Estimator / Drafter

The role. You sit at the front end of every project: turning bid documents into an accurate number and a clear scope letter, then turning awarded work into shop drawings the fabrication shop and field crews can build from. You'll report to the Owner and work daily with our Project Manager, Shop Foreman, and Field Foreman. A typical week means two to four bid packages, digital takeoffs and pricing, scope letters on bid day, and drafting or revising drawings between deadlines. The position is structured to transition into Project Management for the right candidate.

What You'll Do Estimating

• Perform material quantity and labor takeoffs; review drawings and specifications in full to identify gaps, conflicts, and exclusions before pricing and starting an estimate
• Write and issue scope letters and bid proposals to General Contractors on bid day, with clear inclusions, exclusions, and clarifications
• Source and level vendor quotes; confirm pricing and lead times
• Communicate with General Contractors and design teams to confirm scope, submit RFIs during the bid period, and resolve open questions before the deadline
• Track bid results and maintain historical cost data to sharpen future estimates

Drafting

• Produce shop drawings in AutoCAD for General Contractor and design team review
• Assemble submittal packages - product data, cut sheets, finish samples - and carry revisions through to approval
• Develop details with the Project Manager, Shop Foreman, and Field Foreman so what gets drawn can be fabricated and installed

What You Bring Required. Proficiency with AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro. Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications, including architectural details, sections, and specification divisions. Detail orientated - a missed detail is a missed dollar. Organization, because you'll juggle several bids and active jobs at once. Strong written and verbal communication; scope letters, RFIs, and submittals are as much your work product as the numbers. Comfort in a fast-paced, deadline-driven team environment.

Preferred. Two-year degree in Construction Management, Drafting, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field. California public works experience - submittal processes, prevailing wage, and certified payroll. Familiarity with the SMACNA Architectural Sheet Metal Manual, ASTM standards, and Title 24. Working knowledge of Procore, BuildingConnected, or 3D modeling software. Prior subcontractor, fabrication, or specialty trade experience.

No prior sheet metal experience is required. We'll train the right candidate in our details, assemblies, and fabrication methods. What we can't train is care, follow-through, and the instinct to ask a question rather than assume an answer. Candidates from adjacent trades, architecture and engineering support roles, and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

Why this role: A structured path to Project Management, training from foremen who've done the work, and real variety - a school gymnasium one month, custom architectural panels the next. Your estimate wins the job; your drawings build it.