CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR | SPECIALTY-TRADE / SUBCONTRACTOR
Austin, TX | Hybrid / Approximately 95% Remote | $75,000–$85,000 DOE
Schedule
Monday–Friday
8:00 AM–5:00 PM Employment
Full-Time
Salaried Local Travel
Typically ~1x/month
Austin-area
Position Overview
Seeking a hands-on commercial trade estimator with proven experience generating line-item cost estimates directly from construction documents. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in specialty-subcontractor estimating and routinely uses dedicated takeoff software to measure drawings, define and build trade assemblies for estimating purposes, analyze materials against project specifications, determine labor requirements and production assumptions, and construct complete, accurate proposals directly from personally developed takeoffs. This is a full-cycle estimating role requiring independent ownership from plan/specification review through final proposal and quality control.
This is a dedicated estimating role. It is not primarily a Project Management, Project Engineering, General Contractor preconstruction-coordination, or estimating-support position. Titles may vary by employer; demonstrated full-cycle estimating ownership is what matters.
Required Estimating Model
• Personally performs full-scope takeoffs and generates line-item cost estimates for at least one commercial field/trade, and can explain the estimate from first plan review through final proposal.
• Measures quantities directly from plans using dedicated takeoff software, including counts, square footage, linear footage, units, assemblies, or other trade-specific measurements.
• Defines and builds trade assemblies for estimating purposes, analyzes specified materials against project requirements, and converts measured quantities into complete installed-cost calculations including material, equipment, waste, rentals/access/scaffolding, and applicable indirect costs.
• Determines labor requirements and production assumptions and builds the bid/proposal directly from the completed takeoff, including scope, inclusions/exclusions, assumptions, clarifications, and final pricing.
• Uses vendor/subcontractor quotes to validate or supplement pricing; quote collection or leveling alone is not considered full-cycle estimating.
Core Responsibilities
• Analyze architectural and structural drawings, specifications, addenda, RFIs, details, and bid documents to define complete trade scope and identify gaps or conflicts.
• Perform detailed digital takeoffs using dedicated estimating software and independently verify counts, square footage, linear footage, units, assemblies, and other trade-specific quantities before pricing.
• Analyze specified materials and trade assemblies and develop line-item material, labor, equipment, production, waste, access, and indirect-cost calculations.
• Prepare complete, accurate bid packages and proposals directly from personally developed takeoffs and cost builds.
• Request, compare, normalize, and validate supplier/subcontractor pricing without relying on third-party quotes as the primary estimate.
• Maintain approximately three accurate bid packages per week while protecting scope completeness, pricing accuracy, and documentation quality.
• Communicate estimating risks, missing information, and scope red flags early, with clear recommendations or requests for clarification.
Required Qualifications
• 3+ years of direct, hands-on construction estimating and quantity-takeoff experience in a subcontractor, specialty-trade, or comparable self-performing construction environment.
• Demonstrated independent ownership of the full estimating cycle for at least one measurable commercial trade: construction documents to digital takeoff, quantity/assembly development, line-item cost build, and final proposal.
• Hands-on use of dedicated digital estimating/takeoff software for actual measurement, assembly development, quantity production, and estimating - not document viewing only.
• Strong blueprint, specification, and scope-analysis capability, including the ability to identify drawing conflicts, missing information, and scope risk.
• Strong Microsoft Excel capability for calculations, comparisons, BOQs, bid sheets, and pricing support.
• Self-directed work style, responsiveness during business hours, and ability to perform effectively in a predominantly remote environment.
Relevant Trade Background & Technology
Direct masonry experience is highly relevant but not required. Full-cycle estimating experience may come from measurable specialty trades such as masonry/CMU/brick/stucco/stone, concrete, coatings/fireproofing, roofing, framing/drywall, glazing/façade, doors/frames/hardware, structural steel, electrical, mechanical, civil, or comparable trade scopes.
• Bluebeam Revu, VU360 / On-Screen Takeoff, Tradesmen OST3D, Revailo, PlanSwift, EDGE, TradeTek, HeavyBid, Autodesk, or comparable platforms.
• 3D estimating/takeoff experience is preferred. Revailo can be trained when full-cycle estimating methodology is already established.
What Success Looks Like
• Can independently take an assigned trade scope from construction documents to a line-item cost estimate and complete, review-ready proposal.
• Can clearly explain what was measured, how materials and assemblies were evaluated against specifications, how labor requirements and pricing were developed, what assumptions were made, and how the final proposal was built.
• Learns new estimating software, products, services, and AI-supported tools quickly without sacrificing estimator judgment.
• Works autonomously, meets bid deadlines, communicates progress reliably, and raises risk before it becomes rework.
Compensation & Benefits
• $75,000–$85,000 base salary, depending on experience.
• Medical insurance, accrued PTO, and paid company holidays.
• Company-provided workstation including high-performance laptop, dual monitors, and plan/document printer.
• Approximately 95% remote with occasional Austin-area meetings, site visits, walkthroughs, and field verification.
Application Materials
• Current resume. Titles do not need to be rewritten; demonstrated estimating ownership will be evaluated through the resume and recruiter screening.
• Brief example of one recent estimate personally owned: trade/scope, project type, takeoff software, quantities measured, assemblies/materials evaluated, labor approach, cost components developed, and responsibility for the final proposal.
• Redacted estimating work sample, if available (takeoff summary, quantity sheet, bid sheet, cost build, wall assembly, or proposal page).
