Senior Project Estimator - Data Center Preconstruction

Decima International is a professional services company, providing project management and controls services to clients in the United States and the Middle East. Our mission is to become the premier professional services provider across all industry sectors we are engaged in. To accomplish this, Decima International’s founders established a simple yet powerful formula:

Approach each client engagement as a partnership, create an environment that attracts the most talented professionals and allows them to flourish, and regulate growth to maintain excellence in our service standards.

If you are interested in a long and rewarding career working with high-profile clients on some of the most challenging projects in the world, then Decima is where you belong. At Decima, you will be able to explore incredible growth and professional development opportunities.

We are seeking a Senior Project Estimator / Cost Manager to support large-scale greenfield data center projects from preconstruction through construction execution.

The role will initially focus on independent cost estimating, GC/CM estimate reconciliation, GMP/lump-sum proposal review, Schedule of Values review, value engineering, and budget validation. As the project moves into construction, this position will transition into owner-side cost management, supporting pay application review, change order evaluation, cost reporting, contingency tracking, cash flow forecasting, and estimate-at-completion updates.

This is not an estimating-only role. The successful candidate must be able to help establish the project budget, challenge GC/CM pricing and assumptions, and protect the Owner’s capital through execution.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review and validate full project budgets across civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, telecom/low voltage, general conditions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, allowances, fees, markups, and soft-cost interfaces.
• Prepare independent estimates at SD, DD, and 100% CD stages.
• Reconcile independent estimates against GC/CM estimates and identify scope, pricing, quantity, escalation, contingency, assumption, and risk variances.
• Review GMP and lump-sum proposals, including assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, allowances, unit prices, general conditions, fees, insurance, bonds, and markups.
• Review Schedule of Values for completeness, reasonableness, alignment with scope, and front-loading risk.
• Evaluate bid packages, subcontractor pricing, vendor quotes, and GC/CM estimate submissions for completeness and cost reasonableness.
• Identify scope gaps, pricing risks, estimate assumptions, long-lead cost drivers, escalation exposure, contingency needs, and budget impacts.
• Support value engineering and track accepted/rejected VE items against budget, scope, and project objectives.
• Prepare Basis of Estimate documentation, estimate summaries, variance reports, reconciliation logs, cost driver analysis, and executive-level presentations.
• Transition into construction-phase cost management, including pay application review, change order review, cost reporting, contingency tracking, cash flow forecasting, and EAC updates.
• Support monthly cost reviews with the Owner, GC/CM, project management, procurement, scheduling, and commercial teams.
• Support closeout cost reconciliation, including final change orders, allowance reconciliation, retention release, shared savings, and final cost reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of construction estimating, preconstruction, cost estimating, quantity surveying, cost management, project controls, or cost advisory experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, or related technical field.
• Full-project estimating experience across multiple disciplines, not only one trade or specialty scope.
• Strong understanding of civil, structural, architectural, MEP, fire protection, telecom, general conditions, escalation, contingency, and allowances.
• Experience with large commercial, industrial, mission-critical, data center, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, EPC, or similarly complex capital projects.
• Experience reviewing GC/CM estimates, GMPs, lump-sum proposals, bid packages, subcontractor pricing, vendor quotes, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, markups, and contingency.
• Ability to identify scope gaps, pricing risks, cost drivers, estimate assumptions, and budget exposure.
• Ability to transition from preconstruction estimating into construction-phase cost management.
• Experience with pay application review, change order evaluation, cost reporting, contingency tracking, cash flow forecasting, and EAC development.
• Strong client-facing communication and executive-ready reporting skills.
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Bluebeam, and estimating tools such as CostX, WinEst, Trimble, Accubid, or similar platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with greenfield data centers, hyperscale programs, mission-critical facilities, semiconductor, or advanced manufacturing projects.
• Strong awareness of data center cost drivers, including electrical gear, generators, UPS, switchgear, substations, cooling systems, utilities, telecom/low voltage, commissioning, and long-lead procurement.
• Familiarity with AI/HPC infrastructure, high-density racks, liquid cooling, CDUs, chilled water systems, heat rejection, and commissioning.
• Experience supporting projects from early estimate validation through GMP establishment, procurement, construction cost management, and final cost reconciliation.
• ASPE, AACE, PMP, RICS, or similar certification preferred.

POSITION DETAILS

• Primary Location (On-site): Corsicana or Sweetwater, Texas, United States
• Position Classification: Salary-based full-time hours
• Current US work permit required. This position does not offer sponsorship for employment, including H-1B visa sponsorship or transfer.

PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS

• Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Bluebeam Revu for takeoffs, drawing review, and markups
• CostX, WinEst, Trimble, Accubid, or similar estimating platforms
• Power BI or Tableau preferred