Chief Estimator – Electrical (Data Center & Large Commercial)

Shimmick • Suisun City, CA

2d • $200,000 - $250,000

About The Position

Shimmick, via our subsidiary, Axia Electric, is seeking a highly talented Electrical Chief Estimator to lead commercial and data center pursuits. This is a high-impact, senior leadership role responsible for driving winning strategies, ensuring pricing accuracy, and aligning estimating with operations, procurement, and executive leadership. The right candidate will bring deep expertise in large-scale electrical systems, a strong understanding of data center and commercial infrastructure, and the leadership presence to guide teams through highly competitive, fast-paced pursuits.
You will be responsible for setting estimating strategy, ensuring pricing accuracy, and positioning the company to win complex, high-profile projects while protecting long-term profitability.
At Shimmick, we are problem solvers. Creative thinkers. Innovators. We approach each project with fresh ideas and big thinking in pursuit of better answers, better outcomes, and better experiences for our clients. We are resourceful, nimble and resilient. We work hard together—and with our clients—to deliver high-quality projects that are on time, on budget and beyond expectations.
Axia Electric, LLC
Since the early 1990s, Shimmick has been self-performing electrical scopes for infrastructure projects. In 2025, the Electrical Division rebranded to Axia Electric, a subsidiary to Shimmick Construction. Axia offers electrical, instrumentation, and process controls expertise for water and wastewater treatment; dams and locks; mass transit and rail; alternative energy; power generation and transmission; and commercial building projects. Our ability to self-perform this specialty work offers additional value and enables us to better control cost and schedule for projects with major electrical and process mechanical scopes. Our clients include municipalities, water districts, sanitation districts, transit agencies, private developers, DOTs, and USACE.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in electrical construction estimating, with significant exposure to large-scale commercial and mission-critical/data center projects.
• Proven leadership experience managing estimating teams and complex pursuits.
• Deep knowledge of self-performed electrical work, labor productivity, and means-and-methods.
• Strong understanding of data center electrical infrastructure and reliability requirements.
• Demonstrated success estimating hospitals, healthcare facilities, schools or large institutional projects.
• Experience with hard bids, negotiated work, design-build, and GMP contracts.
• Advanced proficiency with Accubid Anywhere estimating software and takeoff tools.
• Strong leadership presence with experience managing or mentoring Senior Estimators.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.
• This position does not include sponsorship for United States work authorization.

Nice To Haves

• Familiar with financial analysis (NPV, ROIC, ROCE).
• Proficient computer skills and Microsoft Office suite of applications.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills to deliver presentations with confidence.
• Experience in train and developing estimators – entry level to experienced IBEW Craft members.

Responsibilities

• Lead all estimating activities for electrical scopes from early conceptual budgets through GMP and hard-bid pursuits.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop pursuit strategies, risk profiles, and go/no-go recommendations.
• Establish and continuously improve estimating standards, tools, and best practices specific to data center, mission-critical, and large commercial projects.
• Oversee preparation of detailed, accurate, and competitive electrical estimates, including labor, material, equipment, prefabrication, and self-performed work.
• Analyze drawings, specifications, and design development documents to identify scope gaps, constructability issues, and cost risks.
• Drive value engineering, alternate pricing, and cost optimization strategies without compromising reliability or quality.
• Lead estimating for complex electrical systems including medium voltage distribution, UPS, generators, switchgear, bus duct, grounding, and redundant power architectures.
• Understand owner, developer, and end-user expectations for uptime, redundancy (Tier I–IV), phasing, and commissioning.
• Evaluate drawings and specifications to identify scope gaps, constructability concerns, and cost risks.
• Drive value engineering, alternates, and cost-saving solutions while maintaining code compliance and quality standards.
• Support design-assist and design-build engagements with clients, engineers, and trade partners.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing estimating team.
• Provide technical guidance and career development for senior and junior estimators.
• Standardize divisional estimating processes, databases, and benchmarks specific to data center/mission-critical and large commercial construction.
• Collaborate closely with operations, prefabrication, procurement, and project management teams to ensure seamless transition from estimate to construction.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, manufacturers, and subcontractors.
• Track labor and material trends along with market projections/fluctuations to keep bids competitive and accurate.
• Leverage buying power and market intelligence to maintain a competitive advantage.

Benefits

• Shimmick's comprehensive benefits plan includes medical, dental and vision coverage; as well as options to participate in an FSA or HSA.
• The Company also provides employer paid STD, LTD, basic life and AD&D, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Additional voluntary benefit offerings include pet insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness insurance, legal and identity theft protection.
• These benefits are available to all employees working more than 20 hours per week. Employees working less than 20 hours per week are eligible for medical, dental and vision coverage as well as EAP services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed