Project Controls-Estimating Senior Specialist

What Youll Do

We are seeking a results-driven onsite Senior Cost Estimator to play a key role in the planning execution and delivery of Department of Energy (DOE)/ National Nuclear Secruity Administration (NNSA) Minor Construction and commercial projects. This position combines estimating expertise with project management insight ensuring project cost estimates are accurate integrated defensible and aligned with federal government requirements. The ideal candidate brings both technical estimating capability and cross-functional coordination skills supporting project teams validating scope and quantities and providing cost insights that shape project decisions. This role reports directly to the Estimating Manager and offers the opportunity to develop accurate risk-informed estimates that drive performance across a diverse DOE and commercial construction portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and develop Class 5-Class 1 cost estimates with traceability to defined scope schedule and risk baselines.
• Develop detailed Basis of Estimate (BOE) documentation and participate in estimate reviews.
• Prepare and maintain BOE documents that fully disclose assumptions inclusions exclusions methods and data sources.
• Validate scope definitions and quantity takeoffs in coordination with engineering and design teams.
• Ensure estimates are structured to align with Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) requirements.
• Develop and maintain cost models using parametric analog and bottom-up estimating techniques to ensure accuracy and traceability.
• Analyze and apply direct and indirect cost structures including escalation overheads contingencies and allowances in accordance with project and DOE guidelines.
• Evaluate labor rates crew productivity and construction means and methods to produce realistic and defensible cost estimates.
• Ability to conduct cost risk analysis and apply probabilistic methods to develop risk-adjusted estimates.
• Present estimate results BOEs and cost studies to internal leadership and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Project Managers Project Controls Engineering and Risk Management to ensure consistency across scope cost and schedule.
• Support Baseline Change Proposals (BCPs) rebaselines and risk-adjusted forecast updates.
• Support and maintain historical cost data and perform benchmarking using RS Means DOE historical data and internal cost databases.
• Analyze and interpret engineering drawings specifications and blueprints to validate scope and quantities.
• Basic understanding of engineering disciplines (civil structural mechanical electrical) to support multidisciplinary estimating.
• Contribute to the development of estimating procedures tools and templates and support process improvement initiatives.
• Mentor junior estimators and assist in cross-training efforts within the Minor Construction Project (MCP) & Estimating team.
• Support the estimating manager on daily-deliverables as well as ad-hoc request from stakeholders.

Minimum Job Requirements

DOE Order 426.2A Requirements

• Not Applicable.

Preferred Job Requirements

• Familiar with Pantex life-cycle cost estimating for minor construction projects.
• Experience in managing construction projects commercial or nuclear facilities.
• Experience of Pantex Plant facility operations and the nuclear weapons site.
• Familiar with federal acquisitions regulations contractual requirements and project delivery methods requirements.
• Experience interpreting drawings specifications and engineering deliverables for accurate scope and cost alignment.
• Education: Bachelor or Masters degree in a technical engineering construction or business-related discipline.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in estimating or project management including:
  • Non-nuclear non-complex commercial site utility or infrastructure construction.
  • DOE/NNSA nuclear facility construction projects.
  • Experience managing minor construction and commercial projects in a project management role.
• Proficiency in project controls and estimating software (Primavera P6 SAP SAGE RSMeans Benchmarking Tools and Excel-based cost models).
• Ability to interpret drawings specifications and engineering deliverables for accurate scope and cost alignment.
• Strong analytical organizational and communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with project management and key stakeholders.
• Broad knowledge of related disciplines including project controls project management risk management engineering and construction.
• Working knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) baseline control and project management life cycle processes.
• Preferred Certifications:Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) Certified Cost Professional (CCP) / Certified Estimating Professional (CEP) Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent professional credential.
• Eligibility for DOE security clearance preferred.