Project Estimator

Construction Estimator – Public Works\n

Western State Builders, Inc. | San Marcos, CA | Full-Time | On-Site

About Western State Builders\n

Western State Builders, Inc. is a family-owned construction company specializing in playgrounds, parks, shade structures, site furnishings, and related site development throughout Southern California.

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A significant portion of our work is public works construction, partnering with cities, school districts, municipalities, and other public agencies to build spaces that serve communities for years to come.

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We are growing, and we are looking for an experienced Construction Estimator who understands that a successful project begins long before anyone steps onto the jobsite.

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It begins with a great estimate.

Who We Are Looking For\n

We are looking for an estimator who doesn't just look at plans and generate numbers.

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We want someone who digs deep.

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Someone who reads the plans, studies the specifications, follows the call-outs, identifies inconsistencies, asks questions, and makes sure nothing is overlooked before a bid is submitted.

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Someone who understands that the details buried in a specification can be just as important as what appears on the plans.

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Most importantly, we need someone who understands public works bidding.

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Successful experience bidding public works construction projects is required for this position. Candidates without demonstrated public works bidding experience will not be considered.

What You Will Be Responsible For\n

As our Construction Estimator, you will take ownership of the estimating process from initial bid review through final submission.

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Responsibilities include:

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• Reviewing plans, specifications, bid documents, addenda, and contract requirements in detail
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• Performing accurate quantity take-offs for labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and other project costs
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• Identifying scope requirements across all drawings, details, notes, schedules, and specification sections
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• Following references and call-outs throughout the bid documents to ensure the complete scope is captured
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• Identifying discrepancies, missing information, unusual requirements, and potential project risks
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• Preparing RFIs and seeking clarification when bid documents are unclear
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• Soliciting and evaluating subcontractor and supplier pricing
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• Comparing vendor and subcontractor proposals to ensure scope coverage and identify exclusions
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• Developing detailed, competitive, and financially responsible estimates
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• Reviewing labor requirements, production assumptions, equipment needs, and project-specific conditions
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• Evaluating alternates, allowances, unit pricing, and other bid requirements
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• Reviewing addenda and incorporating all changes into the final estimate
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• Maintaining organized bid documentation and supporting information
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• Coordinating with management and operations during bid review
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• Participating in estimate handoff when projects are awarded so the operations team clearly understands the assumptions, scope, risks, and opportunities identified during estimating
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• Reviewing completed projects and actual costs to continuously improve future estimating accuracy
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Public Works Experience Is Required\n

Western State Builders performs a significant amount of public works construction.

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Our estimator must understand the additional complexity that comes with these projects and have a proven history of successfully bidding public works work.

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You should be comfortable navigating detailed bid packages and understanding requirements that may extend beyond the drawings themselves.

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Experience reviewing and accounting for items such as prevailing wage requirements, labor requirements, bid forms, bonding, insurance requirements, alternates, allowances, subcontractor requirements, schedules, specifications, addenda, and agency-specific requirements is important.

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We are not looking for someone who has only estimated residential construction or who would be learning public works bidding for the first time.

The Person Who Will Be Successful Here\n

Technical estimating ability matters, but how you approach the work matters just as much.

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The right person for this position will be:

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Detail-Oriented

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You notice the note on Sheet 37 that changes something shown on Sheet 12. You follow the call-out. You read the specification. You don't assume.

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Thorough

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You understand that missing one requirement can dramatically affect the profitability of a project.

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Curious

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When something doesn't make sense, you investigate it. You ask questions and keep digging until you understand the scope.

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Accountable

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You take ownership of your estimates. You don't simply produce numbers—you stand behind the work that produced them.

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Analytical

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You can look at a project from multiple angles, evaluate risk, compare options, and determine where the real costs are.

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Organized

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You can manage multiple bids, deadlines, addenda, vendor quotes, and changing information without losing track of the details.

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Deadline-Driven

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Public works bid deadlines are absolute. You know how to prioritize your workload and ensure the bid is complete, reviewed, and ready before the deadline.

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Collaborative

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You communicate well with project managers, field leadership, subcontractors, suppliers, and company leadership.

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Competitive – Without Being Careless

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You understand the balance between submitting a competitive number and protecting the company from unnecessary risk.

Qualifications\n

Required:

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• Demonstrated experience successfully estimating and bidding public works construction projects
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• Strong construction estimating and quantity take-off experience
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• Ability to thoroughly read and interpret construction plans and specifications
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• Experience reviewing detailed bid packages, specifications, addenda, and contract documents
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• Strong understanding of labor, material, equipment, and subcontractor costs
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• Experience soliciting, reviewing, and leveling subcontractor and vendor proposals
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• Strong analytical and mathematical skills
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• Excellent attention to detail and organizational ability
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• Ability to manage multiple bids and hard deadlines
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• Strong written and verbal communication skills
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• Proficiency with estimating software, spreadsheets, and digital construction documents
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Preferred:

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• Experience with parks, playgrounds, site development, concrete, utilities, shade structures, site furnishings, or related scopes
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• Experience estimating projects for cities, school districts, municipalities, and other public agencies
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• Familiarity with Southern California public works construction
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• Construction management, engineering, or related education is beneficial, but relevant experience and demonstrated ability are highly valued
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What Matters to Us\n

Western State Builders is building more than projects. We are intentionally building a company centered around excellence, teamwork, accountability, and ownership.

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We want people who care about the quality of their work, support the people around them, communicate when they see a problem, and take responsibility for finding solutions.

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For our estimator, that means understanding something very important:

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The estimate is the first plan for how we intend to successfully build the project.

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We are looking for someone who takes that responsibility seriously.

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If you have successfully estimated public works construction, enjoy digging into the details of complex bid packages, and take pride in producing accurate, thoughtful, competitive estimates, we would like to hear from you.