Senior Estimator - Civil

Potelco, Inc., a subsidiary of Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR), was founded in 1965. We specialize in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, which include designing, estimating, material acquisition, project management, construction, emergency power restoration, system maintenance, and similar services. Our expertise is in power, transmission, distribution, and substation projects. We are a leading full-service provider of power infrastructure, construction, and support services in utility and energy contracting throughout the Pacific Northwest and neighboring states.

We are proud to be working with some of the region’s largest energy companies as we continue to modernize their electric systems, move towards de-carbonization, and maintain thousands of miles of overhead and underground lines serving millions of residential and commercial customers. We uphold high safety, productivity, and reliability standards as we work with our customers to provide both current and strategic, forward-thinking energy infrastructure, delivery, and solutions.

If you enjoy working with a great group of professionals, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for high-voltage electrical construction, then we have a role for you! Potelco, Inc. seeks a great EPC Civil Estimator to join our team at the Potelco Inc. office located in Sumner, WA.

Estimating & Quantity Takeoff

• Develop detailed civil cost estimates for EPC projects including HV transmission lines (69kV–500kV), substations, and switching stations.
• Perform thorough quantity takeoffs from civil, structural, and geotechnical drawings including grading plans, foundation designs, drainage layouts, and site improvement drawings.
• Estimate all earthwork, grading, excavation, backfill, compaction, import/export material, and site restoration scopes.
• Develop cost estimates for drilled pier, spread footing, and mat foundations for transmission structures, substation equipment pads, and control buildings.
• Estimate underground civil scopes including ductbank and conduit installation, manholes, handholes, and cable vault construction.
• Quantify and price access road construction, graveling, fencing, gates, drainage structures, and erosion control measures.
• Incorporate environmental permit requirements, SWPPP implementation costs, and restoration obligations into civil estimates.

Subcontractor & Vendor Management

• Prepare and issue RFQs to civil subcontractors and material suppliers for earthwork, concrete, fencing, drilling, and other civil scopes.
• Evaluate and level subcontractor bids for scope completeness, exclusions, and unit rate competitiveness.
• Develop self-perform estimates for civil scopes to benchmark subcontractor pricing and assess make-or-buy decisions.
• Maintain an active network of qualified civil subcontractors across key geographies.

Scope Review & Risk Analysis

• Review geotechnical reports, environmental studies, survey data, and permit documents to identify civil cost drivers and risks.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate terrain, existing infrastructure, access constraints, soil conditions, and logistics challenges.
• Identify and quantify civil risk items including unknown subsurface conditions, rock excavation, groundwater, material haul distances, and weather-sensitive work windows.
• Develop contingency and risk-adjusted pricing recommendations for inclusion in bid proposals.
• Review client-provided specifications and contract terms for civil scope obligations, liquidated damages, and performance guarantees.

Coordination & Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with the electrical estimating team to align civil and electrical scopes, avoid gaps, and eliminate overlaps.
• Interface with engineering and design teams to validate civil design assumptions used in preliminary estimates.
• Support constructability reviews, site walk-downs, and value engineering exercises during the pursuit phase.
• Participate in bid reviews and present civil estimate assumptions, key risks, and recommended contingencies to senior leadership.
• Coordinate with project management and operations teams on civil labor productivity assumptions and crew configurations.

Estimating Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and update civil cost databases, unit rate libraries, and productivity factors specific to HV electrical civil construction.
• Capture bid feedback and post-project civil cost data to improve future estimate accuracy.
• Stay current on regional construction market conditions, material pricing trends, and labor agreement changes affecting civil work.
• Support the development of civil estimating standards, templates, and best practices across the estimating department.
• Mentor and assist junior civil estimating staff in takeoff methods, cost analysis, and bid preparation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related field preferred; relevant certifications such as PE licensure, CCM, or AACE CCP are a plus.
• Equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum 5–8 years of civil construction estimating experience, with demonstrated exposure to heavy civil or electrical utility infrastructure projects.
• Prior experience estimating civil scope on high voltage transmission, substation, or utility-scale projects strongly preferred.
• Background in field civil construction operations, project engineering, or construction supervision is highly desirable.
• Experience working within EPC or design-build delivery frameworks preferred.
• Experience estimating projects with total civil values of $10M or greater.
• Proficiency in estimating software such as HCSS HeavyBid, Bid2Win, Agtek, or similar civil estimating platforms.
• Ability to read and interpret civil and structural drawings including grading plans, foundation details, drainage designs, and civil specifications.
• Strong working knowledge of earthwork construction methods, foundation types, underground utilities, and site development practices.
• Familiarity with geotechnical reports and their implications for excavation, bearing capacity, and foundation design.
• Understanding of environmental permit requirements, SWPPP obligations, and erosion/sediment control standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with quantity takeoff software such as Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, or similar tools.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage complex, multi-discipline estimates under tight deadline pressure.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and communicate estimate risks clearly.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present findings to executive and client audiences.
• Collaborative team player who can work effectively across estimating, engineering, procurement, and field operations.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple simultaneous pursuits.
• Commitment to ethical estimating practices and professional integrity.

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and/or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

We prohibit all types of discrimination and are committed to providing access and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. For additional information or if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview, or hiring processes or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact us the Company’s Human Resources department.