Steel Estimator / Business Development

Structural Steel Estimator – Business Development 

Location: Phoenix, AZ | Full-Time | Hybrid: Office + Field

Compensation: $125,000–$175,000 (Base Salary + Bonus), Based on Experience

A well-established structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication and erection company serving commercial and industrial projects in the Phoenix market has created a new Estimating & Client Development role to support its next stage of growth.

This position was built to expand the company's growth capacity, strengthen client relationships, build a more stable project pipeline, and create long-term succession leverage within the estimating department. You'll work directly alongside the company's Chief Estimator — learning the business from the inside while building your own client relationships and managing your own pipeline.

This is not a cold-call sales role. Success here comes from technical credibility, responsiveness, and consistent follow-through — not pressure tactics. It's a strong fit for an experienced steel professional who wants to grow into a higher-visibility role — including a real path toward leadership as the estimating and business development function grows — within a stable, team-oriented company, without leaving the technical side of the business behind.

What You'll Do

• Estimating & Proposal Development (40%) — Estimate structural and miscellaneous steel scopes, perform take-offs and pricing, and prepare clear, professional bid proposals.
• Bid Follow-Up, Negotiation & Closing (25%) — Follow up on submitted bids and negotiate scope, pricing, and terms to close work.
• Client Relationships & Industry Presence (20%) — Build and maintain relationships with contractors and clients; represent the company at meetings, site visits, and industry events.
• Pipeline Development (15%) — Develop and manage a long-term pipeline of project opportunities.

What Success Looks Like

The right person in this role consistently:

• Produces accurate, timely estimates
• Follows up on every bid — no passive tracking
• Builds trust with contractors and clients over time
• Balances field presence with office execution
• Keeps a clear, organized view of their pipeline
• Does what they say they're going to do

Qualifications

Required:

• 5+ years of experience estimating structural and/or miscellaneous steel for commercial or industrial projects
• Comfortable managing several active estimates at once against tight deadlines
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills — you'll represent the company directly to current and prospective clients
• Proven ability to write clear, compelling proposals
• Comfortable splitting time between office and field work in the Phoenix area

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of Tekla or similar estimating software
• Proficiency in Excel and Word

This Role May Not Be a Fit If You

• Prefer purely desk-based estimating with no client interaction
• Dislike relationship-based work or find follow-up conversations draining
• Struggle to stay organized when tracking multiple bids at once
• Need a rigid, repetitive daily workflow
• Aren't comfortable moving between field and office environments

Compensation & Benefits

• $125,000–$175,000 total compensation (base salary + performance-based incentives tied to project success), based on experience
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off and holidays

What Makes This Role Different

• A newly created position with real growth potential and long-term succession leverage
• Direct mentorship from an experienced Chief Estimator
• High visibility on a small, tight-knit team
• Exposure to both private and public-sector projects
• Field work stays local to the Phoenix area — no extensive travel