Senior Electrical Estimator

Job Title: Senior Electrical Estimator Job Description
The Senior Electrical Estimator leads the development of comprehensive estimates and proposals for large, mission-critical electrical construction projects, with a strong focus on data center work. This role is responsible for building accurate budgets and bids, assessing risk, and shaping pursuit strategies for projects ranging from 5MW to 200MW and exceeding $20 million in contract value. The Senior Electrical Estimator collaborates closely with operations, commissioning teams, and project stakeholders to ensure that all technical, commercial, and logistical considerations are fully captured in project pricing and documentation.
Responsibilities
- Lead the preparation of detailed estimates, budgets, competitive bids, negotiated proposals, and change order pricing for mission-critical electrical construction and data center projects.
- Develop comprehensive estimating execution plans that define priorities, milestones, scope assignments, review requirements, risk assessments, and bid close procedures.
- Review construction drawings, specifications, schedules, contracts, electrical one-lines, equipment schedules, codes, standards, and project documentation to establish a clear basis of estimate.
- Analyze electrical distribution systems, redundancy requirements, phasing plans, temporary power needs, turnover strategies, and work sequencing impacts to inform accurate pricing and logistics.
- Identify design inconsistencies, scope gaps, constructability concerns, and unclear trade responsibilities, documenting all assumptions and clarifications in a clear and organized manner.
- Perform detailed quantity takeoffs using Bluebeam, ConEst, or similar estimating software platforms to ensure accurate material and labor forecasts.
- Develop labor forecasts, productivity assumptions, crew structures, supervision requirements, equipment costs, material pricing, subcontractor values, escalation factors, and contingency allowances.
- Evaluate project logistics including access restrictions, security and badging requirements, shift work, overtime considerations, congestion factors, and schedule acceleration impacts.
- Coordinate pricing and scope responsibilities for owner-furnished equipment, including delivery, storage, installation, testing support, commissioning coordination, and turnover requirements.
- Solicit, review, and compare supplier, manufacturer, and subcontractor quotations for major electrical equipment and specialty systems, ensuring competitive and comprehensive coverage.
- Assess vendor proposals for compliance, scope completeness, exclusions, lead times, commercial terms, and procurement risks, and incorporate findings into overall estimate strategy.
- Analyze long-lead equipment concerns, commodity pricing exposure, supplier capacity limitations, and early-release procurement opportunities to mitigate schedule and cost risks.
- Collaborate with operations, commissioning teams, and project stakeholders to incorporate startup, testing, energization, turnover, and integrated systems testing requirements into project pricing.
- Produce conceptual estimates, cost models, alternates, value engineering recommendations, allowances, and budget studies to support project planning and decision-making.
- Lead estimate review meetings, risk assessments, bid strategy sessions, quote leveling discussions, and final bid reconciliations with internal and external stakeholders.
- Conduct rigorous quality control reviews of quantity takeoffs, labor calculations, pricing assumptions, proposal documents, and scope narratives to ensure accuracy and consistency.
- Present estimate strategies, commercial risks, opportunities, and pricing recommendations to executive leadership, clients, project teams, and other stakeholders in a clear and professional manner.
- Manage project handoff activities to operations by documenting scope assumptions, procurement status, estimate basis, risks, exclusions, and outstanding issues.
- Maintain organized bid files, pricing records, correspondence, vendor quotations, and supporting documentation for future reference and audit purposes.
- Lead assigned pursuits and communicate responsibilities, timelines, priorities, and critical decision points to estimating team members.
- Provide direction and oversight to estimators assigned to projects, ensuring estimate accuracy, consistency, and high-quality deliverables.
- Establish pursuit strategies, risk mitigation plans, and commercial approaches that support successful project acquisition and long-term client relationships.
- Foster collaboration among clients, contractors, engineers, commissioning teams, suppliers, vendors, and internal operations personnel throughout the estimating and pursuit process.
- Mentor junior and mid-level estimators in mission-critical estimating practices, risk evaluation, quantity takeoff methods, and proposal development.
- Participate in client presentations, project interviews, negotiations, and business development activities to support growth in mission-critical and data center markets.
- Support the development and maintenance of cost databases, productivity metrics, estimating assemblies, benchmarks, and historical cost references.
- Monitor market conditions affecting labor availability, supplier capacity, equipment pricing, and procurement risks, and integrate this information into estimates and strategies.
- Contribute to the enhancement of estimating tools, templates, standards, and quality assurance procedures to improve efficiency and accuracy.
- Stay current on electrical codes, industry standards, data center technologies, and mission-critical construction practices and apply this knowledge to estimating activities.
- Capture project lessons learned and incorporate findings into future estimates and company estimating procedures.
- Utilize approved estimating technologies, collaboration platforms, and AI-assisted productivity tools in accordance with company standards.
Essential Skills
- Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in electrical estimating, preconstruction, project management, or field operations.
- Demonstrated experience leading major data center pursuits and large-scale electrical construction estimates.
- Proven success estimating electrical projects exceeding $20 million in contract value.
- Extensive experience supporting colocation and hyperscale data center projects ranging from 5MW to 200MW.
- Strong understanding of mission-critical power distribution systems, redundancy architectures, commissioning processes, and startup activities.
- Deep knowledge of electrical construction means and methods, labor productivity, prefabrication strategies, logistics planning, and operational execution.
- Experience evaluating accelerated schedules, phased turnovers, energized work conditions, shift work, and concurrent construction activities.
- Proficiency using Bluebeam for quantity takeoffs.
- Experience utilizing ConEst or similar assembly-based estimating platforms.
- Solid background in electrical estimation, construction, bidding, and mission-critical or data center construction environments.
- Ability to lead estimate development, risk assessments, bid strategies, and pursuit planning for complex electrical projects.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret drawings, specifications, and technical documentation to develop a clear basis of estimate.
- Excellent communication skills for presenting strategies, risks, and recommendations to leadership, clients, and project teams.
- Proven ability to mentor and provide oversight to other estimators while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent combinations of education, field experience, project management experience, trade training, or apprenticeship backgrounds are considered.
- Experience with mission-critical and data center estimating, including colocation and hyperscale facilities.
- Familiarity with low voltage systems and their impact on overall electrical estimates.
- Experience with project management and construction management practices, including coordination with field operations.
- Exposure to Procore or similar construction management software platforms.
- Experience using Accubid or comparable estimating tools is beneficial.
- Ability to develop conceptual cost models, value engineering options, and budget studies.
- Skill in assessing vendor proposals, long-lead equipment risks, and procurement strategies.
- Comfort working with AI-assisted productivity tools and collaboration platforms in an estimating context.
- Strong organizational skills for maintaining bid files, pricing records, and supporting documentation.
- Ability to contribute to process improvement initiatives, including the enhancement of estimating databases, standards, and quality assurance procedures.
Work Environment
This role is based in an office setting and can be located in Portland, Seattle, Boise, Bend, or the Tri-Cities. The position is primarily office-based, with the possibility of a hybrid arrangement for the right candidate. The Senior Electrical Estimator can expect approximately 10% travel throughout the year to project sites and the home office for meetings, coordination, and site reviews. The work environment emphasizes collaboration with operations, commissioning teams, engineers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, and relies on modern estimating technologies, collaboration platforms, and AI-assisted tools. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including strong health benefits with mostly covered premiums, a 401(k) plan with a 40% employer match up to the federal limit, and eligibility for a discretionary year-end bonus, creating an attractive and supportive environment for experienced estimating professionals.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Portland, OR.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $125000.00 - $162000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Opportunity for a discretionary year-end bonus.
401k with a 40% employer match (up to federal limit.)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Portland,OR.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 15, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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