Senior Estimator - Advanced Manufacturing Construction - Orange County

About the Organization

This nationally recognized, award‑winning corporate real estate and program / project / construction management firm represents occupiers and tenants exclusively-never landlords. The organization serves as an owner's representative and third‑party construction manager for some of the most complex and technically demanding office, industrial, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and defense technology projects in the country.

With a strong national footprint and a reputation built on independence, precision, and trust, the firm partners directly with executive leadership teams to plan, manage, and deliver high‑stakes capital projects across large, multi‑site portfolios. The culture emphasizes technical excellence, integrity, collaboration, and clear communication at every level.

The Opportunity

This is a high‑visibility Senior Estimator role on the owner's side, not an in‑house general contractor estimating position.

The Senior Estimator serves as the primary and most trusted cost authority on major capital projects, providing independent, conflict‑free guidance that enables leadership to make confident, well‑informed decisions. From early concept through procurement, this role owns project cost strategy and plays a critical part in shaping how complex, high‑value projects are planned, budgeted, and executed.

Based in Orange County, this position supports a rapidly growing national advanced manufacturing program, working closely with a highly experienced team responsible for delivering technically complex facilities across the United States. The role offers direct exposure to executive stakeholders and meaningful influence over project outcomes on some of the most challenging and sophisticated builds in the market.

Project & Program Context

The Senior Estimator will support a large national program encompassing a multi‑million‑square‑foot portfolio of projects, including:

• Advanced manufacturing and high‑tech industrial facilities
• Robotics‑enabled and highly automated manufacturing environments
• Aerospace and defense production facilities
• Projects with highly complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems

Typical project construction budgets range from $50 million to $1 billion+ per project, requiring disciplined cost management, strong market awareness, and the ability to communicate clearly at both technical and executive levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary cost authority for major capital projects, providing independent, owner‑focused guidance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and refine ROM, conceptual, schematic, design development, and procurement‑ready estimates for office, industrial, and advanced manufacturing projects.
• Own and continuously improve estimating standards, templates, and cost libraries across a growing national portfolio.
• Manage estimate evolution checkpoints, reconciliations, and variance explanations throughout design and procurement.
• Lead and support bid leveling, scope reconciliation, and gap analysis, producing clear written summaries for technical and executive audiences.
• Maintain and refine cost libraries and market benchmarks using current market data and historical project actuals.
• Lead value engineering efforts, identifying cost‑reduction opportunities without compromising scope, performance, quality, or long‑term operational goals.
• Support the cost controls team with estimate‑at‑completion reconciliation and active project cost validation.
• Assist in preparing executive‑level presentations, capital planning materials, and investment decision support documents.
• Collaborate closely with internal project managers, owner stakeholders, and design teams to validate assumptions, manage risk, and align cost strategy with program goals.

Qualifications

• 8-12 years of estimating experience in commercial construction, including both tenant improvement and ground‑up projects.
• Strong owner's representative, third‑party construction management, or program management consulting background (not purely GC‑side).
• Significant experience with advanced manufacturing, aerospace/defense, hardware technology, secure facilities (SCIF / ICD‑705), and/or maritime projects. Candidates with advanced manufacturing or defense manufacturing experience are strongly prioritized.
• Proven command of CSI cost codes and detailed, line‑item estimating across all design phases.
• Demonstrated ability to build, maintain, and apply cost databases, cost libraries, and market benchmarks.
• Hands‑on experience with bid leveling, value engineering, and scope gap analysis.
• Ability to clearly communicate cost assumptions, drivers, and variances to executive‑level, non‑technical stakeholders, both in writing and in presentations.
• Proficiency with tools such as On‑Screen Takeoff, Sage (or equivalent), advanced Microsoft Excel, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Project.
• U.S. citizenship required due to work on sensitive advanced manufacturing and defense‑related projects and associated security clearance eligibility.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple active projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Local to Orange County, CA or already strongly tied to the region.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience supporting large, multi‑site programs or a centralized Program Management Office (PMO).
• Background working with highly technical owners in aerospace and defense, robotics, complex industrial manufacturing, or life sciences environments.

Work Environment & Travel

• Hybrid but primarily in‑office environment: generally four days per week in the office, one day remote.
• Regular travel to project sites as needed (typically 1-2 trips per month, depending on program needs).
• Collaborative, values‑driven culture with a strong emphasis on communication, presence, and cross‑functional teamwork.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary in the $130,000-$175,000 range, commensurate with experience.
• Performance‑based annual bonus opportunity.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical coverage, retirement plan, paid time off, and holidays.
• Long‑term career growth within a nationally active, expanding program and project management practice.