Senior Estimator / Preconstruction Lead
Quick Summary
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 3 estimators and 1 estimating assistant Oversee estimating workload, deadlines, quality control, and departmental performance Prepare and lead conceptual,
Base salary in the $200,000
Trueline, a long-established employee-owned general contractor with a strong reputation across California, is seeking a Senior Estimator / Preconstruction Lead to join their team in Bakersfield, CA. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced estimator who can lead a growing estimating function, partner with executive leadership to pursue and win new work, and help shape backlog strategy across multifamily, commercial, institutional, and industrial projects. The role combines hands-on estimating leadership with business development visibility, making it a strong fit for someone who wants to influence both project pursuit strategy and long-term company growth.
Responsibilities
~1 min read- →Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 3 estimators and 1 estimating assistant
- →Oversee estimating workload, deadlines, quality control, and departmental performance
- →Prepare and lead conceptual, design-build, negotiated, and hard-bid estimates across a range of project types
- →Review drawings, specifications, takeoffs, subcontractor pricing, general conditions, allowances, contingencies, and final bid strategy
- →Partner with company leadership to identify and pursue new project opportunities that strengthen backlog
- →Participate in bid strategy, bid/no-bid decisions, value engineering, and pricing discussions
- →Serve as a visible client-facing representative in meetings, presentations, negotiations, and preconstruction conversations
- →Build and maintain relationships with owners, developers, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and other industry partners
- →Help position the company competitively through strong communication, market insight, and strategic estimating support
- →Maintain estimating databases, cost history, and benchmarking tools to improve consistency and decision-making
- →Support clean turnover to project management after award, including scopes, clarifications, schedules, proposals, and handoff documentation
- →Track estimating performance metrics such as estimate accuracy, win rate, profitability, and backlog contribution
- 10+ years of construction estimating experience with a general contractor
- Strong estimating experience in multifamily and commercial construction
- Experience leading, mentoring, or managing an estimating team
- Ability to develop conceptual, negotiated, design-build, and hard-bid estimates
- Strong understanding of California construction practices, building code, and market conditions
- Confidence operating in a client-facing leadership role, not solely a back-office estimating function
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage owners, executives, project teams, and subcontractors
- Ability to work onsite in Bakersfield, CA
- Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills
- Experience with multifamily projects ranging from mid-size to large apartment communities
- Exposure to institutional, education, medical, religious, hospitality-style, or light industrial projects
- Experience with value engineering, subcontractor prequalification, and vendor strategy
- Background supporting executive bid presentations, risk reviews, and backlog planning
- Familiarity with tools such as Bluebeam, PlanSwift, RSMeans, Sage Estimating, Autodesk Takeoff, ProEst, and Microsoft Office
- Interest in improving estimating workflows through technology or AI-assisted takeoff tools
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field
- Certifications such as CMAA, AACE, or CCS
What We Offer
~1 min readLocation & Eligibility
About this job
- Posted
- 45 days ago
Listing Details
- Posted
- September 9, 2026
- First seen
- September 28, 2026
- Last seen
- October 24, 2026
Posting Health
- Days active
- 25
- Repost count
- 0
- Trust Level
- 22%
- Scored at
- October 24, 2026
Signal breakdown
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