Electrical Estimator – Data Centers (General Contractor)
Position Summary:
The Electrical Estimator is responsible for preparing accurate and competitive cost estimates for the electrical systems associated with mission-critical data center projects across the United States. Working within the Preconstruction team, the Electrical Estimator develops conceptual through Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) estimates, evaluates subcontractor proposals, supports design development, and provides technical expertise throughout the preconstruction process.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience estimating complex electrical systems for large commercial, industrial, or mission-critical facilities and possesses a strong understanding of the electrical infrastructure required for hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data centers.
Key Responsibilities:
Electrical Estimating:
- Prepare conceptual, schematic design, design development, and construction document estimates for electrical scopes.
- Develop detailed quantity take-offs from drawings, BIM models, and specifications.
- Produce comprehensive cost models for mission-critical electrical infrastructure.
- Prepare estimate summaries, clarifications, assumptions, and exclusions.
- Support development of Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposals.
- Review design changes and assess budget impacts throughout project development.
Mission Critical Electrical Systems
Prepare estimates for:
- Utility service connections
- Medium-voltage distribution
- High-voltage substations (where applicable)
- Switchgear
- Transformers
- Generators
- Generator paralleling systems
- Automatic transfer switches (ATS)
- Static transfer switches (STS)
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Power Distribution Units (PDUs)
- Remote Power Panels (RPPs)
- Busway systems
- Cable tray systems
- Grounding and bonding
- Arc flash mitigation systems
- Lighting and lighting controls
- Emergency power systems
- Low-voltage raceway systems
Low Voltage & Special Systems
Estimate costs associated with:
- Structured cabling infrastructure
- Telecommunications systems
- Security systems
- CCTV
- Access control
- Intrusion detection
- Fire alarm systems
- Public address systems
- Network infrastructure pathways
- Building automation interfaces
- Monitoring and metering systems
Trade Partner Management:
- Develop electrical bid packages for subcontractors.
- Solicit competitive pricing from qualified electrical contractors and suppliers.
- Lead scope review meetings with trade partners.
- Evaluate bids for completeness, compliance, and commercial alignment.
- Identify scope gaps, exclusions, and risk items.
- Support subcontractor recommendation and procurement strategies.
Design & Constructability:
- Participate in multidisciplinary design review meetings.
- Review electrical drawings and specifications for constructability.
- Identify inconsistencies, conflicts, and coordination issues.
- Recommend value engineering solutions without compromising reliability or maintainability.
- Collaborate with architects, engineers, and operations teams during design development.
Cost Analysis:
- Perform comparative cost analyses for alternative electrical systems.
- Benchmark pricing using historical project data and market trends.
- Monitor commodity pricing impacts, including copper, aluminium, switchgear, generators, and major electrical equipment.
- Assess escalation risks associated with long-lead electrical equipment.
- Maintain historical electrical cost databases for future estimating.
Procurement Planning:
- Support procurement strategies for long-lead electrical equipment.
- Identify critical procurement milestones for:
- Switchgear
- Generators
- Transformers
- UPS systems
- Busway
- PDUs
- ATS equipment
- MV equipment
- Assist in developing procurement schedules aligned with project milestones.
Project Handover:
- Prepare estimate turnover documentation.
- Participate in project kickoff meetings.
- Communicate estimating assumptions, contingencies, procurement strategies, and identified risks to Operations teams.
- Provide estimating support during project buyout and early construction phases.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or a related field (preferred).
- 5–10+ years of electrical estimating experience with a General Contractor, Electrical Contractor, or EPC contractor.
- Experience estimating large commercial, industrial, healthcare, manufacturing, or mission-critical facilities.
- Strong understanding of electrical construction methods and sequencing.
- Experience interpreting electrical drawings, one-line diagrams, and specifications.
- Proficiency with estimating software, digital quantity take-off platforms, and Microsoft Excel.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and organisational skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience estimating hyperscale or colocation data center projects.
- Knowledge of Tier III and Tier IV data center electrical infrastructure.
- Experience with Design-Build and CM-at-Risk delivery methods.
- Familiarity with BIM-based estimating and model-based quantity extraction.
- Understanding of commissioning and integrated systems testing.
- Professional certifications such as Certified Professional Estimator (CPE), AACE certification, or an Electrical Engineering licence are desirable.
Technical Knowledge:
Candidates should possess experience with:
Electrical Infrastructure
- Utility coordination
- Medium-voltage distribution
- Switchgear
- Transformers
- Generator systems
- UPS systems
- Battery systems
- Power distribution
- Busway
- Cable management
- Grounding and bonding
- Emergency power
Mission Critical Systems
- Concurrently maintainable electrical systems
- Redundant power distribution
- N+1 and 2N electrical configurations
- Tier III and Tier IV concepts
- Equipment redundancy strategies
- Electrical reliability planning
Estimating
- Quantity take-offs
- Cost planning
- Conceptual estimating
- GMP development
- Bid analysis
- Value engineering
- Procurement planning
- Cost benchmarking
- Risk assessment
- Escalation analysis
Core Competencies
- Technical expertise
- Cost planning and estimating
- Commercial awareness
- Analytical thinking
- Attention to detail
- Negotiation
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Problem solving
- Organisation
- Time management
- Client focus
Success Metrics
Performance in this role will be measured by:
- Estimate accuracy
- Budget performance
- Competitiveness of electrical bids
- Quantity take-off accuracy
- Timely delivery of estimates
- Value engineering contributions
- Successful management of long-lead equipment pricing
- Procurement readiness
- Reduction of estimate variance during project execution
- Quality of estimate documentation
- Successful project turnover to Operations
Work Environment
- Hybrid office and project site environment.
- Travel (10–25%) to project sites, subcontractor offices, manufacturer facilities, and client meetings throughout the United States.
- Close collaboration with civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, and preconstruction teams.
INDS
Pay: $130,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
