Construction Estimator / Comerical & Utility Scale Solar

Title: Construction Estimator - Commercial & Utility-Scale Solar

Location: New Braunfels, TX

Workplace Type: On-site / Hybrid / Remote options may be considered

Travel: Required

Job Type: Full-time

Reports To: Vice President

Compensation: Competitive; based on experience

Job Summary

Company is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Construction Estimator with experience in commercial and/or utility-scale solar construction to join its growing renewable energy team in New Braunfels, TX.

The Construction Estimator will be responsible for developing accurate, competitive, and comprehensive estimates for large-scale solar construction projects. This position will review project plans, specifications, contracts, and bid documents; perform detailed material and labor quantity takeoffs; obtain and evaluate subcontractor and supplier pricing; and develop project budgets and bid proposals.

The ideal candidate will have 3-5+ years of construction estimating experience, preferably within commercial construction, EPC, or utility-scale solar, along with a strong understanding of civil, electrical, and renewable energy construction practices.

This role requires a highly analytical individual who can manage multiple bids simultaneously, identify project risks, evaluate value-engineering opportunities, maintain current cost data, and work closely with project management, engineering, vendors, subcontractors, and field teams.

This is an excellent opportunity for an estimator who wants to contribute directly to the growth of a rapidly expanding renewable energy construction organization and work on significant commercial and utility-scale solar projects.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Bid Preparation

• Review project plans, specifications, contracts, scopes of work, and bid documents.

• Prepare complete and accurate cost estimates for commercial and utility-scale solar construction projects.

• Develop detailed estimates covering materials, labor, equipment, subcontractors, and other project costs.

• Prepare competitive bid proposals in accordance with project requirements.

• Analyze project requirements and identify potential cost and schedule impacts.

• Ensure estimates are complete, accurate, and submitted within established deadlines.

Quantity Takeoffs

• Perform detailed quantity takeoffs from architectural, civil, electrical, structural, and solar construction drawings.

• Calculate quantities for materials, equipment, labor, and other construction requirements.

• Review takeoffs for accuracy and completeness.

• Identify discrepancies, missing scope, and potential cost exposures.

• Update estimates as plans and specifications evolve.

Subcontractor & Vendor Pricing

• Solicit pricing from subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors.

• Review, compare, and evaluate subcontractor and supplier quotations.

• Confirm that vendor and subcontractor proposals accurately reflect the project scope.

• Identify pricing discrepancies and clarify inclusions and exclusions.

• Maintain relationships with vendors and subcontractors to obtain competitive pricing.

• Incorporate current market pricing into project estimates.

Solar Construction Estimating

• Estimate commercial and utility-scale solar construction projects.

• Apply knowledge of renewable energy construction methods to project pricing.

• Evaluate civil, electrical, and solar-specific scopes.

• Review electrical distribution and infrastructure requirements.

• Analyze costs associated with underground electrical systems and medium-voltage infrastructure.

• Support estimating for EPC and utility-scale solar projects.

• Review utility interconnection-related scope and requirements when applicable.

Budget Development & Cost Analysis

• Develop project budgets based on plans, specifications, takeoffs, and market pricing.

• Maintain current pricing databases for:

  • Labor

  • Materials

  • Equipment

  • Subcontractors

  • Other construction resources

• Monitor market pricing trends and update estimating databases accordingly.

• Assist with project cost analysis.

• Support change-order pricing when requested.

• Compare estimated costs against actual project information when available to improve future estimates.

Risk & Value Engineering

• Identify potential project risks during the estimating process.

• Evaluate constructability issues that could affect project costs.

• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, and potential cost exposures.

• Develop and evaluate value-engineering opportunities.

• Communicate significant risks and pricing assumptions to management.

• Assist project teams in developing cost-effective construction solutions.

Preconstruction Coordination

• Coordinate with project managers, engineering teams, field personnel, subcontractors, and vendors during preconstruction.

• Participate in internal bid reviews.

• Discuss scope, pricing assumptions, project risks, and estimating methodology with project stakeholders.

• Participate in project handoff meetings after successful bids.

• Ensure estimating information is accurately transferred to the project management and construction teams.

Required Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of construction estimating experience.

• Experience in commercial construction, solar construction, or related construction industries.

• Strong understanding of construction estimating principles and methodologies.

• Ability to read and interpret:

  • Construction drawings

  • Civil plans

  • Electrical plans

  • Project specifications

  • Contracts

  • Bid documents

• Demonstrated experience performing detailed quantity takeoffs.

• Strong understanding of construction materials, labor, equipment, and subcontractor pricing.

• Strong analytical and mathematical skills.

• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple bids and competing deadlines.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.

• Experience using construction estimating software or related technology.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with the following experience are strongly preferred:

• Commercial solar estimating experience.

• Utility-scale solar estimating experience.

• EPC project estimating experience.

• Renewable energy construction experience.

• Experience estimating large-scale solar farms.

• Knowledge of medium-voltage electrical systems.

• Knowledge of underground electrical systems.

• Familiarity with utility interconnection projects.

• Experience working with electrical, civil, and renewable energy scopes.

• Experience with:

  • Bluebeam

  • PlanSwift

  • HeavyBid

  • Procore

  • Similar construction estimating platforms

• Bachelor's degree in:

  • Construction Management

  • Civil Engineering

  • Electrical Engineering

  • Engineering

  • Related field

A bachelor's degree is preferred but not required when the candidate has strong relevant estimating experience.

Technical Skills

The successful candidate should have experience or familiarity with:

• Construction Estimating

• Solar Construction Estimating

• Utility-Scale Solar

• Commercial Solar

• EPC Estimating

• Quantity Takeoffs

• Cost Estimating

• Labor Calculations

• Material Pricing

• Subcontractor Pricing

• Vendor Quotations

• Bid Preparation

• Construction Drawings

• Construction Specifications

• Civil Construction

• Electrical Construction

• Medium-Voltage Systems

• Underground Electrical Systems

• Utility Interconnection

• Value Engineering

• Cost Analysis

• Change Order Pricing

• Microsoft Excel

• Bluebeam

• PlanSwift

• HeavyBid

• Procore

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented construction estimator who understands how project scope, quantities, labor, materials, subcontractor pricing, and construction methodology translate into a competitive project budget.

The successful candidate should be:

• Analytical and highly detail-oriented

• Comfortable working with large volumes of project information

• Strong in quantity takeoffs and cost calculations

• Knowledgeable about construction practices

• Comfortable reviewing civil and electrical drawings

• Organized and deadline-driven

• Strong at vendor and subcontractor communication

• Able to identify estimating risks and scope gaps

• Comfortable managing multiple bids simultaneously

• A strong communicator and team player

• Interested in renewable energy and large-scale solar construction

Work Environment & Travel

The position is associated with the New Braunfels, TX market and may involve on-site, hybrid, or remote work arrangements depending on business needs and project requirements.

Travel is required, and the selected candidate should be comfortable traveling to project locations, vendor/subcontractor meetings, site visits, preconstruction meetings, and other business-related activities as needed.

Compensation & Benefits

Company offers a competitive compensation package based on experience, including:

• Competitive salary based on experience

• Performance bonuses

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Paid holidays

• Career growth opportunities

• Opportunity to work on large-scale renewable energy projects

• Growth potential within a rapidly expanding renewable energy organization

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a growing renewable energy construction company where the Estimator will have a direct impact on project success.

The successful candidate will play an important role in helping the company identify profitable opportunities, develop accurate project budgets, improve bid competitiveness, and successfully transition awarded projects from preconstruction through execution.

If you are an experienced construction estimator with strong analytical skills and a passion for commercial or utility-scale solar construction, this position offers an opportunity to build a long-term career in the rapidly expanding renewable energy industry.

W3Global was established in 2006 in Fremont, CA with a vision: simplify the recruiting process and develop an industry-disrupting platform to connect candidates with clients. Our cutting-edge Applicant Tracking System enables us to find the right person for the right job, creating value for job seekers and employers. While W3Global initially focused on IT staffing, we have expanded the business to serve many other industries, including accounting and finance, legal, engineering, human resources, government and more.

We’re proud of the investments we’ve made in our team, having grown from four to 1000 employees and evolving into one of the leading recruitment and staffing solution providers in the industry. Our recruiters and account managers are passionate about connecting qualified professionals with the right positions in small, medium, and large companies.

Our Services
W3Global understands the natural ups and downs of an organization’s staffing needs. We are continuously adapting to industry and economic changes to find the right candidates.

We specialize in placing permanent, direct, contract, and temporary positions for companies of any size. Our recruiting services include sourcing, recruiting, screening, interview management, salary negotiations, training, and onboarding.

We are committed to helping organizations redefine their recruitment process by delivering our SaaS-based proprietary application tracking system software.

Our Expertise
W3Global has been delivering staffing solutions for nearly two decades; we know which recruiting strategies work best. Our expert team is committed to developing a customized solution to fit your company’s unique needs.

As a W3Global client, you’ll also receive personalized assistance from a seasoned team of staffing specialists. We are committed to providing both technical support and industry expertise to simplify the hiring process. We know that your time matters. W3Global will help you streamline the hiring process, getting it done and getting it right.