If you enjoy working with a great group of professionals, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for high-voltage electrical construction, then we have a role for you! Potelco, Inc. seeks a great EPC Civil Estimator to join our team at the Potelco Inc. office located in Sumner, WA.

Estimating & Quantity Takeoff

• Develop detailed civil cost estimates for EPC projects including HV transmission lines (69kV–500kV), substations, and switching stations.
• Perform thorough quantity takeoffs from civil, structural, and geotechnical drawings including grading plans, foundation designs, drainage layouts, and site improvement drawings.
• Estimate all earthwork, grading, excavation, backfill, compaction, import/export material, and site restoration scopes.
• Develop cost estimates for drilled pier, spread footing, and mat foundations for transmission structures, substation equipment pads, and control buildings.
• Estimate underground civil scopes including ductbank and conduit installation, manholes, handholes, and cable vault construction.
• Quantify and price access road construction, graveling, fencing, gates, drainage structures, and erosion control measures.
• Incorporate environmental permit requirements, SWPPP implementation costs, and restoration obligations into civil estimates.

Subcontractor & Vendor Management

• Prepare and issue RFQs to civil subcontractors and material suppliers for earthwork, concrete, fencing, drilling, and other civil scopes.
• Evaluate and level subcontractor bids for scope completeness, exclusions, and unit rate competitiveness.
• Develop self-perform estimates for civil scopes to benchmark subcontractor pricing and assess make-or-buy decisions.
• Maintain an active network of qualified civil subcontractors across key geographies.

Scope Review & Risk Analysis

• Review geotechnical reports, environmental studies, survey data, and permit documents to identify civil cost drivers and risks.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate terrain, existing infrastructure, access constraints, soil conditions, and logistics challenges.
• Identify and quantify civil risk items including unknown subsurface conditions, rock excavation, groundwater, material haul distances, and weather-sensitive work windows.
• Develop contingency and risk-adjusted pricing recommendations for inclusion in bid proposals.
• Review client-provided specifications and contract terms for civil scope obligations, liquidated damages, and performance guarantees.

Coordination & Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with the electrical estimating team to align civil and electrical scopes, avoid gaps, and eliminate overlaps.
• Interface with engineering and design teams to validate civil design assumptions used in preliminary estimates.
• Support constructability reviews, site walk-downs, and value engineering exercises during the pursuit phase.
• Participate in bid reviews and present civil estimate assumptions, key risks, and recommended contingencies to senior leadership.
• Coordinate with project management and operations teams on civil labor productivity assumptions and crew configurations.

Estimating Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and update civil cost databases, unit rate libraries, and productivity factors specific to HV electrical civil construction.
• Capture bid feedback and post-project civil cost data to improve future estimate accuracy.
• Stay current on regional construction market conditions, material pricing trends, and labor agreement changes affecting civil work.
• Support the development of civil estimating standards, templates, and best practices across the estimating department.
• Mentor and assist junior civil estimating staff in takeoff methods, cost analysis, and bid preparation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related field preferred; relevant certifications such as PE licensure, CCM, or AACE CCP are a plus.
• Equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum 5–8 years of civil construction estimating experience, with demonstrated exposure to heavy civil or electrical utility infrastructure projects.
• Prior experience estimating civil scope on high voltage transmission, substation, or utility-scale projects strongly preferred.
• Background in field civil construction operations, project engineering, or construction supervision is highly desirable.
• Experience working within EPC or design-build delivery frameworks preferred.
• Experience estimating projects with total civil values of $10M or greater.
• Proficiency in estimating software.
• Ability to read and interpret civil and structural drawings including grading plans, foundation details, drainage designs, and civil specifications.
• Strong working knowledge of earthwork construction methods, foundation types, underground utilities, and site development practices.
• Familiarity with geotechnical reports and their implications for excavation, bearing capacity, and foundation design.
• Understanding of environmental permit requirements, SWPPP obligations, and erosion/sediment control standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with quantity takeoff software such as Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, or similar tools.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage complex, multi-discipline estimates under tight deadline pressure.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and communicate estimate risks clearly.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present findings to executive and client audiences.
• Collaborative team player who can work effectively across estimating, engineering, procurement, and field operations.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple simultaneous pursuits.
• Commitment to ethical estimating practices and professional integrity.

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance