Senior Manager - Estimating

Senior Manager - EstimatingLocation: Remote, Houston, TXAre you ready to build something from the ground up and leave your mark on a growing technical services platform? A rapidly expanding marine-focused fire and life safety organization is investing heavily in leadership, systems, and scalable processes, and they are seeking a Senior Manager - Estimating to architect and lead a high-impact estimating function.This is not a maintenance role. It is a platform-building opportunity. With strong market reputation, steady inbound demand, and private equity backing focused on growth, this organization is poised for its next chapter. The Senior Manager - Estimating will play a central role in driving margin discipline, accelerating quote turnaround, improving bid strategy, and partnering cross-functionally with Sales and Operations to fuel profitable expansion.The organization currently manages a high volume of inbound requests, and this leader will introduce standardized methodologies, improve margin confidence, streamline workflows, and strengthen collaboration with Operations around scheduling and resource planning.Key ResponsibilitiesBuild and standardize the estimating function, implementing repeatable and margin-driven quoting processes that replace informal or inconsistent pricing approaches.Develop structured labor models, travel calculations, expense frameworks, and cost validation methods to improve accuracy and protect margin targets.Oversee preparation and approval of complex, multi-year, multi-system, and government bids, ensuring thorough documentation of assumptions, exclusions, and risk factors.Lead and mentor a team of account managers, elevating performance expectations, improving discipline around follow-up, and reducing quote turnaround time to same day or next day standards when feasible.Personally manage high-dollar or technically complex estimates, including multi-system inspections, large vessel projects, and long-term service agreements.Partner closely with Operations leadership to improve scheduling coordination, capacity planning, and scope alignment once projects are awarded.Implement structured quote workflows, approval checkpoints, and change order processes to improve financial control and visibility.Support system enhancements including CRM rollout, ERP integration, and future technician management platforms, ensuring estimating processes are aligned with new tools.Track and analyze estimating metrics including turnaround time, win rates, margin performance, and estimate-to-actual variance, presenting insights to leadership.Participate in customer discussions and negotiations as needed to support complex proposals.What We Are Looking ForEight or more years of progressive estimating experience within marine fire and life safety or a closely related technical services environment. Strong marine experience is highly preferred due to the complexity of vessel-specific and OEM-driven scopes.Minimum three years of leadership or team oversight experience, with a demonstrated ability to coach, influence, and elevate performance.Deep understanding of labor productivity modeling, subcontractor pricing, indirect cost allocation, overhead structures, and risk-adjusted pricing strategies.Experience building or improving estimating systems, workflows, tools, or process automation initiatives.Comfort operating in an evolving environment where structure is being built, not inherited.Strong analytical capability with confidence in defending pricing logic and margin strategy.Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally and engage with executive stakeholders.Willingness to travel up to 25 percent as needed for customer meetings or leadership sessions.Why This Opportunity Stands OutHigh inbound demand and strong market reputation.Opportunity to build systems and structure in a business transitioning into its next growth phase.Direct impact on revenue growth, margin improvement, and operational performance.Private equity backed platform with investment in leadership, systems, and scalability.Visible role with influence across Sales, Operations, and Executive Leadership.CompensationCompetitive base salary depending on experience. This role is eligible for performance-based incentives tied to key business metrics.Comprehensive benefits package including medical coverage, retirement options, and paid time off.If you are motivated by building process, driving margin excellence, and leading through influence in a high-demand technical services environment, we would welcome the opportunity to connect confidentially.About Blue Signal: