Senior Estimator

SiteTalent is partnering with a well-established specialty contractor in the Lower Mainland to find a Senior Mechanical Estimator. Our client is a 30-year business built on technical expertise, strong customer relationships, and a reputation for delivering high-quality mechanical insulation and related specialty services across commercial and industrial environments.

Summary

The Senior Mechanical Estimator is a key commercial role and a trusted face of the business. Reporting to the owner and working alongside the lead estimator, you will own the full estimating process-from drawings and takeoffs through bid submission, negotiation, and customer interaction. This is a hands-on, high-impact seat suited for someone who is as comfortable defending a number across the table from a general contractor as they are building one from a set of drawings.

The company handles an unusually broad range of project sizes-from small service work to major projects approaching $15 million-across hospitals, high-rises, institutional buildings, and industrial facilities. This is not a repetitive takeoff role. You will work across varied scopes, major customers, and highly specialized projects with real autonomy and influence.

What You'll Do

• Own the estimating process from initial drawings and takeoffs through bid submission and negotiation.
• Price mechanical insulation and related scopes accurately by assessing materials, labour, subcontractors, and risk.
• Identify exclusions, clarifications, and scope risks before submission.
• Attend site visits, pre-bid meetings, and walkthroughs.
• Maintain current pricing information, historical cost data, and estimating records.

Client Relationships & Commercial Impact

• Speak directly with clients, general contractors, suppliers, and vendors as a credible representative of the business.
• Negotiate scope, pricing, and terms with the goal of winning profitable work.
• Support customer relationships and business development without carrying a hard individual sales quota.
• Attend customer meetings, industry events, and social functions as a senior face of the company.
• Complete a clean handoff to operations and project management once a purchase order is received.
• Work collaboratively across estimating, operations, and commercial groups.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of estimating processes, tools, and technology.

What You Bring

Experience & Credentials

• 5+ years of relevant mechanical estimating experience with full-cycle ownership.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, piping, plumbing, mechanical, or related mechanical systems.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, specifications, and tender documents.
• Proven track record of client-facing communication-leading meetings, defending pricing, and building trust with senior customers.
• Experience with estimating software such as Bluebeam, PlanSwift, or similar platforms. FastWRAP exposure is a plus.
• Comfortable working predominantly from the office, with customer meetings and events outside the office.

Skills & Attributes

• A confident, customer-facing estimator who can sit across the table from a GC or owner and represent the company with credibility.
• Independent and resourceful-can determine what information is missing, solve problems, and move work forward without constant direction.
• Strong commercial judgment-understands risk, margins, exclusions, and how changes in scope affect profitability.
• Team-oriented and collaborative-works well across departments
• Confident without ego
• Curious about technology and open to AI-enabled estimating workflow improvements.

What We Can Offer You

• Base salary up to approximately $125,000, based on experience.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.
• Full employer-paid benefits.
• 5% RRSP matching.
• Company vehicle and gas card.
• Laptop and cell phone provided.
• Three weeks vacation to start, with four weeks available for the right candidate.
• Visible influence in a 30-year business rather than being one estimator in a large corporate department.
• Direct access to ownership, senior customers, and a genuine opportunity to shape how the company wins work.