Work From Home Senior Estimator – Steel Fabrication & Engineering

Apply here: https://wkf.ms/4iQukwa

Work From Home Senior Estimator – Steel Fabrication & Engineering

Location: Remote (Philippines)

Hours: Full-Time (40 hours per week)

Working Hours: Australian Business Hours

Experience: Minimum 2 years of Australian steel fabrication or engineering estimating experience

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Senior Estimator to join an established Australian engineering and steel fabrication business, supporting its existing estimating team and Project Managers.

This is a hands-on senior role for someone with strong experience in steel fabrication, structural steel, engineering projects, and commercial estimating. You will be responsible for preparing accurate and competitive estimates, reviewing technical drawings and specifications, assessing fabrication and project costs, and supporting the team throughout the tendering and project delivery process.

The ideal candidate is proactive, commercially minded, and comfortable collaborating remotely with an Australian team through daily online meetings, visual drawing reviews, and ongoing communication.

You will play an important role in strengthening the estimating team's capacity, improving estimating accuracy, and ensuring projects are priced accurately and delivered with a clear understanding of costs, scope, and risks.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Estimating & Steel Fabrication

• Review tender documents, engineering drawings, technical specifications, and project requirements to establish scope and pricing requirements.
• Prepare detailed estimates, quotations, and tender submissions for steel fabrication and multidisciplinary engineering projects.
• Perform material take-offs and quantify structural steel, plates, pipes, fittings, fabricated components, and associated materials.
• Estimate costs for fabrication, welding, cutting, forming, machining, assembly, surface treatment, painting, galvanising, delivery, and installation, where applicable.
• Assess material grades, specifications, fabrication requirements, and project complexity to develop accurate cost estimates.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations, ensuring pricing reflects current costs, scope, and lead times.
• Identify scope gaps, pricing risks, discrepancies, exclusions, and potential cost overruns before submitting tenders.
• Review drawing revisions and variations, updating estimates and quotations to reflect changes in project scope.

Engineering & Technical Estimating

• Interpret structural, mechanical, fabrication, and engineering drawings to determine quantities, specifications, and fabrication requirements.
• Review fabrication drawings, piping layouts, isometric drawings, and technical documentation where applicable.
• Assess estimating requirements for structural steelwork, plate fabrication, tanks, vessels, piping and spooling, pump skids, and mining-related equipment such as chutes and hoppers.
• Consider material requirements, fabrication methods, welding specifications, quality requirements, and applicable project standards.
• Coordinate with engineering and detailing teams to clarify technical information, resolve discrepancies, and confirm scope.
• Identify opportunities to improve fabrication efficiency, material utilisation, and overall project cost without compromising quality or specifications.

The project scope may include mining, oil and gas, energy, utilities, and commercial or residential construction projects, depending on client requirements.

Proactive Estimating Team Collaboration

• Work closely with the existing estimating team through daily online communication, visual collaboration, and virtual meetings.
• Participate in live drawing reviews, estimate walkthroughs, tender discussions, and technical clarification sessions.
• Proactively communicate estimating progress, outstanding information, pricing concerns, and potential project risks.
• Collaborate with team members to review quantities, cost breakdowns, supplier pricing, and tender assumptions.
• Take ownership of assigned estimates while ensuring the wider team has visibility of progress and deadlines.
• Raise questions and escalate issues early rather than waiting for instructions or allowing delays to affect submissions.
• Maintain clear, professional, and timely communication with Australian colleagues during Australian business hours.

Support Existing Estimating Team & Project Managers

• Provide estimating capacity and technical support to the existing estimating team during tender preparation and submission.
• Work with Project Managers to ensure estimates reflect project scope, budgets, fabrication requirements, and delivery expectations.
• Prepare clear cost breakdowns, material quantities, pricing assumptions, exclusions, and commercial considerations for project handover.
• Assist Project Managers with pricing variations, additional works, revised drawings, and changes to project scope.
• Respond to internal queries relating to estimated costs, quantities, supplier pricing, and fabrication requirements.
• Support the transition from estimating and tendering into project execution by ensuring relevant pricing information and assumptions are documented.
• Maintain accurate estimating records, supplier pricing, historical costs, and project information for future tenders.

Estimating Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain organised estimating files, cost databases, pricing schedules, and quotation templates.
• Ensure estimates are accurate, traceable, and consistently documented.
• Monitor supplier pricing, material costs, and fabrication rates to support reliable future estimates.
• Identify opportunities to improve estimating workflows, documentation, collaboration, and turnaround times.
• Contribute ideas and practical improvements to support the performance of the estimating and project delivery teams.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of professional estimating experience in steel fabrication, structural steel, mechanical fabrication, engineering, or a closely related industry.
• Demonstrated experience preparing detailed estimates, quotations, material take-offs, and tender submissions for fabrication or engineering projects.
• Strong understanding of steel materials, fabrication methods, welding, machining, assembly, and associated labour and production costs.
• Familiarity with Australian industry requirements and standards relating to Quality Assurance (QA), Construction Administration (CA), and Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS).
• Ability to interpret structural, mechanical, and fabrication drawings, technical specifications, and engineering documentation.
• Experience estimating material, labour, subcontractor, supplier, finishing, and project delivery costs.
• Strong commercial awareness, including the ability to identify scope gaps, cost risks, exclusions, and variations.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with estimating software or digital drawing take-off tools.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple estimates and deadlines.
• Proactive approach to communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• Comfortable working remotely while maintaining daily online collaboration with an Australian-based team.

Highly Desirable

• Previous experience estimating for Australian steel fabrication, mining, engineering, or industrial project businesses.
• Experience with structural steel, piping and spooling, tanks, vessels, pump skids, plate work, or mining equipment.
• Familiarity with Australian engineering and fabrication practices, supplier pricing, and project documentation.
• Experience with Bluebeam, CostX, Cubit, PlanSwift, or comparable estimating and take-off software.
• Exposure to fabrication drawings, 3D modelling, engineering detailing, or fabrication and installation coordination.
• Experience supporting Project Managers from tender preparation through project handover and variations.
• Relevant qualifications in Quantity Surveying, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will:

• Deliver accurate, commercially sound estimates and tender submissions within agreed deadlines.
• Proactively identify technical, commercial, and scope-related risks before they affect project pricing.
• Maintain consistent communication and visibility with the estimating team through daily online collaboration.
• Provide reliable estimating support to Project Managers and contribute to smooth project handovers.
• Help improve estimating accuracy, turnaround times, documentation, and team efficiency.

The Opportunity

• Full-time remote position based in the Philippines.
• Work with an established Australian engineering and steel fabrication business.
• Collaborate daily with an experienced estimating team and Project Managers.
• Contribute to diverse steel fabrication and engineering projects.
• Long-term opportunity to develop within a collaborative, technically focused team.