Job ID: 12393
Location:
Category: Accounting & Finance
Employment Type: Contract
Date Added: 09/10/2026
Job Description
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
Description:
We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Estimator with extensive experience estimating Oil & Gas, refinery, petrochemical, and industrial EPC projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing accurate, competitive, and detailed estimates from conceptual design through detailed engineering and construction.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in refinery and petrochemical process piping, mechanical construction, equipment installation, and industrial construction. This individual will work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Project Management, Construction, and subcontractors to develop complete project estimates and identify cost, schedule, and constructability risks.
Core Responsibilities:
- Lead the development of detailed estimates for refinery, petrochemical, Oil & Gas, and industrial EPC projects.
- Review and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, P&IDs, piping isometrics, plot plans, equipment layouts, and other project documentation.
- Develop detailed material take-offs (MTOs) and quantity surveys for piping, mechanical equipment, structural, civil, electrical, and instrumentation scopes.
- Develop labor-hour estimates based on project scope, construction methodology, productivity factors, and historical performance.
- Estimate process piping installation, including pipe, fittings, flanges, valves, specialty items, supports, fabrication, welding, testing, and installation.
- Develop estimates for mechanical equipment installation, including pumps, compressors, vessels, exchangers, tanks, and other refinery/process equipment.
- Obtain and evaluate vendor and subcontractor quotations and ensure pricing accurately reflects project scope.
- Develop detailed subcontractor scopes of work, bid packages, clarifications, assumptions, exclusions, and qualifications.
- Coordinate with Engineering and Procurement to identify material requirements, long-lead items, and procurement impacts.
- Evaluate construction site conditions, access, logistics, work restrictions, outage/turnaround requirements, and other factors affecting project costs.
- Identify project risks, estimating gaps, scope inconsistencies, and potential cost exposures.
- Apply historical project data, labor productivity rates, equipment rates, and market pricing to improve estimate accuracy.
- Develop estimates for both greenfield and brownfield refinery and petrochemical projects.
- Account for construction indirect costs, temporary facilities, mobilization/demobilization, supervision, equipment, scaffolding, safety, QA/QC, testing, and other project requirements.
- Review estimates for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and compliance with client requirements.
- Lead estimate review meetings with Project Management, Engineering, Construction, Procurement, and senior leadership.
- Prepare final estimate documentation and supporting bid packages for client submission.
- Support proposal development, client clarification meetings, and negotiations as required.
- Maintain historical estimating data and lessons learned for use in future projects.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and intermediate estimators.
- Manage multiple estimates simultaneously while meeting demanding proposal deadlines.
The successful candidate must have substantial experience estimating Oil & Gas refinery and/or petrochemical construction projects, preferably within an EPC/EPCM environment.
Strong experience should include:
- Refinery construction and/or expansion projects
- Petrochemical facilities
- Process piping
- Refinery turnarounds and maintenance projects
- Brownfield modifications and tie-ins
- Greenfield construction
- Mechanical equipment installation
- Piping fabrication and erection
- P&ID and isometric interpretation
- Piping material take-offs
- Labor-hour development
- Construction productivity analysis
- Vendor and subcontractor pricing
- Construction indirects
- Field installation requirements
- QA/QC and inspection requirements
- Hydrotesting, flushing, pressure testing, and commissioning considerations
- 10+ years of estimating experience in Oil & Gas, refinery, petrochemical, chemical, or heavy industrial construction.
- Significant experience developing detailed process piping estimates.
- Proven experience estimating refinery and/or petrochemical EPC projects.
- Strong understanding of refinery construction methods, sequencing, productivity, and field execution.
- Ability to independently develop estimates from drawings, specifications, P&IDs, isometrics, and conceptual information.
- Strong knowledge of piping materials, valves, fittings, flanges, supports, welding, fabrication, testing, and installation.
- Experience developing labor-hour and equipment estimates.
- Experience soliciting, evaluating, and leveling subcontractor and vendor quotations.
- Strong understanding of construction contracts, bid documents, scope development, assumptions, and exclusions.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with estimating software and databases.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or related field preferred.
- Experience working for an EPC/EPCM contractor.
- Experience with major refinery or petrochemical operators and EPC clients.
- Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project experience.
- Experience with SAP, Oracle, or other ERP/cost systems.
- Experience with estimating software such as Aspen Capital Cost Estimator, HCSS, Sage Estimating, or similar platforms.
- Experience with 3D model-based estimating.
- Experience with piping productivity databases and historical cost databases.
- Knowledge of ASME, API, NFPA, OSHA, and applicable refinery construction standards.
- Experience with refinery turnarounds, shutdowns, and major maintenance projects.
- TWIC and/or HASC Basic Plus certification.
- Advanced refinery and petrochemical estimating expertise
- Strong process piping knowledge
- Excellent blueprint, P&ID, and isometric interpretation
- Strong labor and productivity analysis
- Commercial and financial awareness
- Strong understanding of construction means and methods
- Excellent scope development and risk identification
- Strong vendor/subcontractor negotiation skills
- Ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Ability to mentor and lead estimating personnel
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- This position will support both office and project-site activities. Occasional travel to refineries, petrochemical facilities, and other industrial project locations may be required for site walks, pre-bid meetings, field verification, and project development.
- The position may involve working around active refinery and industrial construction environments and requires compliance with applicable site safety requirements.
