Project Estimator

PROJECT ESTIMATOR – LIFT & SHIFT, MECHANICAL INSTALLATION & FABRICATION

Location: Maydown, Co. Derry, Northern Ireland

Employment type: Contract, office-based, with site visits and travel as required

ABOUT MIM

Established in 1994, MIM Mechanical Installation and Maintenance (N.I.) Ltd delivers specialist engineering services across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe.

Our capabilities span lift and shift, machinery installation, mechanical engineering, pipework design and installation, and fabrication of modular equipment and assemblies. We support clients across the data centre, biopharma, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, manufacturing, food and beverage, and power generation sectors.

With a workforce of over 100 skilled professionals, we combine experienced workshop teams, designers, lifting engineers and site personnel to deliver complex projects safely, efficiently and to demanding quality standards.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a commercially minded Project Estimator to prepare accurate, detailed estimates for specialist lifting and shifting, mechanical installation and fabrication packages.

A key focus will be the handling and installation of power and cooling equipment on data centre and industrial projects, alongside workshop fabrication of modular equipment, support steelwork, pipework and associated assemblies.

You will translate tender information and proposed working methods into realistic labour, plant, material and subcontract costs. Working closely with our engineering, workshop and project delivery teams, you will develop competitive submissions that reflect the full scope, practical site requirements and commercial risks.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review tender documents, drawings, equipment schedules and specifications to establish the scope of work.
• Prepare estimates for equipment offloading, internal transport, lifting, final positioning and mechanical installation.
• Price fabrication packages, including materials, workshop labour, welding, finishing, transport and installation.
• Calculate crew sizes, supervision, working hours, programme durations and realistic productivity allowances.
• Identify and price suitable plant and lifting equipment, including cranes, forklifts, telehandlers, MEWPs, machinery skates, jacking systems and lifting accessories.
• Allow for mobilisation, accommodation, travel, workforce rotations and plant hire periods.
• Assess access routes, equipment weights and dimensions, floor-loading constraints and installation sequences in consultation with engineering and site teams.
• Obtain and assess supplier and subcontractor quotations.
• Record assumptions, exclusions, client responsibilities and commercial risks clearly.
• Prepare tender submissions and support clarification discussions with clients.
• Provide a structured estimate handover to project delivery teams.
• Support the assessment of variations and compare estimated costs with actual project costs to improve future pricing.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Relevant estimating or commercial experience in lift and shift, rigging, machinery installation, mechanical engineering or fabrication.
• Practical understanding of handling and positioning heavy, high-value equipment in restricted environments.
• Ability to interpret layouts, general arrangement drawings, specifications and equipment schedules.
• Ability to develop detailed labour, plant and material estimates from a proposed working method.
• Strong Excel skills, numerical accuracy and a structured approach to costing.
• Sound commercial judgement and the ability to identify scope gaps and cost risks.
• Clear communication with clients, suppliers, engineers, workshop personnel and site teams.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing tender deadlines.
• Willingness to undertake site visits and travel across the UK, Ireland and Europe as required.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience estimating data centre or major industrial project packages.
• Familiarity with transformers, switchgear, UPS systems, generators, chillers, cooling units and packaged equipment skids.
• Experience pricing modular fabrication, support steelwork or pipework assemblies.
• Experience estimating projects across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.
• Understanding of lifting plans, RAMS and engineered lifting or load-spreading requirements.
• Experience assessing variations and changes to scope.
• Ability to navigate CAD drawings and BIM models.
• A relevant qualification in engineering, estimating, quantity surveying, construction or lifting operations.

Help us price the move. Plan the installation. Deliver the project.