Construction Cost Estimator

What We're Looking For

The time is right to join HNTB! We have recently moved to downtown Minneapolis and are located in the heart of the city.

Connected to a vibrant skyway system, our office sits on a top floor with incredible 360 views! At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us.

For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country.

With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.

This opportunity entails preparing all aspects of detailed cost estimates with minimal supervision for projects that are generally larger and more complex estimating assignments.

Accurately projecting the cost of upcoming projects. Responsible for conceptual, definitive, man-hour, and equipment factored total installed cost estimates.

Duties may also include preparing economic cost studies, cash flows, and contingency analyses.

What You’ll Do :

Performs detailed cost estimates utilizing the Cost Breakdown Structure, determining the cost of each item from experience and summarizing the total.

Prepares detailed breakdown of components and elements of estimates for systems and subsystems.

Performs conceptual estimating by establishing a project’s cost prior to development of graphical representation of a facility.

Works closely with the project supervisor to ensure the project estimate meets all financial and regulatory guidelines. Operates and provides oversight and guidance on the use of selected estimating software.

Provides support in price negotiations. Obtains cost information for materials and services. Participates in client presentations as required.

Performs detailed cost estimates for professional services.

Develops duration estimates of specific construction activities based on assumed construction approach and appropriate production rates.

Prepares independent cost estimates for submitted change order proposals.

Collaborates with scheduling team to develop productivity-based cost estimates and to ensure alignment of estimates to construction schedules.

Analyzes specifications, drawings, sketches, and sample layouts to calculate total construction cost using labor, material, and equipment pricing schedules in concert with historical data.

Reviews contractual documents and contract modifications to determine scope of work and scope changes.

Accumulates, evaluates, and documents historical cost data and construction means and methods to maintain current estimating standards and databases.

Prepares takeoffs on complex projects, drawings, and plans with project management and checks for mathematical and technical accuracy.

Assigns material costs and staffing costs to the takeoffs.

Supports the preparation of procurement documents related to Estimating Specifications.

What You’ll Need :

In lieu of education, 10 years relevant experience with the development of cost estimates

What We Prefer :

AACE Certified Estimating Professional (CEP), ASPE Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) or equivalent

Experience preparing cost estimates on behalf of general contractor using commercially available estimating software

Experience working as client's PM / CM agent (, providing program management / construction management services), or as part of design-build contractor (or equivalent design and construction experience)