Full-Time

Lead Estimator

Southway Builders

Southway Builders

11-50 employees

General contractor for diverse construction projects

Compensation Overview

$90k - $120k/yr

+ Discretionary bonus + Auto allowance

Baltimore, MD, USA

In Person

Associate's

Category
Architecture & Civil Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Microsoft Office
Excel/Numbers/Sheets

Get referred to Southway Builders

See people who can refer or advise you

Requirements
  • A high school diploma is required.
  • An associate's, vocational, or technical school degree in construction management or a related field is preferred.
  • Five to seven years of construction budget and/or estimation experience is required.
  • Five to seven years of material take-off experience is required.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and Project, is required.
  • Proficiency in Procore, Bluebeam, and BuildingConnected is preferred.
  • Proficiency in various estimating software is required.
  • The role requires strong oral and written communication skills.
  • The role requires strong time-management and organizational skills.
  • The role requires in-depth knowledge of blueprint comprehension and construction.
  • The role requires problem-solving skills and proactive assessment of potential hurdles.
  • The role requires attention to detail to ensure stakeholder expectations are consistently met.
  • The role requires the ability to function in high-pressure situations.
  • The role requires manual dexterity to operate a computer, correctable vision and hearing, and the ability to communicate clearly.
  • The role requires the ability to lift 50 pounds and sit, stand, and walk for prolonged periods.
  • The role requires the ability to communicate complex information, interact with management, present information, resolve conflicts, address delicate situations, motivate and influence others.
  • The role requires broad and comprehensive knowledge of relevant theories, concepts, and practices, including the ability to handle complex or unprecedented situations.
  • The role requires the ability to contribute to strategy and operational or business decisions affecting the department.
  • The role requires resourcefulness, innovation, negotiation, and diplomacy in addressing varied and complex problems.
Responsibilities
  • Develop budgets and estimates for multifamily and commercial projects by reviewing architectural drawings and specifications.
  • Collaborate with owners, developers, architects, engineers, and subcontractors to clarify project parameters and the overall scope of work.
  • Prepare and evaluate proposals covering scope of work, quantities, and costs to compile accurate construction budgets.
  • Lead an internal team in providing a complete project budget or estimate.
  • Act as Bid Captain on competitive bids or Lead on negotiated budgets.
  • Review project architectural drawings, specifications, and essential reports to understand the project and scope of work.
  • Review previous drawings and specifications to confirm document changes.
  • Review external factors that may affect scope and price, including CDA guidelines and EPA updates.
  • Create and implement subcontractor and vendor scopes of work.
  • Provide alternates, allowances, and coordination when required by subcontractors or vendors.
  • Obtain bid pricing from subcontractors and vendors.
  • Communicate with subcontractors about their potential to submit project bids, review estimate accuracy, and confirm scope understanding.
  • Create bids and budgets in the required company format.
  • Include cost estimate sheets, assumptions and clarifications, value-management suggestions, budget impacts, and schedules or long-lead items.
  • Create deliverable proposal packages for clients.
  • Collaborate with the project team, owners or developers, and architects or engineers to ensure accuracy in the estimation process.
  • Participate in team meetings, budget reviews, and value-management meetings.
  • Research value-management opportunities to reduce cost and timeline while maintaining quality.
  • Solicit subcontractor and vendor input on schedule durations and sequencing.
  • Prepare topics of concern, logistics, and schedules for meetings as needed.
  • Perform take-offs to confirm material quantities.
  • Arrange and attend site visits with subcontractors to confirm logistics and existing conditions.
  • Collaborate with the construction team to buy out bid packages.
  • Gather, document, and use historical data and unit prices for future concept projects and alignment with current estimates.
  • Build a network of subcontractors and vendors.
  • Meet construction budget and estimate accuracy targets, deadlines, qualified-bid requirements, and subcontractor survey expectations.
Desired Qualifications
  • An associate's, vocational, or technical school degree in construction management or a related field is preferred.
  • Proficiency in Procore, Bluebeam, and BuildingConnected is preferred.

Southway Builders (BridgePoint General Contracting) is a general construction company serving the Triangle region with a wide range of building types, including tenant fit-ups, interior renovations, facilities projects, historic renovations, life sciences facilities, and new construction. It manages construction projects from planning through completion by coordinating subcontractors, scheduling, budgeting, and quality control, ensuring projects meet client needs and timelines. The company differentiates itself through its broad scope of services, a focus on delivering high-quality results and strong customer service, and a track record of being a trusted partner for businesses. Its goal is to provide reliable, end-to-end construction solutions that help clients transform spaces efficiently and with minimal disruption.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Durham, North Carolina

Founded

2007

Get referred to Southway Builders

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 Metropolitan and Siemens projects showcase repeat-client execution and operational depth.
  • June 16, 2026 Baltimore Business Journal ranked Southway eleventh among 100 largest contractors.
  • Chapel Hill Homestead Gardens and Charlotte redevelopment expand Southeast backlog into 2027.

What critics are saying

  • July 31, 2026 Maamech dismissal shows contract clauses can erase Southway recoveries.
  • Regional contractors like Whiting-Turner and Gilbane pressure margins in Baltimore and Triangle markets.
  • Southway's growth depends on winning complex projects; any slump hits office utilization fast.

What makes Southway Builders unique

  • October 2025 BridgePoint deal gave Southway Durham leadership and Triangle office scale.
  • Southway spans Baltimore and North Carolina, combining commercial, lab, healthcare, and academic work.
  • 2026 awards from CMAA and Chesapeake Region Safety Council strengthen employer credibility.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Performance Bonus

Company News

BridgePoint
Oct 1st, 2025
Southway Joins Forces With BridgePoint General Contracting

Southway joins forces with BridgePoint General Contracting.