Senior Project Controls Estimator

What you'll do

As a Senior Project Controls Estimator at Giga, you'll sit where Finance meets Construction. You'll turn drawings, scope, and project data into the estimates and cost forecasts our leadership needs to make fast, confident decisions. You'll own the numbers from early concept budgets that get projects funded, through control-level estimates that set the baseline, and on to tracking where every dollar goes during execution. Much of our work powers data centers and other energy-intensive facilities, so electrical and power distribution scope will often drive the cost. At Giga's speed, accurate cost information in real time is a competitive advantage. You'll run this function with autonomy, build structure in a high-growth environment, and work directly with Engineering, Construction, and Finance leaders to keep our projects on budget.

Where you'll work

This is a remote position. If you're based near our San Francisco, Long Beach, or Houston offices, you're welcome to work from one of them. Speed matters when you're building physical infrastructure, so you'll stay in close, real-time contact with Engineering, Construction, and Finance leaders wherever you work.

Responsibilities

• Own estimating and cost control across a portfolio of capital construction projects. That includes budget development, commitment tracking, cost-to-complete forecasting, and variance analysis.

• Prepare estimates at each design stage, from conceptual through issued-for-construction, with quantity takeoffs, pricing, and a clear basis of estimate. A large share of this is electrical and power distribution scope: switchgear, transformers, generators, UPS, and feeders.

• Set approved estimates as project budget baselines, track cost performance against them, and compare final costs with the estimates on completed projects.

• Manage change control: review contractor change orders and pricing proposals, prepare independent cost estimates, assess cost and schedule impacts, and keep all changes documented and reflected in updated baselines.

• Level and evaluate subcontractor and vendor bids, and support procurement strategy, including lead times for major equipment.

• Produce weekly and monthly cost reports for Finance and executive leadership that turn complex data into clear, actionable summaries.

• Spot trends, risks, and opportunities across the portfolio, lead value engineering efforts, and raise issues before they become cost overruns.

• Build and maintain Giga's cost database: unit rates, labor productivity, historical benchmarks, and escalation.

• Improve and standardize estimating and cost control tools, templates, and processes across Giga's growing project portfolio.

Requirements

• 5+ years of estimating and project controls experience on large capital projects in energy, construction, infrastructure, utilities, or industrial sectors, with significant electrical scope. Data center experience is not required.

• Experience preparing budgetary and preliminary CAPEX estimates (±20–30%) for project authorization and funding approvals. Also experience producing definitive and control-level CAPEX estimates from advanced engineering and scope definition, reaching accuracy from ±10–15% through ±5–10% to support execution, cost control, and final investment decisions.

• Working knowledge of industry-standard construction cost estimating tools, databases, benchmarks, and norms, and how to apply them at every stage of capital project development.

• Proficiency in estimating and takeoff software (e.g., Trimble Accubid, HeavyBid, Bluebeam Revu, or equivalent) and advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills.

• Strong understanding of electrical power distribution systems, including the ability to read single-line diagrams, drawings, and specifications.

• Demonstrated experience developing cost forecasts, managing change control, and producing executive-level cost reports.

• Ability to work across Engineering, Construction, and Finance, translating technical project data into financial terms and back again.

• High degree of analytical rigor, with the ability to manage large, complex datasets accurately.

• Strong communicator who can present cost risk clearly and concisely to senior leadership.

Bonus points

• Experience in data center, mission-critical, utility-scale power generation, or high-voltage electrical infrastructure.

• AACE certification (CEP or CCP), or familiarity with AACE International cost engineering standards or similar frameworks.

• Exposure to scheduling tools (Primavera P6, Microsoft Project) and earned value concepts.

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.

• Experience setting up an estimating or project controls function at an early-stage startup or a new operation.