Lead Estimator, Structural Steel

Lead Estimator, Structural Steel (Fabrication and Erection)
MAK Steel Services | Trinity Steel Services | Advantage Steel
Location: On-site, Seymour, Indiana
Reports to: President
Team: Estimators, Bid Clerks, and an offshore takeoff team

Purpose. Price the work across all three companies accurately and consistently. Build every bid from actual shop and field productivity. Direct an offshore takeoff team so our estimators spend their time on pricing and strategy. Serve as the lead user of our proprietary estimating platform and help shape how it develops.

Authority. Final pricing sign-off on bids.

Responsibilities

• Estimate fabrication, erection, and furnish-and-install scopes for structural and miscellaneous steel.
• Oversee the offshore takeoff team. Assign work, set takeoff standards, review output for accuracy, and manage turnaround times.
• Build and estimate in our proprietary estimating platform and Tekla PowerFab.
• Serve as the platform's lead user. Test new features, report issues, and define requirements with the development team.
• Build and maintain cost databases, assemblies, and templates.
• Maintain man-hour-per-ton and work center standards based on shop and field actuals.
• Use data and reporting to track hit rate, margin, and productivity trends.
• Price erection scope and evaluate erector and supplier quotes.
• Make go/no-go recommendations on opportunities.
• Track estimated vs. actual margin on every job and refine standards from the results.
• Hand off awarded jobs to project management so the estimate becomes the budget.
• Train and mentor direct reports.
• Build relationships with general contractors across the country.

What success looks like

• Every bid built on current labor standards and cost data.
• Offshore takeoffs delivered accurately and on schedule.
• Estimated vs. actual margin tracked and reported regularly.
• A consistent, disciplined bid review process.
• Continuous improvement of our estimating platform, driven by your feedback.

Requirements

• 7+ years of structural steel estimating.
• Both fabrication and erection estimating experience, strongly preferred.
• Strong technical aptitude and the ability to learn new software quickly.
• Advanced Excel.
• Proficiency in Tekla PowerFab or comparable estimating software.
• Strong command of structural drawings and AISC standards.

Preferred

• Experience managing offshore or remote takeoff, detailing, or estimating teams.
• Experience implementing, configuring, or testing estimating software.
• Model-based takeoff from Tekla Structures, SDS/2, or IFC files.
• Bluebeam.
• Power BI, SQL, or scripting experience.
• Experience in an AISC-certified fabrication or erection shop.
• PEMB and ornamental metals experience a plus.

Compensation

• Base salary of $125,000.
• Annual bonus tied to individual and company performance.
• Health, dental, vision, and 401(k) w/ company match.