Estimating Engineer — Steel & Concrete Pressure Pipe

A day in the role

Picture this: your morning starts by opening a new set of bid documents for a large water transmission project. You scan plan sheets and specifications, identify scope, flag unusual requirements, and confirm delivery expectations. Before lunch, you’re shoulder-to-shoulder (in person or virtually) with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, and Project Management to clarify design intent and production methods. Your afternoon is focused on building a complete estimate—materials, fabrication and manufacturing labor, equipment and production needs, purchased components and outside services, freight and logistics, and any special project requirements—before stress-testing the numbers against historical cost and production data. You close the day by evaluating alternates and value-engineering options to shape a competitive, commercially sound proposal.

Core responsibilities

• Develop detailed cost estimates for steel pipe, concrete pressure pipe, fittings, fabricated components, and special products.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, bid documents, and contract requirements to define complete scope.
• Build estimates covering materials; manufacturing and fabrication labor; equipment and production requirements; purchased components and outside services; freight and logistics; and special project requirements.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing to understand current design and fabrication methods and their impact on cost.
• Identify missing scope, specification conflicts, unusual requirements, and potential project risks prior to bid submission.
• Evaluate alternate designs, manufacturing methods, materials, and value‑engineering opportunities.
• Maintain current material, labor, supplier, and manufacturing cost data; leverage historical cost and production information to improve accuracy.
• Partner with Sales on project and market strategy to develop the right estimating approach.
• Coordinate with Operations and Project Management when capacity, scheduling, technical, or contractual issues affect the estimate.
• Continuously improve procedures, tools, cost databases, and estimating standards.
• Produce accurate estimates from conceptual drawings through final contract documents.

Required qualifications

Candidates must meet one of the following:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Civil Engineering; or
• At least 10 years of estimating, engineering, project management, manufacturing, or other relevant technical experience within the pressure pipe industry or a closely related engineered manufacturing/infrastructure industry.

Additionally, you bring:

• Expertise reading engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Understanding of manufacturing and fabrication cost drivers.
• Experience developing detailed project or product cost estimates.
• Ability to quantify material, labor, production, and outside-service costs.
• Skill in identifying project risks and accounting for them in the estimate.
• Ability to spot constructability and manufacturability issues during estimating.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Project Management.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to estimating accuracy.

Highly preferred backgrounds

• Steel pressure pipe or concrete pressure pipe
• Water transmission systems
• Steel pipe fabrication
• Precast or prestressed concrete
• Structural steel fabrication
• Tanks or pressure vessels
• Heavy civil infrastructure
• Water/wastewater infrastructure
• Engineered‑to‑order manufacturing
• Other complex fabricated or engineered products

What success looks like

The best Estimating Engineers go beyond quantity takeoffs. You understand how an engineered product will actually be manufactured, challenge assumptions, recognize cost and project risks early, and craft estimates that are accurate, competitive, and commercially sound. You’re comfortable engaging directly with engineers, plant personnel, project managers, and sales professionals to define the smartest path to bid.

About Thompson Pipe Group

Thompson Pipe Group is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer and one of North America's largest and most diverse providers of drainage, sanitary, pressure, and trenchless pipe products. With manufacturing operations across the United States, Thompson Pipe Group supports major water, wastewater, transportation, and infrastructure projects throughout North America.

What we offer

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Company‑Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Holidays
• Training and Professional Development
• Employee Discounts
• Career Growth Opportunities

You should be proficient in: take off