ESTIMATOR | HEAVY CIVIL & MINING Boise, Idaho | Full-Time, Permanent

Good estimates don’t just win work. They set projects up to succeed.

At MacKay Contracting, you’ll develop competitive estimates for complex heavy civil, earthworks, and mining projects throughout the Western United States.

You’ll work closely with experienced construction professionals and senior leadership to evaluate construction methods, project risks, and opportunities. Your experience and judgment will help shape the projects we pursue and how we approach them.

The Work

MacKay delivers challenging civil construction and mining projects, including major earthworks, mine infrastructure, highways, bridges, utilities, and environmental work.

Based in Boise, you’ll develop competitive estimates and practical construction strategies for challenging heavy civil and mining projects throughout the Western United States.

You’ll have the opportunity to influence how projects are approached from the outset, working with operations and field personnel to build estimates grounded in real construction experience.

What You’ll Get to Build

Estimates That Work in the Field

Develop complete, competitive estimates that reflect realistic production rates, equipment capabilities, labor requirements, material costs, and construction methods. Your work will help turn opportunities into profitable, executable projects.

Practical Construction Strategies

Look beyond the drawings. Evaluate site conditions, access, haul routes, sequencing, and alternative construction methods to identify better ways to complete the work.

Stronger Bidding Decisions

Help evaluate opportunities, identify commercial and construction risks, and develop pricing strategies that balance competitiveness with responsible execution.

Relationships That Strengthen Our Work

Build connections with regional subcontractors, suppliers, and industry partners. Your knowledge of local markets and construction practices will help us develop reliable, competitive bids.

A Strong Connection Between Estimating and Operations

Work with the people responsible for delivering the projects. Contribute to estimate reviews, constructability discussions, and project handovers so the thinking behind the bid carries through to construction.

You’ll Probably Fit Here If

You’re the kind of estimator who wants to understand how a project will actually be built, not just what the drawings say.

You can look at a mass excavation, a complicated haul, or a challenging construction sequence and recognize where the opportunities and risks are.

You’re comfortable developing an estimate from the ground up, questioning assumptions, and explaining the thinking behind your numbers.

You appreciate the value of field experience, know when to involve operations, and take pride in putting together estimates that stand up to scrutiny.

Your background likely includes:

• Several years of estimating experience in heavy civil construction, earthworks, mining, or related infrastructure work.
• Experience developing complete estimates for self-performed construction, including labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors, and indirect costs.
• A practical understanding of equipment production, construction sequencing, and cost drivers.
• Confidence interpreting drawings, specifications, quantities, and contract documents.
• Experience with computerized estimating systems, digital takeoff tools, and spreadsheet-based analysis.
• The ability to independently develop and present estimates, including assumptions, risks, and construction approaches.

A degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline is valuable, but practical construction experience and demonstrated estimating ability matter just as much.

Even Better If You Bring

* Experience estimating large-scale earthworks, mine development, or mine infrastructure projects.

* Familiarity with construction markets, subcontractors, and suppliers in Idaho, Montana, or surrounding western states.

* Experience with public infrastructure procurement, private mining clients, or alternative delivery methods.

* A background in field operations, project management, or construction supervision.

* Experience developing estimates for challenging remote or logistically complex projects.

What You Can Expect From MacKay

Meaningful involvement in project decisions. Your input will influence the work we pursue, how we price it, and how we prepare to execute it.

Experienced construction people around you. You’ll have access to established estimating and operational experience developed through decades of heavy civil and mining work.

A direct connection to leadership. You’ll work with decision-makers who understand construction and value practical solutions over unnecessary layers of process.

Variety in the work. From mine infrastructure and large earthworks to transportation and civil projects, you’ll have opportunities to work through different technical and construction challenges.

This is a Boise-based position, with travel to project sites and industry meetings throughout the Western United States as required.

About MacKay

MacKay Contracting specializes in heavy civil construction, mining services, and infrastructure projects.

With decades of experience, our teams have delivered complex construction projects, including major earthworks, highways, bridges, mine infrastructure, utilities, and environmental work.

Our projects often involve challenging terrain, demanding schedules, complex logistics, and construction conditions that require more than a conventional approach.

We take on the tough work that others avoid.

Build the Work That Matters

If you take pride in developing estimates that are competitive, practical, and built on a genuine understanding of construction, we’d like to hear from you.

Bring your estimating experience to MacKay and help shape the projects we’ll build next.

Apply today.

Equal Opportunity Employer

MacKay Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

U.S. Work Authorization & E-Verify

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. MacKay Contracting participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with Form I-9 information to confirm employment authorization.

Sponsorship is not available for this position.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Learn more about E-Verify