About this RoleBrink Constructors, Inc.The Estimator is a Rapid City, SD -based estimating role within Brink's Pre-Construction department. The primary responsibility of this position is producing time-and-equipment (T&E) estimates, work-order pricing, and change-order pricing for two key utility clients served under master service, blanket, and alliance-type agreements. This work is high-volume, fast-turnaround, and rate-schedule driven: the estimator builds crew and equipment hour models against contract rate sheets rather than assembling full lump-sum bid packages.
When T&E workload allows, this position supports the broader estimating team on hard-bid and unit-price transmission and distribution pursuits - take-offs, quantity verification, vendor solicitation, and estimate assembly. The Estimator reports to the Lead Estimator - Transmission, who reviews and approves all deliverables before release.
Pay: This is an exempt/salary position. The pay range is $90,000 - $125,000. Pay may vary depending on your location, skills, and experience.
Location/Travel Requirements: Position is based at the Brink office in Rapid City, SD and requires approximately 10% - 20% travel for site visits and client meetings.
What You'll DoPrimary Responsibilities- Prepare T&E estimates, work-order pricing, and budgetary pricing for assigned utility clients, applying the labor classifications, equipment rates, and markup structures defined in each client's contract rate schedule.
- Build labor estimates from crew composition and productivity - determining the correct crew makeup (foreman, journeyman lineman, apprentice, groundman, operator), crew count, shift structure, and hour build-up for each scope of work.
- Develop equipment hour and duration estimates for digger derricks, cranes, bucket trucks, dozers, matting equipment, and support vehicles, distinguishing operated, standby, and bare-rental rate applications per contract terms.
- Price material, subcontracted work, rental, per diem, subsistence, travel, and mobilization/demobilization in accordance with the allowable cost categories and markup limits of the governing agreement.
- Turn around routine T&E pricing requests within client-required timeframes - often days rather than weeks.
- Estimate maintenance, small-capital, emergency restoration, and storm-response work, including scopes with incomplete or evolving design information.
- Price change orders and extra work orders on active projects, confirming scope and schedule impact before pricing is released.
- Document all estimate assumptions, exclusions, clarifications, and rate-schedule references so that pricing is traceable and defensible during client review and audit.
- Maintain current, accurate copies of each client's rate schedules, escalation provisions, and contract billing terms.
General Estimating Support - Perform quantity take-offs for structures, foundations, conductor and OPGW, access roads, matting, and restoration from plan-and-profile drawings, specifications, and bid documents.
- Solicit and log vendor and subcontractor quotations; assist with bid leveling and scope comparison.
- Prepare staking sheets, bid hour sheets, and budget worksheets using company estimating tools and templates.
- Assist in assembling bid forms, schedules of values, and submittal packages to client formatting requirements.
- Review bid documents, addenda, and specifications and summarize commercial and technical requirements for the estimating team.
- Conduct or participate in site visits to verify access, terrain, soil conditions, staging areas, and constructability assumptions.
Estimate Accuracy & Cost Feedback- Participate in post-job and post-bid reviews, reconciling estimated hours and equipment usage against actual field costs and T&E billing; identify variance drivers, capture lessons learned, and adjust future assumptions and department templates accordingly.
- Collect and maintain historical unit cost and productivity data specific to the assigned clients and to Minnesota operating conditions.
- Verify that all pricing released to a client is complete, arithmetically correct, and consistent with the governing contract before submitting it to the Lead Estimator for review and approval.
Collaboration & Client Support- Serve as a consistent, responsive estimating point of contact for the assigned client accounts, building working relationships with client project managers, coordinators, and contract administrators.
- Coordinate daily with Brink project managers, superintendents, and general foremen to ground crew, equipment, and schedule assumptions in actual field capability and current resource availability.
- Communicate workload, pricing deadlines, and risk items to the Lead Estimator proactively; escalate scope ambiguity, contract questions, rate discrepancies, expiring rates, and scope falling outside the governing agreement rather than assuming.
What You'll BringRequired: - 2+ years of relevant experience. Qualifying experience includes estimating, project engineering, or project controls in electric transmission and distribution (T&D) construction - or direct field experience in the trade (lineman, operator, general foreman, superintendent) with demonstrated cost and quantity aptitude, including working knowledge of overhead T&D construction and maintenance means and methods.
- Strong command of Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookups, and cost model construction.
- Ability to read and interpret plan-and-profile drawings, blueprints, staking sheets, and construction specifications.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent pricing requests against firm deadlines.
- Comfort interacting directly with client representatives and field personnel.
- Valid driver's license.
Pre-screen: Upon offer, employees will be required to complete and pass a pre-employment drug screen, background, and MVR check.
Preferred: - Prior experience pricing time-and-equipment, unit-price, or MSA/blanket work against a contract rate schedule.
- Understanding of IBEW collective bargaining agreements, labor classifications, and applicable prevailing wage requirements.
- Working knowledge of NESC standards and OSHA 1926 Subpart V requirements.
- Proficiency with estimating software (HCSS/HeavyBid, B2W, InEight, or equivalent).
- Proficiency with Bluebeam Revu, AutoCAD, or GIS tools.
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
What You'll Get- 401(k) with company match (traditional & roth available)
- Paid Holidays and PTO
- Parental Leave
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- Additional Voluntary benefits available
- Employee Discounts
- Company paid:
- Health Plan (HDHP 5,000 -other plan options available for cost)
- Long Term Disability
- 1X Base Salary life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
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Brink Constructors, Inc. does not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
