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JOB DETAILS

Lead Cost Estimator

CompanyDelve Underground
LocationLos Angeles
Work ModeOn Site
PostedSeptember 1, 2026
About The Company
Delve Underground is a leader in heavy civil engineering, serving the transportation, water, wastewater, and energy industries. Specializing in tunnel design, we provide innovative solutions to the most challenging underground problems. We offer comprehensive design, construction management, and dispute resolution capabilities. Our expertise includes civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering. Founded in 1954, as Jacobs Associates, Delve Underground is an employee-owned firm with 25 offices and 350 team members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
About the Role

Description

ABOUT DELVE UNDERGROUND


Delve Underground is a leader in underground and heavy civil engineering serving the transportation, water, wastewater, and energy industries. Specializing in tunnel design, we provide practical solutions to the most challenging underground problems. We offer comprehensive design, construction management, and construction claims services, with expertise extending across a wide range of engineering disciplines, including civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering. Our primary focus is to make a significant impact on the advancement of infrastructure projects, which in turn shape and enhance the communities we serve. Founded in 1954, as Jacobs Associates, Delve Underground is an employee-owned firm with 25 offices and 350 team members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.


We want our employees to make a career doing what they love to do. We encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and help our team members forge their own path within the company. We support their efforts to stay on the cutting edge of technology while fostering a great work-life balance. In addition to working hard, we also have fun. We socialize and celebrate achievements at summer picnics, holiday parties, and company outings.


Benefits: Full Benefits Program consisting of Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, FSA or HSA, EAP, 401(k), ESOP, and company stock ownership program, 9 Paid Holidays, generous paid-time-off program, Work from home flexibility, and Health &Wellness Reimbursement


Pay Rate: $160,025 - $290,156


Lead Cost Estimator


Delve Underground has an opening for a Lead Cost Estimator based in any of Delve Underground’s North American office locations.


Responsibilities:


  • Lead cost estimating efforts on complex civil, structural and tunnel projects.
  • Lead a group of project cost estimators.
  • Perform and oversee cost estimating efforts, including: Conceptual estimates using a combination of unit price and production-based methods; Production based estimates and schedules for interim design deliverables; Take-off and quote solicitations; Maintenance of estimating database; Occasional field visits to Delve and other projects to observe latest construction means/methods, including crewing and equipment spreads and disseminate this information.
  • Collaborate with and provide basic input to risk assessments that quantify project risks, including clear divisions between estimating uncertainty and embedded construction risk in estimates.
  • Review in-progress design drawings for constructability issues.
  • Review specifications for cost-related constructability issues and to evaluate blend between prescriptive language and performance standards.
  • Provide QA review on work by others.


Qualifications:


  • Minimum 10 years’ direct field experience on one or more heavy civil tunnel projects; 20+ years’ experience in heavy civil tunnel projects preferred.
  • Past experience with a heavy civil contractor with an underground portfolio is highly desirable.
  • Exposure to cost estimating and pricing work.
  • Exposure to construction claims or change order pricing.
  • Accredited undergraduate degree in Engineering or Construction Management.
  • Professional registration or certification, or ability to obtain within the 1st year of employment.
  • Strong analytical and computer software skills.
  • Specification writing and review.
  • Structuring of Measurement and Payment.
  • Scheduling.


ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?


If you feel that you would be right for this position, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application so that we can review your information. We look forward to meeting you!


Delve Underground is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and will make all employment related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.


Compensation reflects the cost of labor across our US geographic markets. Pay is based on several factors including market location, experience, knowledge, and skills.


No Recruiters, Please.

Key Skills
Cost EstimatingHeavy Civil EngineeringTunnel DesignProject ManagementConstruction Means And MethodsRisk AssessmentConstructability ReviewSpecification WritingMeasurement And PaymentSchedulingData AnalysisUnit Price MethodsProduction-based EstimatingChange Order PricingConstruction ClaimsQA Review
Categories
EngineeringConstructionManagement & LeadershipEnergyTransportation
Benefits
MedicalDentalVisionLife InsuranceDisability InsuranceFSAHSAEAP401(k)ESOPCompany Stock Ownership Program9 Paid HolidaysPaid Time OffWork From Home FlexibilityHealth & Wellness Reimbursement
Job Information
📋Core Responsibilities
The Lead Cost Estimator will oversee cost estimating efforts for complex civil, structural, and tunnel projects while managing a team of estimators. They are responsible for performing conceptual and production-based estimates, conducting constructability reviews, and collaborating on project risk assessments.
📋Job Type
full time
💰Salary Range
$160,025 - $290,156
📊Experience Level
10+
💼Company Size
308
📊Visa Sponsorship
No
💼Language
English
🏢Working Hours
40 hours
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