JOB SUMMARY:
As a senior, highly autonomous member of the Lippert Mechanical team, the HVAC Senior Mechanical Estimator leads the full estimating lifecycle for commercial, industrial, and institutional HVAC projects—including service, repairs, retrofits, replacements, maintenance agreements, and design/build opportunities. This role combines advanced technical estimating expertise with independent opportunity generation, strategic bid selection, and negotiation authority. The Senior Estimator proactively builds market relationships, sets pricing strategy, evaluates project risk, and provides executive-level technical guidance to sales and operations. Partnering with clients, field technicians, sales, and project management, the Senior Estimator delivers value-driven solutions and measurable margin improvement, consistently upholding Lippert’s mission of exceeding customer expectations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Estimating & Technical
- Independently prepare and approve detailed cost estimates for HVAC service work, repairs, retrofits, replacements, maintenance contracts, and design/build projects.
- Lead comprehensive reviews of service requests, site assessments, blueprints, technical documents, and technician feedback to develop highly accurate labor and material estimates.
- Own analysis of project specifications and drawings; attend and lead pre-bid meetings to determine scope, risk profile, and required resources.
- Direct vendor and subcontractor sourcing and pricing strategies; negotiate terms to ensure cost-effective and timely delivery aligned with margin targets.
- Establish and maintain accurate records of estimates, job costing data, benchmarking, and pricing trends to inform future quotations and strategy.
- Ensure all estimates comply with Lippert standards, client specifications, and applicable codes; implement estimating QA/QC processes.
- Identify and champion value engineering opportunities; present cost-saving alternatives with lifecycle and ROI analysis.
- Support commissioning and warranty closeout with technical documentation and performance analytics; recommend continuous improvements to standards.
Business Development & Opportunity Generation
- Proactively identify, qualify, and secure new project opportunities through networking, client outreach, and market research—owning a personal pipeline and conversion targets.
- Collaborate with sales leadership to develop market-entry strategies, pursuit plans, and key account growth roadmaps.
- Build and sustain executive-level relationships with clients, general contractors, and industry partners to expand Lippert’s market presence.
- Lead bid strategy and presentation efforts; make recommendations on go/no-go decisions based on risk, capacity, and margin objectives.
Sales Team Support
- Serve as the primary technical authority for the sales team, driving proposal development, solutioning, and client presentations.
- Translate complex technical options into clear value propositions, differentiators, and pricing strategies.
- Ensure proposals are accurate, compelling, and aligned to client priorities; develop standard scopes, alternates, and clarifications to reduce risk.
Project Coordination & Management
- Coordinate with project managers and field teams to ensure seamless project handoff, prefabrication planning, and execution alignment with estimate assumptions.
- Lead negotiation of contract scope, terms, change orders, and buy-out of projects; set procurement strategy and award recommendations.
- Support project management with pricing extra work items and change orders; oversee major equipment procurement alignment with budgets and schedules.
MINIMUM AND/OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, HVAC Technology, Construction Management, or related field (Associate degree with exceptional experience considered).
- Strong industry experience with demonstrated progression in estimating and preconstruction leadership.
EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years of HVAC estimating experience for commercial/industrial service and projects; 10+ years preferred for complex design/build leadership.
- Proven design/build leadership with ability to develop creative, code-compliant solutions and alternatives.
- Advanced understanding of commercial HVAC systems, components, controls, and service operations, including lifecycle cost analysis.
- Track record of autonomous opportunity development, bid strategy leadership, and successful contract negotiations.
- Exceptional mathematical, analytical, and risk assessment skills with strong attention to detail.
- Executive-level communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in reading and interpreting mechanical plans, specifications, and work orders; fluency with estimating software and takeoff tools.
- Highly organized, able to manage multiple complex estimates and deadlines independently.
- Demonstrated ability to generate work, improve margins, and support sustained sales growth.
SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- Significant field experience in HVAC service or projects; ability to validate labor assumptions and sequence of work.
- Business development or sales enablement experience with measurable outcomes.
- Leadership in cross-functional settings; ability to mentor junior estimators and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
- Expertise in value engineering, cost-saving strategies, and total cost of ownership analysis.
- Commitment to Lippert’s mission of customer satisfaction and technical excellence; high professional integrity and accountability.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: This job operates in both an office and a field environment. Must be able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
REASONABLE ACCOMODATION: Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions unless doing so presents an undue hardship on the Company’s business operations.
OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Employees understand the above job description and agree to comply with and be subject to its conditions. Employee further agrees this job description does not alter his/her at-will employment status. Employees understand the Company reserves the right to delegate, remove, expand or change all responsibilities. Employees acknowledge that he/she can fulfill the above duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
