Estimating Engineer will be responsible for independently determining accurate quantity surveys, preparation of subcontractor and vendor work scopes and quote analyses. The Estimating Engineer must be able to meet critical deadlines and have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Competencies / Skills:

Has a basic understanding of:

• Contract Awareness: Reviews the client's prime contract as well as subcontracts and vendor agreements to ensure contract requirements are satisfied.

• Plans and Specifications - Estimating: Reads and interprets construction plans and the technical specifications that enable the ability to perform estimating duties.

• Quantification - Estimating: Identifies and quantifies construction elements, materials, and temporary works for elements of a project using design documents. Organizes quantity takeoffs for ease of review and pricing.

Has limited understanding of:

• Value Management: Identifies and presents concepts and associated costs that can improve the budget or value to the customer.

• Benchmarking- Estimating: Evaluates and presents data from past and current project cost estimates and systems to enhance estimating accuracy.

• Bid Build Estimating: Applies knowledge of construction to prepare detailed direct cost estimates including all necessary material, equipment and labor from developed design information.

• Business Development: Works with business development and operations to develop strategies and action plans to target and pursue business opportunities.

• Client Facing Skills: Presents and demonstrates the merits of our estimating work and other consultative advice we are providing to clients and other project stakeholders, building trust and confidence.

• Design Build Estimating: Applies knowledge of construction to prepare detailed direct cost estimates or rough order of magnitude of all necessary material, equipment and labor from limited design information.

• Design Quality Control - Estimating: Works collaboratively with design team to review and challenge design. Checks design documents for completeness and constructability. Identifies, documents and reports out on missing, incomplete or erroneous design information. Offers mitigation strategies and solutions.

• General Conditions Estimating: Applies knowledge of construction management to prepare detailed indirect cost estimates for all staffing, support, and miscellaneous project services.

• Internal Resource Management: Manages staffing resources and requirements, workflows, and budgets, and tracks monthly work volume.

• Logistical Planning - Estimating: Develops, approves, and communicates construction logistics plans (e.g., access, staging, traffic handling, third party coordination, work rules), ensuring there is an appropriate transfer to the appropriate stakeholder.

• Market Knowledge: Utilizes local, national and global market conditions and trends when planning and estimating projects.

• Risk and Opportunity Management - Pre-Con: Identifies potential project related risks and opportunities. Develops and implements mitigation plans and strategies such as contingency and market condition escalations to maximize opportunities and control the impact of negative situations.

• Schedule Management - Pre-con: Establishes and maintains preconstruction phase schedule activities including the tracking of design deliverables, estimating deliverables, procurement activities, etc.

• Tools and Technology - Preconstruction Civil: Identifies and uses the appropriate preconstruction and visualization technology, equipment and tools for planning and estimating (e.g., quantity take-off software, estimating software, BIM models, AutoCAD, solicitation software).

• Subcontractor Outreach / Networking: Builds, maintains, and tracks relationships with subcontractors and vendors. Identifies appropriate subcontractors for specific projects, with a consideration of the project type, sector and size, as well as the subcontractor strengths and capabilities. Collaborates with regional diversity leadership to develop and implement strategies to maximize diverse and minority owned business participation.

• Subcontractor / Supplier Selection Process: Prepares scopes of work for subcontractor/supplier, develops bid packages, conducts analysis interviews and comparisons, selects and negotiates with subcontractor/supplier and prepares contract. Partners with operations to implement project procurement plans.

• Technical Writing: Creates technical documents that include the annotation of assumptions and clarification narratives to support estimates and business development RFP responses.

Travel Requirements: Less than 10%

Work Environment/Conditions: This job is performed both in the office and in the field on an active construction site. Field work requires experience and confidence working in and around heavy industrial equipment and systems, which includes average to loud noises, ability to traverse uneven grounds, and possible outdoor weather conditions. Vision requires the capacity for close and far vision, the ability to adjust focus, depth perception and peripherial vision. Activities and responsibilities require frequent sitting (often working on a computer), frequent driving, flying, walking, standing, light lifting, bending, and reaching. Due to computer usage, there may be repetitive motions of the hands and wrists.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Organizational Impact:
• Works to achieve operational targets within job area, which has some impact on the overall achievement of results for the department.
• Work is of limited scope, typically on smaller, less complex projects or task-related activities. Work is closely supervised.

Innovation and Complexity:
• Responsible for making minor changes in systems and processes to solve problems.
• Identifies, defines, and addresses problems within the job area that are not immediately evident but typically not complex. Problems are typically solved through drawing from prior experiences or standard procedures and basic analysis.

Communication and Influence:
• Communicates with contacts typically within the department on matters that involve obtaining or providing information requiring some explanation or interpretation in order to reach agreement.

Leadership and Talent Management:
• Focuses on developing and growing within role.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree - Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent experience and minimum 2 years prior relevant experience.
• Requires broad theoretical job knowledge typically obtained through advanced education.

Skanska is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or citizenship status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Skanska Equal Employment Opportunity

Skanska uses knowledge & foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest development and construction companies. We operate in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States. Skanska in the U.S. is headquartered in New York City with 29 offices around the country. In 2022, construction in the U.S. generated $6.9 billion in revenue, and as a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total of $3.5 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500+ teammates in the U.S. and 28,000+ globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.

Skanska's Applicant Privacy Policy for California Residents

Search Firm and Employment Agency Disclaimer 
Search Firm and Employment Agency Disclaimer Skanska USA Human Resources (“Skanska HR”) provides HR services to the Skanska business units within the U.S.A. including Skanska USA Civil Inc., Skanska USA Building Inc., Skanska USA Commercial Development Inc. and Skanska Infrastructure Development Inc. (collectively “Skanska USA”). As such, Skanska HR is the sole authorized representative of Skanska USA to execute any agreements with search firms, employment agencies or any employment vendor (“Vendor”). As a condition precedent to any entitlement for payment, a Vendor shall have both (1) Skanska USA Placement Agreement, and (2) an Engagement Job Order executed by an authorized Skanska HR representative. Absent the properly executed documents, Skanska HR shall have no obligation to make payment to the Vendor. Verbal or written communications from any employee of Skanska USA business units shall not be considered binding obligations. All resumes whether unsolicited or solicited shall be considered property of Skanska HR.