Estimator - Heavy Civil Construction - Solar

About this role

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General Summary

As an Estimator II at Granite, you'll independently develop and coordinate substantial estimate scopes for heavy civil and energy-sector construction projects. You'll analyze quantities, production, pricing, construction approach, subcontractor and supplier input, and risk to develop competitive, well-supported bids.
This position is currently remote, with plans to transition to Granite's future Austin, Texas office. Occasional travel may be required for job walks, project site visits, bid and preconstruction activities, and company meetings at other Granite locations.What You'll Do:

Estimate Development:

• Independently manage substantial estimate scopes from initial review through bid completion.

• Develop and review quantities, production assumptions, labor, equipment, materials, subcontractor pricing, and supplier pricing.

• Build complete, traceable estimate structures and cost components.

• Use historical cost and production information to validate assumptions.

• Present assigned scopes, findings, and recommendations during estimate and bid reviews.

Scope, Risk & Strategy:

• Analyze scope, site conditions, schedule requirements, production assumptions, and construction constraints.

• Evaluate means, methods, sequencing, equipment, labor strategy, and productivity.

• Analyze alternative construction approaches to improve cost, constructability, and competitiveness.

• Evaluate scope gaps, discrepancies, commercial considerations, and estimating risks.

• Develop assumptions, exclusions, clarifications, and risk considerations.

• Contribute to bid strategy and pricing recommendations.

Pricing & Operations Coordination:

• Solicit, analyze, and level subcontractor, supplier, and vendor pricing.

• Coordinate with operations and project teams to validate production, equipment, schedule, logistics, site conditions, and construction approach.

• Maintain complete, traceable estimate documentation.

• Participate actively in estimate, scope, risk, and bid reviews.

• Support estimate-to-operations handoffs by communicating scope, assumptions, risks, and key execution considerations.

People & Continuous Improvement:

• Provide guidance to Estimator I and other developing estimating personnel.

• Share estimating practices, construction knowledge, cost information, and lessons learned.

• Incorporate bid and project feedback into future estimating assumptions and cost history.

• Demonstrate ownership of estimate quality, completeness, and competitiveness.

Travel & Work Location

• This position is currently remote and is expected to transition to an Austin, Texas office-based position when Granite establishes the planned office.

• Occasional travel may be required for project site visits and job walks, bid and preconstruction activities, company meetings, and collaboration at other Granite offices.

• Candidates must be able to work effectively in a remote environment and collaborate with teams across multiple locations.

Education & Experience
Required

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant technical training and construction experience.

• Two (2) or more years of construction estimating experience.

• Demonstrated experience independently developing significant estimate components, including quantity takeoffs, cost development, subcontractor/supplier pricing, and estimate documentation.

• Experience independently interpreting construction plans, specifications, bid documents, and technical information.

Preferred

• Estimating experience involving heavy civil construction, earthwork/mass grading, access roads, crane or equipment pads, drainage, aggregate surfacing, underground utilities, concrete, or large-scale site development.

• Civil estimating experience supporting utility-scale solar, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS), or substations. Direct energy-sector experience is preferred, not required; comparable heavy civil, mass grading, and large-scale site-development experience is valued.

• Working proficiency with HCSS HeavyBid for estimate development, pricing, and bid preparation.

• Working knowledge of Autodesk Civil 3D for reviewing civil design information and supporting quantity development.

• Experience analyzing subcontractor/supplier pricing, historical cost information, production rates, labor, and equipment assumptions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

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Construction Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of heavy civil means, methods, materials, equipment, sequencing, production, and field operations.

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Estimating & Analysis: Ability to independently develop and analyze substantial estimate scopes, quantities, costs, and production assumptions.

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Risk & Judgment: Ability to evaluate scope, execution, pricing, and estimating risks and develop recommendations.

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Technology & Data: Strong Microsoft Excel proficiency and working proficiency with HCSS HeavyBid and Autodesk Civil 3D.

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Communication & Collaboration: Ability to coordinate across estimating, operations, subcontractors, suppliers, and project teams and clearly present assumptions, risks, and recommendations.

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Ownership & Leadership: Ability to independently manage estimate workstreams and provide guidance to developing estimators.

What Success Looks Like

• Develops accurate, competitive estimates with well-supported quantities, costs, and assumptions.

• Understands how the work will be built and connects estimating decisions to field execution.

• Identifies risk and opportunity early and…