Residential Construction Estimator

At DiStefano Brothers Construction, we take pride in delivering exceptional high-end residential design-build projects across Rhode Island and Southern New England. We are seeking a dedicated Residential Estimator to own our pricing process from the initial Design Agreement (DA) through Pre-Construction (PC) to contract handoff, as well as architect-led hard bids.

In this role, you will bridge the gap between sales, design, and production - turning project scopes and plans into defensible Investment Ranges, bottom-up estimates, and clean budgets so our Project Managers can focus on building.

What We Offer

• Competitive Pay: $75,000 – $90,000 annual salary (based on experience)


• Health & Wellness: Choice of one of three Blue Cross Blue Shield medical plans (employer contribution up to $500/month), plus voluntary dental and vision coverage


• Retirement Security: 401(k) plan with company match


• Perks & Logistics: Company-sponsored life insurance, IRS rate mileage reimbursement for site visits, and AFLAC eligibility


• Time Off: Paid Time Off (PTO), safe and sick leave, and 6 paid holidays


• Professional Support: Collaborative pre-con environment, structured 120-day onboarding plan, Buildertrend training, and AI tool integration

Primary Responsibilities

• Site Takeoffs & Assessments: Walk sites with Sales, Design, and Project Managers; document existing conditions; perform quantity takeoffs (QTO) from plans, sketches, and field measurements.


• Bottom-Up Estimating: Develop early Investment Ranges and detailed construction estimates by room and trade—calculating labor hours, materials, sub-trades, permits, dumpsters, and general conditions while applying DBC’s markup model.


• Subcontractor & Supplier Bidding: Solicit, track, compare, and level trade bids during pre-construction; maintain the supplier price book to ensure complete, apples-to-apples coverage before contract numbers go out.


• Scope & Value Engineering: Scrub initial project scopes with our integration team; define clear inclusions, exclusions, and allowances; lead value-engineering options with Design and PMs to flag margin risks and keep projects on budget.


• Hard Bids & Secondary Support: Own architect-led and competitive hard bids from plan set to submitted number. Assist the Property Services team with small job quotes when pre-construction volume is slow.


• Production Handoff & Comp Database: Pass final clean estimates, budgets, cost groups, and risk reviews to PMs at contract signing; compare estimated vs. actual costs on completed jobs to maintain unit cost accuracy.

What We’re Looking For

• Residential Estimating Experience: 3+ years of experience producing formal, bottom-up project estimates for residential remodeling, custom design-build, or residential general contracting. (Open to candidates with a strong residential field background who have transitioned into formal estimating).


• Labor-Hour & Task-Based Pricing: Proven ability to calculate labor hours by specific task and trade using historical production rates, rather than relying solely on material estimates or sub quotes.


• Blueprint & Quantity Takeoff Proficiency: Strong ability to read structural and architectural drawings and perform detailed quantity takeoffs (QTO) using takeoff software and Excel.


• Tech & Spreadsheet Skills: Intermediate to advanced Excel proficiency required (building formulas, spreadsheets, and cost models). Familiarity with estimating software, Buildertrend, Google Workspace, or AI tools is a plus.


• Scope & Contract Writing: Ability to translate project scopes into clear written budget inclusions, exclusions, allowances, and value-engineering options ensuring subcontractor bids align with scope requirements.


• Building Sequence Knowledge: Deep practical understanding of residential construction sequencing across framing, mechanicals, and finishes.


• Requirements: Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation for site visits across Rhode Island and Southern New England, and ability to pass a standard background check. (OSHA 10/30 and RI/MA code familiarity preferred).

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your application through BambooHR and provide one sample estimate with labor hours broken out (any format, client names removed), along with a brief summary of a project you estimated that you are proud of in the cover letter portion of your application. 

DiStefano Brothers Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer.