About the PositionOur client is seeking a Commercial Estimator to support the continued expansion of its commercial HVAC business in the Charlotte market. This role owns the estimating and proposal process from bid intake through award, working directly with operations and business development to convert opportunity into backlog. The right candidate is comfortable managing bid flow independently, confident presenting numbers to internal leadership and to clients, and technically fluent enough to defend an estimate.
Key Responsibilities- Review construction drawings, specifications, and bid documents to develop accurate quantity takeoffs and scope definition.
- Prepare complete cost estimates covering material, labor, equipment, subcontractor, and overhead components.
- Develop and present bid proposals, including scope breakdowns, clarifications, exclusions, and qualifications.
- Manage bid flow and opportunity tracking through Salesforce, with takeoff and markup handled in Bluebeam.
- Solicit, level, and evaluate vendor and subcontractor pricing, and maintain competitive supplier relationships.
- Conduct site visits to assess existing conditions, access constraints, and installation risk.
- Identify cost and schedule risk within the bid and recommend mitigation strategies.
- Partner with project management and operations to hand off awarded work cleanly and support buyout.
- Collaborate with business development and sales to align pricing strategy with pursuit priorities.
- Apply historical cost data and internal benchmarks to improve estimate accuracy over time.
Requirements- 5+ years of mechanical or HVAC estimating experience in commercial construction.
- Strong command of HVAC systems, construction documents, and estimating methodology.
- Proficiency with estimating and takeoff software (Bluebeam, Trimble, or similar) and Microsoft Excel.
- Comfort working within a CRM environment (Salesforce preferred) to manage bid pipeline.
- Confident written and verbal communication, particularly in proposal presentation and negotiation.
- High attention to detail and the discipline to self-manage deadlines across concurrent bids.
- Ability to work independently without close supervision.
- A construction management or engineering degree is a plus but is not required.
Compensation and Benefits- Base salary of $90,000 to $115,000, commensurate with experience.
- Incentive compensation tied to bids closed and jobs won.
- Flexible work environment with a remote-friendly policy (remote Fridays are common) for someone who can produce independently.
- Comprehensive benefits package (details provided during the interview process).
- Direct exposure to senior leadership within a division being actively built out.
- Clear advancement path toward preconstruction leadership.
