Senior Project Estimator (Data Center Preconstruction) - Corsicana, TX, or Sweetwater, TX

Decima International

$90K — $120K *
Real Estate & Construction
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of experience in preconstruction, cost estimating, or project controls.
  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or relevant field.
  • Experience with full-project estimating across various disciplines.
  • Strong knowledge of civil, structural, architectural, and MEP systems.
  • Proven track record with large-scale commercial and mission-critical projects.
  • Ability to assess and challenge GC/CM pricing assumptions.
  • Expertise in estimating tools like CostX, WinEst, or similar.

Responsibilities

  • Validate comprehensive project budgets that include various technical disciplines.
  • Prepare independent estimates at different project design stages.
  • Reconcile estimates and identify variances in scope and pricing.
  • Review and assess GMP/lump-sum proposals for accuracy.
  • Evaluate bid packages and subcontractor submissions for completeness.
  • Manage cost tracking and forecasting through project execution.
  • Prepare and present executive-level documentation and variance reports.

Benefits

  • Opportunities to work on large-scale, impactful projects.
  • Engagement in all project phases from preconstruction to execution.
  • A role that leverages technical and client-facing skills.
  • Collaborative environment with various project teams.
Full Job Description
We are seeking a Senior Project Estimator / Cost Manager to support large-scale greenfield data center projects from preconstruction through construction execution.

The role will initially focus on independent cost estimating, GC/CM estimate reconciliation, GMP/lump-sum proposal review, Schedule of Values review, value engineering, and budget validation. As the project moves into construction, this position will transition into owner-side cost management, supporting pay application review, change order evaluation, cost reporting, contingency tracking, cash flow forecasting, and estimate-at-completion updates.

This is not an estimating-only role. The successful candidate must be able to help establish the project budget, challenge GC/CM pricing and assumptions, and protect the Owner's capital through execution.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Review and validate full project budgets across civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, telecom/low voltage, general conditions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, allowances, fees, markups, and soft-cost interfaces.
  • Prepare independent estimates at SD, DD, and 100% CD stages.
  • Reconcile independent estimates against GC/CM estimates and identify scope, pricing, quantity, escalation, contingency, assumption, and risk variances.
  • Review GMP and lump-sum proposals, including assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, allowances, unit prices, general conditions, fees, insurance, bonds, and markups.
  • Review Schedule of Values for completeness, reasonableness, alignment with scope, and front-loading risk.
  • Evaluate bid packages, subcontractor pricing, vendor quotes, and GC/CM estimate submissions for completeness and cost reasonableness.
  • Identify scope gaps, pricing risks, estimate assumptions, long-lead cost drivers, escalation exposure, contingency needs, and budget impacts.
  • Support value engineering and track accepted/rejected VE items against budget, scope, and project objectives.
  • Prepare Basis of Estimate documentation, estimate summaries, variance reports, reconciliation logs, cost driver analysis, and executive-level presentations.
  • Transition into construction-phase cost management, including pay application review, change order review, cost reporting, contingency tracking, cash flow forecasting, and EAC updates.
  • Support monthly cost reviews with the Owner, GC/CM, project management, procurement, scheduling, and commercial teams.
  • Support closeout cost reconciliation, including final change orders, allowance reconciliation, retention release, shared savings, and final cost reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications
  • 12+ years of construction estimating, preconstruction, cost estimating, quantity surveying, cost management, project controls, or cost advisory experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, or related technical field.
  • Full-project estimating experience across multiple disciplines, not only one trade or specialty scope.
  • Strong understanding of civil, structural, architectural, MEP, fire protection, telecom, general conditions, escalation, contingency, and allowances.
  • Experience with large commercial, industrial, mission-critical, data center, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, EPC, or similarly complex capital projects.
  • Experience reviewing GC/CM estimates, GMPs, lump-sum proposals, bid packages, subcontractor pricing, vendor quotes, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, markups, and contingency.
  • Ability to identify scope gaps, pricing risks, cost drivers, estimate assumptions, and budget exposure.
  • Ability to transition from preconstruction estimating into construction-phase cost management.
  • Experience with pay application review, change order evaluation, cost reporting, contingency tracking, cash flow forecasting, and EAC development.
  • Strong client-facing communication and executive-ready reporting skills.
  • Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Bluebeam, and estimating tools such as CostX, WinEst, Trimble, Accubid, or similar platforms.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Direct experience with greenfield data centers, hyperscale programs, mission-critical facilities, semiconductor, or advanced manufacturing projects.
  • Strong awareness of data center cost drivers, including electrical gear, generators, UPS, switchgear, substations, cooling systems, utilities, telecom/low voltage, commissioning, and long-lead procurement.
  • Familiarity with AI/HPC infrastructure, high-density racks, liquid cooling, CDUs, chilled water systems, heat rejection, and commissioning.
  • Experience supporting projects from early estimate validation through GMP establishment, procurement, construction cost management, and final cost reconciliation.
  • ASPE, AACE, PMP, RICS, or similar certification preferred.

POSITION DETAILS
  • Primary Location (On-site): Corsicana or Sweetwater, Texas, United States
  • Position Classification: Salary-based full-time hours
  • Current US work permit required. This position does not offer sponsorship for employment, including H-1B visa sponsorship or transfer.


PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS
  • Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365
  • Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
  • Bluebeam Revu for takeoffs, drawing review, and markups
  • CostX, WinEst, Trimble, Accubid, or similar estimating platforms
  • Power BI or Tableau preferred

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