Senior Construction Estimator

Senior Construction Estimator (Construction Technology Startup)Location: San Francisco, CA (Hybrid – 4–5 days/week in office)Compensation: $150,000 – $230,000 base + equityEmployment Type: Full-timeAbout the OpportunityA fast-growing construction technology startup is transforming how estimating is done in the commercial construction industry. Today, many estimators still spend months manually reviewing plan sets and performing material takeoffs. Our platform is designed to drastically accelerate that process by converting blueprint data into structured, estimator-ready quantities.Backed by leading investors and early industry partners, the company is developing technology that addresses one of the construction industry’s most time-consuming and costly workflows. Early pilots with large commercial contractors have validated the approach, and the team is now focused on scaling the product.This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of construction and software development, partnering directly with engineers to help build tools that will shape the future of estimating.The RoleWe are looking for a Senior Construction Estimator with strong ground-up commercial experience to serve as the internal subject matter expert for estimating workflows.You will work closely with a small engineering team, reviewing plan sets and system-generated takeoffs to ensure the software produces accurate and practical outputs. Your feedback will directly influence how the product evolves and when it is ready for real-world use.This role is ideal for someone who enjoys applying deep construction knowledge to solve complex problems and is excited about working in a fast-moving startup environment.What You’ll Do

• Review commercial construction plan sets and bid documents across multiple disciplines.
• Analyze automated takeoffs and compare them to real-world estimating outputs.
• Identify discrepancies in quantities, geometry interpretation, and missing assemblies.
• Provide clear explanations of where the system’s outputs diverge from real estimating practices.
• Work closely with engineers to translate construction problems into product improvements.
• Participate in recurring product review sessions to help prioritize improvements.
• Help determine when the platform is ready to support real project bids.
• Act as the bridge between construction domain expertise and product development.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of commercial construction estimating experience, ideally on ground-up projects valued at $10M+.
• Experience reviewing full plan sets and performing material takeoffs.
• Strong understanding of assemblies, quantities, and construction sequencing.
• Familiarity with industry estimating tools such as Bluebeam, PlanSwift, CostX, or similar platforms.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly explain estimating logic and decisions.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, fast-paced startup environment.

Preferred Background

• Experience with large commercial contractors or major construction organizations.
• Exposure to construction technology or digital estimating workflows.
• Background in construction management, engineering, or a related field.

Why Join

• Help modernize a critical workflow in a multi-trillion-dollar industry.
• Work closely with a founding team building practical tools for real construction professionals.
• Opportunity to grow into broader leadership roles spanning customer success, go-to-market, or product strategy as the company scales.
• Competitive compensation and meaningful equity participation.

Who is Rainier Recruiting?Rainier Recruiting is a boutique, award winning national staffing agency and executive search firm. Using an approach that “treats every candidate like an executive search”, we offer positions in contract-to-hire, Full-Time, and executive search. Named the #1 Best Workplace in Washington State in 2022, recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm, and identified as a top recruitment firm by multiple business journals, Rainier Recruiting is fast becoming a respected company. We are no longer the “best recruiters you have never heard of”. Rainier Recruiting is also proud to share our clients have a 93% repeat business rate. Rainier Recruiting is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and for the candidates we represent. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of every organization that we partner with.