STRUCTURAL STEEL & MISC. METALS ESTIMATOR
Location: Greater Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid)
Company: DLR Contractors dba DLR Steel
Position Type: Full-Time (Open to Contract-to-Hire)
ABOUT US
DLR Contractors dba DLR Steel is a Los Angeles–based structural steel erection company focused on clean execution, schedule certainty, and strong field coordination. Our leadership team brings deep general-contractor and construction-management experience, allowing us to approach steel erection with a disciplined, risk-aware mindset. We are actively pursuing American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Erector Certification and regularly work on PLA and non-PLA projects across Southern California.
ROLE SUMMARY
We are seeking an experienced Structural Steel & Miscellaneous Metals Estimator who understands erection-only scopes and can price work realistically in the Los Angeles market. This role requires a strong grasp of labor productivity, crane assumptions, piece counts, and erection sequencing, and contract compliance with the ability to flag risk early and communicate clearly with project management and field leadership.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepare detailed erection-only estimates for structural steel and miscellaneous metals scopes ($250K–$2M)
- Perform tonnage and piece-count takeoffs from structural and architectural drawings
- Develop labor, crane, and equipment assumptions aligned with LA market conditions
- Evaluate schedule constraints, site logistics, access, and sequencing impacts
- Coordinate scope clarity with fabricators and internal project teams
- Identify and price risk (schedule compression, access, night work, PLA rules, etc.)
- Support bid strategy discussions with executive leadership
- Assist in developing standardized estimating templates and historical cost data
- Participate in post-award handoffs and lessons-learned reviews
- Attend job walks.
· Proactively identify and track public and private bid opportunities for structural steel and miscellaneous metals erection
· Regularly monitor and search relevant bid platforms (public agencies, private GC portals, and industry posting services)
· Evaluate opportunities for strategic fit, including project size, schedule, delivery method, labor requirements, and risk profile
· Recommend which opportunities should be pursued versus declined, based on scope clarity and execution risk
· Support leadership in developing a disciplined bid/no-bid process
· Maintain a pursuit log of active and upcoming opportunities
· Coordinate with executive leadership and project management on pursuit strategy and prioritization
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years estimating structural steel erection and/or miscellaneous metals
- Proven experience pricing erection only (not fabrication)
- Experience outweighs formal education
- Strong understanding of:
- Union labor and PLA environments
- Crane selection and crane day assumptions
- Piece-count vs tonnage productivity
- Urban jobsite logistics (especially LA/SoCal)
- Ability to read and interpret structural and architectural drawings independently
- Proficient in Excel; experience with takeoff software a plus
- Strong communication skills with field, PMs, and executives
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Prior experience with AISC-certified erectors/fabricators or certification process
- LAUSD, public works, or PLA project experience
- Background working directly with fabricators
- Experience supporting estimating handoff through project execution
· Established professional relationships with local structural steel fabricators and/or miscellaneous metals fabricators
· Ability to leverage prior fabricator relationships to support early budget pricing, bid invitations, and scope clarity
· Prior experience working collaboratively with fabricators on erection sequencing, shipping plans, and field coordination
· Experience estimating projects where fabricator coordination is critical to schedule and cost control
· Familiarity with LA-area fabricators, union environments, and GC procurement practices is strongly preferred
WHAT SETS THIS ROLE APART
- Direct access to executive leadership
- Real influence on how projects are priced and executed
- Opportunity to help build a steel erection operation the right way
- Emphasis on disciplined estimating, not low-bid desperation
COMPENSATION
- Competitive salary or hourly rate (commensurate with experience)
- Bonus potential tied to project performance
- Hybrid work environment. This person should be able to attend job walks as necessary.
- Long-term growth opportunity as the company scales
Pay: $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Which best describes your estimating experience (years and type)? (i.e. Fabrication only, erection only, mix, general construction).
- Before assuming tons-per-day productivity for a steel erection project, what key factors do you evaluate?
- Have you estimated structural steel erection projects in union and/or PLA environments, preferably in Southern California? (Yes or No)
- How have you typically identified projects to bid?
☐ Independently sourced opportunities through public and private bid platforms
☐ Combination of self-sourced and GC-provided opportunities
☐ Opportunities were primarily handed to me
☐ I was not involved in sourcing opportunities
- Have you worked directly with structural steel or miscellaneous metals fabricators during estimating and preconstruction (not only through a GC)? (Yes or No)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Mission Hills, CA 91345
