Lead Estimator — Air-Side HVAC Equipment

Earth City, MO | Full-time | In-Office

Employment Type: Full-time,
in-office — Monday through Friday

Location: St Louis, MO

Compensation: $60,000–$85,000
base, Plus bonuses [depending on experience]

Team: Lead role — directs
a team of estimators and manages the bid board

Experience: 3–5+ years
estimating air-side HVAC equipment

•     Competitive base salary, $60,000–$85,000 PLUS Bonuses –
(base rate depending on experience)

•     Full benefits package Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

•     Structured onboarding with training at 3–4 manufacturer
facilities (all travel covered)

•     Work with current Established book of contractor
business — you're not building from zero

•     Hands-on transition period with the outgoing lead — a
genuine training handoff, not a thrown-into-the-deep-end situation

This is a lead estimator seat
opening due to a planned retirement — which means something rare: a real,
structured handoff from the person who built the role. You'll have time to
learn the accounts, the rhythm, and the quirks of the bid board before you're
running it solo. The customers are  established, the contractor relationships are
in place, and the team around you is already functioning. You're stepping into
something that works, with the chance to make it yours.

The work itself is air-side HVAC
equipment estimating — VAV boxes, fan terminals, fire dampers, louvers, heaters
— for an established manufacturer's rep serving the St. Louis metro market.
You'll own the bid board, which means pricing your own projects and directing
three other estimators: assigning bids, tracking deadlines, and making sure
nothing slips. The pace is steady — roughly 25 bids a week across the team —
not a sweatshop, but a role that rewards people who stay organized and keep
others accountable.

If you're detail-obsessed about
specs and pricing and also comfortable telling your teammates what's on their
plate for the day, this is exactly the role built for you. The position is
fully in-office in St Louis, MO, five days a week.

Estimating & Bid Management

•     Prepare accurate cost estimates, pricing, and proposals
for air-side HVAC equipment on commercial projects

•     Read and interpret plans, specifications, and addenda
to produce complete, accurate quotations

•     Manage the bid board — assign approximately 25 bids per
week across a team of four estimators

•     Track deadlines and follow up with the estimating team
to ensure on-time submittal of every bid

•     Document and organize project files to maintain a
complete, accurate record of all bids and proposals

Customer & Technical
Support

•     Build and maintain relationships with contractor,
engineering, and architectural customers

•     Provide technical guidance on product capabilities,
system design, and equipment selection

•     Prepare submittals, release orders, and track orders
through to delivery for customers

•     Communicate shipping information, expedite when needed,
and manage warranty or damage claims as required

•     Address customer questions and concerns quickly and
professionally

Team Leadership

•     Direct day-to-day workflow for a team of three
estimators — assigning projects and managing throughput

•     Hold the team accountable to deadlines without
micromanaging the technical work

•     Support onboarding and development of junior estimators
as needed

•     3–5+ years of estimating experience specifically in
air-side HVAC equipment — VAV boxes, fan terminals, fire dampers, louvers,
heaters, or similar air distribution products

•     Background from a manufacturer's rep, mechanical
contractor, or HVAC distributor — all three are strong fits

•     Ability to read and interpret commercial construction
plans, specs, and addenda

•     Comfortable directing others and managing deadlines
across a small team

•     Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated

•     Strong written and verbal communication skills with
both technical and non-technical audiences

•     Must reside within approximately 30 minutes of St Louis,
MO — this is a fully in-office role

Preferred

•     Associate or Bachelor's degree in engineering
technology, construction management, or a related field

•     Experience with Bluebeam Revu or similar takeoff
software

•     Familiarity with manufacturer pricing programs (note:
these are learned on the job — not a screen-out)

•     A strong fit for air-side HVAC estimators who are ready
to step into a lead role and run a bid board, not just fill one

•     Ideal for someone who's detail-obsessed about specs and
pricing AND comfortable directing people — both matter equally here

•     Open to candidates from manufacturer's reps, mechanical
contractors, or distributors with the right equipment background

•     A genuine leadership opportunity with an established
team, established accounts, and a structured transition from the outgoing lead

•     Not the right fit for construction, structural, or
piping estimators — this role is specific to air-side equipment and air
distribution products

•     Competitive base salary, $60,000–$85,000 PLUS Bonuses –
(base rate depending on experience)

•     Full benefits package Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO AND
More

Requirements

Benefits

•     Competitive base salary, $60,000–$85,000 PLUS Bonuses –
(base rate depending on experience)

•     Full benefits package Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO AND
More