Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship now or in the future.All staffing agency inquiries must be directed exclusively to internal recruiter Matt Bachman at [redacted]. Direct contact from agencies to other employees is not permitted.Frontier-Kemper-Lake Shore division, a Tutor Perini Company, is seeking a
Mechanical Estimator to join our office in
Evansville, IN.DESCRIPTION:As a
Mechanical Estimator at Frontier-Kemper, you will have the opportunity to be responsible for developing accurate, competitive, and complete cost estimates for mechanical systems, such as hoists and ventilation fans, supporting underground mining and underground heavy operations. This role leads the mechanical estimating effort from early concept through final bid proposal, partnering closely with engineering, operations, procurement, and project management to define scope, validate constructability, quantify work, and evaluate risk. The ideal candidate brings underground mining experience, a strong understanding of mechanical systems, and the ability to move projects from the conceptual level into executable plans.
- Prepare conceptual, preliminary, and definitive estimates for underground mining mechanical systems scope (CAPEX/OPEX as applicable).
- Perform detailed quantity takeoffs from drawings, models, and specifications for mechanical packages.
- Develop pricing for labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors, indirects, temporary systems, logistics, and commissioning/start-up support.
- Solicit and analyze vendor and subcontractor quotes, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and site constraints.
- Build and validate project-based deliverables and maintain historical database and records for streamlining future processes.
- Lead estimating inputs for:
- Underground mechanical installations (hoisting systems, piping, pumping/dewatering, ventilation components, compressed air, process/mechanical equipment, material handling, and ancillary systems)
- Fabrication and installation planning
- Temporary works and construction support systems
- Identify and price risk, contingency, allowances, and exclusions; document estimate basis and assumptions.
- Participate in bid strategy, value engineering, and constructability reviews with customers, operations and engineering.
- Support proposal development: clarifications, scope narratives, estimate summaries, and bid close packages.
- Collaborate with project planning/controls to integrate schedule assumptions and sequencing into the estimate.
- Maintain and improve a historical cost database, benchmarking, and lessons learned for underground mechanical work.
- Support handoff to project teams after award (estimate validation, budget setup, change/trend alignment).
REQUIREMENTS:- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mining Engineering (strongly preferred).
- 5+ years of project estimating experience, preferably in an underground mining or heavy industrial environment with significant mechanical scope.
- 10+ years in engineering, project planning, and/or project management, with demonstrated ability to align estimate scope to execution strategy.
- Proven experience producing estimates for underground mechanical work packages, including labor/equipment build-ups and indirect cost modeling.
- Ability to interpret and apply:
- Mechanical drawings, P&IDs, layouts, specifications, and vendor data
- Contract requirements (commercial terms, scope boundaries, alternates, unit rates)
- Strong knowledge of construction methods, safety requirements, and work constraints.
- Advanced proficiency in projects such as AutoCAD, Excel (cost models, pivot tables, lookups, rate builds, scenario analysis) and Project (or similar).
- Ability to work independently on multiple assignments, balancing priorities relative to customer deliverables.
