Head Estimator

We're looking for a Head Estimator who brings serious underground utilities and general engineering experience, a deep familiarity with California's public works landscape, and the instincts to price complex work accurately in a competitive market. If you've spent your career in California — building expertise on public agency work — this role is built for someone like you.

What You'll Own

• Lead the full estimating function, from bid strategy to final submission, across public agency projects including water, sewer, storm drain, and general underground infrastructure
• Evaluate bid documents, plans, and specifications to develop accurate, competitive cost estimates for public works projects
• Drive pre-bid site walks, subcontractor and supplier outreach, and scope clarification to build complete, defensible estimates
• Serve as the primary point of contact for estimating on multi-year on-call contracts and competitive public bids with cities, counties, and water districts
• Collaborate with operations and project management leadership to ensure estimates reflect realistic field conditions, crew productivity, and material costs
• Build and maintain a library of unit costs, historical data, and subcontractor relationships that continuously improve estimating accuracy
• Identify risk, flag scope gaps, and provide leadership with the information needed to make go/no-go decisions with confidence

Requirements:
• Substantial experience estimating underground utilities and general engineering work — water, sewer, storm drain, vaults, conduit, and related infrastructure
• A career built in California, with working knowledge of California public works contracting, prevailing wage requirements, and public agency bid procedures
• Strong preference for candidates with public works estimating experience; public agency contract work should represent a significant portion of your background
• Ability to read and interpret civil, structural, and utility plans with precision
• Familiarity with estimating software and Excel-based takeoff workflows
• Collaborative mindset and the ability to work closely with field operations to ground estimates in reality, not just paper
• A track record of winning work — and delivering projects that come in close to budget
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Benefits:
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience (to be disclosed to qualified candidates)
• Tenured, financially stable organization with long-standing public agency relationships and a consistent pipeline of contracted work
• Leadership-level visibility and meaningful influence over bid strategy and business development
• Stable, owner-led culture where decisions get made quickly and good work is recognized