Sr. Estimator - Civil Primary

About Mendoza Companies

Mendoza Companies is a multi-entity ecosystem of construction, services, and investment businesses operating under The Mendoza Way. The platform includes High-Light Electric, Inc. (HLE) - a California-based union electrical infrastructure contractor founded in 1996delivering public works and complex electrical construction across California - along with Mendoza Trust and an international independent contractor workforce.

We partner with Caltrans, municipalities, transit authorities, and infrastructure programs throughout California, with active expansion into Nevada, Arizona, and additional U.S. markets. In 2025, HLE was recognized on the Inc. Regionals Pacific list (#116).

Mendoza Companies is guided by Mission 2040: to build a $1 billion business ecosystem connecting 1,000 families and communities through business.

The Role

The Senior Estimator owns HLE's bid development process from pursuit through preconstruction handoff - and maintains active involvement through project execution and closeout. This role produces accurate, competitive, and margin-conscious estimates across civil and electrical scopes, with civil estimating as the primary competency requirement for this seat.

This is not a desk estimating role. The Senior Estimator brings real field experience into the estimating process - closing the gap between what a bid assumes and what the field can actually execute. They lead a small estimating team, develop junior estimators, and serve as the primary estimating resource within their assigned AOM business unit.

As HLE transitions toward civil contractor leadership, this hire strengthens HLE's civil estimating capacity and complements the existing electrical estimating structure - forming a two-senior model where civil and electrical expertise develop in parallel, with junior estimators cross-training under each lead.

What You'll Do

• Maintain a consistent bid submission rate that meets HLE's pursuit calendar - on scope, on deadline, and within margin targets.
• Own takeoff accuracy and productivity validation across all active bids
• Attend and document pre-bid site walks and pre-bid meetings - site condition reports submitted prior to every bid submission.
• Execute pre-bid and post-bid reviews on every pursuit - findings logged, go/no-go recommendations supported by data, and results applied to improve future pricing strategy and competitive positioning.
• Deliver complete, assumption-transparent preconstruction handoffs to the AOM on every awarded project - and maintain post-award engagement through financial reviews, change order support, and job closeout analysis.
• Participate in periodic project financial reviews with the Finance Director and AOM - validate actual costs and productivities against bid assumptions, support critical change order pricing, and attend job closeout reviews to extract and apply lessons learned.
• Protect bid margin - variance between estimated and actual costs is tracked, reviewed, and used to drive continuous estimating improvement.
• Lead junior estimator development - measurable progress tracked through 1-on-1 cadence, takeoff quality improvement, and readiness milestones as the team is built
• Own estimating team scorecard metrics and quarterly Rocks within the ML10 structure

• AACE International - Certified Cost Technician (CCT), Certified Estimating Professional (CEP), or equivalent
• APWA (American Public Works Association) certifications
• AGC (Associated General Contractors) construction education programs
• Caltrans or public works contractor training
• Accredited construction management or estimating coursework

• 5-7 years of combined civil construction field and estimating experience - required
• Background in field operations (foreman, superintendent, or similar) - strongly preferred
• Proven experience estimating civil scopes (earthwork, grading, utilities, roadway) - required
• Experience in California public works (prevailing wage, union labor, certified payroll) - required
• Working familiarity with electrical estimating in a public works or infrastructure context - preferred.
• Experience with preconstruction handoffs - preferred
• Experience mentoring or leading estimators - preferred

• Proficiency in Bluebeam, Excel (advanced), and equivalent takeoff platforms - required.
• Familiarity with Procore - preferred.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 - preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish - preferred; not required for this role.

• Comprehensive health benefits package - medical, dental, vision.
• 401(k) or equivalent retirement plan.
• Multi-entity ecosystem with active expansion into Nevada, Arizona, and additional U.S. markets.
• A mission-driven organization building for the long term - Mission 2040.

• Application and screening questionnaire
• AI-assisted resume and structured interview review
• Recruiter screen
• Leadership panel interview
• Final interview with the CEO