Senior Estimator

Houston, Texas, United States

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reference
Job reference 1274188
location
Location Houston, Texas, United States
sector
Sector Energy - Oil & Gas
function
Function Project Management
type
Employment type Contract
date
Date published June 8, 2026

Airswift is looking for a Senior Estimator – Opportunity Shaping to support a major client in Houston, TX on a 12-month assignment

The Senior Estimator is responsible for leading early estimating processes for capital projects or portfolios of projects. This role may deliver cost estimating and budgeting, as well as risk consulting, validating contractors bid, and maintaining and updating cost/estimating database, on projects of varying complexity and size.

Responsibilities:
• Lead development of Project Cost Estimates and Basis of Estimate (BoE) in alignment with Chevron Project Management System (CPMS) standards and requirements, including but limited to, WBS, OBS, Project Schedules, Resource and Staffing Plan and integration with funding request documentation.
• Lead development and maintenance of Estimate Plan for various early phases of the project, in alignment with CPMS standards and requirements.
• Collaborate with opportunity shaping, execution, engineering, procurement. and project management teams to verify and refine estimated costs for materials, labor, and indirect expenses.
• Provide accurate cost projections and alternatives scenario analysis to support strategic decision-making
• Integrate contingency planning, escalation factors, and risk analysis into cost estimates.
• Mentor and train team members on best practices in cost estimating and software tools.
• Develop cost estimates, identifying variances, review and validate contractor's estimates and engineering studies.
• Develop and implement procedures which tie estimates and budgets to appropriate project team members
• Coordinate and support Cost Estimates Assurance Review engagements, ensuring deliverables are comprehensive, accurate and aligned with Cost Engineering standards and project needs.
• Perform cost estimate coordination and oversight of contractor cost estimates, ensuring cost estimates are: - Consistent, comprehensive and accurate.
• Participate in cost and schedule risk assessment engagements, ensuring contingency is properly determined and incorporated in cost estimate and budgets.
• Proactively support development of cost model in advance of the risk assessment engagements to ensure consistency and alignment with CPMS standards.
• Ensure Project Cost Estimates and Basis of Estimate (BoE) are revised with revision control, based upon cost assumptions and any cost estimate changes.
• Participate in developing Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) as basis for project budgeting, cost control and forecasting.
• Critically review and analyze productivity and resource estimates, identifying impacts on cost and schedule, challenging the contractor's estimates as needed.
• Proactively support generation of quality cost estimating & budgeting reports and required documents for project Funding Appropriation and Business Planning.
• Support Project Management of Change (MOC) processes and procedures.
• Evaluate contingency to establish appropriate contingency drawdown strategy required to complete the project based on proper risk analysis.

Requirements:

  • Demonstrated knowledge and application of standardized Cost Engineering
  • Data work processes and tools (internal and external benchmarking, statistical analysis and regressions, cost estimating, cost and schedule assurance, etc.) throughout all phases of a major capital project.
  • Effective communication skills to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
  • Ability to work in a high collaborative environment, multitask, and operate with minimal supervision.

Preferred:

  • Experience with execution of large upstream and downstream projects. (onshore and offshore)
  • Bachelor's degree.
  • Proficiency in QUE$TOR or equivalent offshore estimating software.
  • Experience with Monte Carlo simulations or other risk-based estimating techniques
  • 5+ years of estimating and/or project controls experience in the Oil and Gas industry.
  • Offshore Estimator, Early Concept Estimator with Exploration knowledge and New Country Entry Experience
  • Wide range of experience in estimating and project controls in projects in the Oil and Gas industry.
  • Experience with upstream and downstream project estimating / planning and execution.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
  • Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing business priorities, and progress work scopes to agreed outcomes in a timely manner.
  • Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) and ability to effectively interface with a broad range of stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to assist with partner/stakeholder alignment on estimate explanations and approvals.
  • Ability to actively foster a learning culture and help a team or organization change for the better.
  • Passionate attitude for growing and developing ways to get things done more efficiently.
  • Bachelor’s degree - ANY type, but must have it
  • Education within Construction management and engineering preferred
    10+ years of work experience

  • Offshore experience
  • Travel is a must - overseas - 25% of time (Must have a passport - Must be able to obtain TWIC)
  • Days 9/80s (every other Friday off) Schedules are flexible to allow for meetings across time zones

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