Estimator — Metal Fabrication / Structural / Manufacturing

Met Company provides industrial fabrication, structural and miscellaneous steel, laser cutting, welding, modular/container structures, equipment enclosures, manufacturing, installation and field services.

We are seeking an experienced Estimator to prepare accurate, complete and commercially practical cost estimates for fabrication and manufacturing projects.

Role Overview

You will review RFQs, drawings and specifications; develop material and labor takeoffs; obtain supplier quotations; and prepare cost worksheets with clearly documented assumptions, exclusions and risks.

You will work with CAD/design personnel, engineering support, production and the Revenue team to ensure estimates reflect both customer requirements and actual shop capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

RFQ Review & Scope Definition

• Review drawings, specifications, bills of materials and customer RFQs.
• Identify required fabrication processes, finishes, inspection and documentation.
• Flag missing information, conflicting requirements and scope gaps.
• Prepare clarification questions and coordinate responses through the appropriate team.
• Document assumptions, inclusions and exclusions clearly.

Material & Labor Estimating

• Perform quantity and material takeoffs for sheet metal, structural steel and fabricated assemblies.
• Estimate cutting, forming, fitting, welding, machining, finishing and assembly hours.
• Account for setup time, material yield, scrap and handling where applicable.
• Estimate packaging, freight, installation and outside-processing costs.
• Use company-approved labor rates, overhead methods and estimating standards.
• Distinguish confirmed costs from allowances or preliminary assumptions.

Supplier & Subcontractor Quotes

• Request material, coating, machining and subcontractor quotations.
• Compare supplier scope, pricing, lead times and quote validity.
• Identify long-lead items and purchasing risks.
• Maintain organized supporting quotations and cost records.
• Coordinate sourcing questions with Technical Services and Production.

Estimate Preparation & Proposal Support

• Develop itemized cost estimates and pricing worksheets.
• Summarize technical scope, lead-time assumptions and commercial exclusions for the Revenue team.
• Support proposal preparation and respond to estimate-related questions.
• Evaluate alternatives and value-engineering options.
• Update estimates when quantities, drawings or customer requirements change.
• Maintain clear revision history.

Production Feedback & Continuous Improvement

• Review fabrication methods and labor assumptions with the Production Manager.
• Prepare estimating information for awarded-job handoffs.
• Compare estimated costs and hours with actual results.
• Investigate meaningful variances and update estimating assumptions.
• Maintain material pricing, labor benchmarks and historical estimate records.
• Use approved AI tools for RFQ summaries and document extraction while independently checking quantities, scope and calculations.

Role Boundaries

The Estimator owns cost development and estimating accuracy. Revenue leadership approves selling prices and commercial terms. Engineering personnel own engineering calculations and approvals, while Production owns shop scheduling and execution.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated estimating experience in metal fabrication, structural steel or industrial manufacturing.
• Ability to read fabrication drawings, weld symbols and technical specifications.
• Experience preparing material takeoffs and fabrication labor estimates.
• Practical understanding of cutting, forming, welding, finishing and assembly processes.
• Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills.
• Ability to prepare transparent estimates with traceable calculations and assumptions.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple RFQ deadlines.
• Clear written and spoken English.
• Reliable internet connection and availability for agreed coordination with the Houston team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience estimating sheet-metal enclosures, welded frames, miscellaneous steel or modular/container structures.
• Familiarity with U.S. material specifications and supplier quoting practices.
• Experience estimating laser cutting, machining, industrial coatings or field installation.
• Familiarity with CAD viewers, PDF takeoff tools or estimating software.
• Experience reviewing job-cost reports and improving labor-hour assumptions.
• Familiarity with MRPeasy or comparable manufacturing systems.

What Success Looks Like

• Estimates are complete, accurate and delivered by agreed deadlines.
• Material quantities and labor assumptions are supported and traceable.
• Scope gaps and risks are identified before quotes are issued.
• Supplier quotations match the required scope.
• Awarded jobs receive clear estimating handoffs.
• Actual job results improve the accuracy of future estimates.

How to Apply

Please submit your résumé and brief answers to the following:

1. What types of fabrication or manufacturing projects have you estimated?
2. How do you calculate fitting, welding and assembly hours?
3. How do you account for material waste, setup time and outside processing?
4. Describe an estimate-versus-actual variance you investigated and what you changed afterward.
5. Which spreadsheet, takeoff, CAD-viewing and estimating tools do you use?
6. What are your availability for Houston working-hour overlap, earliest start date and expected monthly compensation?

Include a nonconfidential or redacted estimate showing material quantities, labor hours, outside costs and assumptions. Explain which parts you prepared personally.

Use “Met Fabrication Estimator” as your application subject line.