Estimator – Heavy Civil & Railroad

ABOUT HAL HAYS CONSTRUCTION, INC.. Hal Hays Construction is a family-owned heavy civil contractor with a long history of self-performed work across the western United States. We specialize in complex, high-risk infrastructure projects with a strong emphasis on railroad construction, working directly with clients such as BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad. POSITION SUMMARY We are looking to add a Heavy Civil / Railroad Estimator to our team. This is a career role, not a churn position. The right person will have the opportunity to grow with the company, gain real influence over how projects are built, and become a long-term part of our leadership bench. This is not a bid-collector position. You will be estimating self-performed heavy civil and railroad work, using owned equipment, in-house crews, and real production rates. Our work ranges from small, fast-turnaround jobs ($50K) to large, highly technical projects ($20M+), often with incomplete scopes, short bid windows, and client-driven constraints. Our railroad work is broad and varied and may include: Railroad bridge replacements Panel and grade crossing replacements (including accelerated and weekend windows) Intermodal and auto facility paving Yard and terminal reconstruction Civil work governed by railroad and AREMA standards Some bids are well-defined and organized. Others are chaotic by nature. Successful estimators here know how to qualify scope, document assumptions, and protect the number when answers are limited. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Preparing detailed, defensible estimates for heavy civil and railroad projects Building estimates based on self-performed crews, equipment, and production rates Independently reviewing plans and specifications and identifying scope gaps and risk Developing and documenting assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications Collaborating with operations, superintendents, and ownership on means and methods Supporting job walks and pre-bid field investigations (travel required, approximately every 1–2 weeks depending on workload) Delivering estimates that operations trusts and can build from Regular, reliable attendance is an essential function This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the role; employees may be required to perform other related functions as assigned What “Good” Looks Like Here After 12 months, success looks like: Estimates that are accurate, well-documented, and defensible, even on chaotic pursuits Strong trust between estimating and operations Clean handoffs with minimal friction and fewer surprises in the field Winning work matters, but protecting the company always comes first. This Role Is NOT a Fit If You: Require perfect scopes and complete answers before you can price a job Prefer subcontract-heavy estimating over self-performed work Are uncomfortable qualifying bids or writing assumptions to protect risk Qualifications & Experience Strong Excel proficiency. You must be able to build estimates from scratch HeavyBid experience is a plus, but not required. We use both HeavyBid and Excel. Experience estimating self-performed heavy civil work Experience with bridges, pile driving, crane work a plus Railroad estimating experience including work governed by BNSF / Union Pacific requirements Familiarity with AREMA standards and typical railroad construction constraints Ability to read plans and specifications independently and identify missing or ambiguous scope Comfort pricing work when scopes are incomplete and deadlines are tight Willingness to work in an in-office environment in Southern California and travel for job walks as needed Additional Requirements Must be a U.S. Citizen and able to pass government or facility-level background checks Valid driver’s license required Must pass pre-employment drug test/physical/background check (excluding tests for non-psychoactive cannabis metabolites in accordance with California law). Valid driver’s license Work Environment & Physical Requirements Combination of office and active construction site work Exposure to outdoor weather conditions, heavy equipment, noise, dust, and fumes Required use of PPE on job sites (hard hat, safety vest, hearing protection, etc.) Prolonged periods of computer and screen use Occasional lifting of materials up to 20–25 lbs Movement between offices and job sites as needed Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable law. Disclaimer - A qualified individual must be able to perform the essential functions & duties listed above with or without reasonable accommodation. The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as comprehensive of every job duty, responsibility, or qualification required by an employee assigned to this job. While employed in this position, an employee may be required to perform other assignments not listed on this job description. Hal Hays Construction, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer - The Company does not discriminate against employees or applicants on race, color, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, religion, marital status, military service/veteran status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, including genetic characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Nothing in this job posting constitutes a promise or contract of employment. Employment with Hal Hays Construction, Inc. is at-will, meaning it may be terminated by either the employee or the Company at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): Please provide rail project estimating experience Experience: Heavy Civil/Rail Estimating: 5 years (Required) License/Certification: driver's license (Required) Willingness to travel: 25% (Preferred) Work Location: In person