I-5 Design Build

Commercial Construction Estimator - Design-Build

Location: Lacey, WA

Work arrangement: Full-time, in-office position

Compensation: $50 - $65 per hour, depending on experience

Turn 3d Designs Into Buildable Budgets For Custom Commercial Environments.

I-5 Design Build is an integrated design-build firm with more than 40 years of experience creating casino, hospitality, entertainment, food and beverage, and high-end commercial environments. We design spaces in 3D, fabricate many specialty components in-house, manage construction, and install the finished work through our own teams.

This is not a traditional estimating position built around completed construction documents. I-5's turnkey projects begin with laser scans, SketchUp models, renderings, preliminary layouts, historical project data, and early design information. Once the client approves a design direction, the estimating team determines what it will take to build and fabricate the entire project, often before conventional blueprint sets exist.

As a Commercial Construction Estimator, you will navigate 3D models, identify materials and components, prepare quantity takeoffs, and build complete estimates for commercial construction and customized architectural work. You will enter and organize estimate information using ProEst, an Autodesk estimating platform. The right candidate understands commercial construction and is comfortable working from conceptual information. Your background may be in estimating, architecture, design, project engineering, or construction management, provided you understand how commercial spaces and assemblies are built.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop estimates for commercial design-build renovation and new-construction projects
• Review SketchUp models, renderings, laser-scan information, layouts, drawings, and specifications
• Perform quantity takeoffs for materials, fixtures, finishes, labor, equipment, and subcontracted work
• Estimate custom millwork, casework, signage, décor, frameworks, and specialty architectural features
• Enter, organize, and update estimate information in ProEst
• Solicit and evaluate vendor and subcontractor pricing
• Identify missing scope, cost risks, assumptions, exclusions, and constructability concerns
• Develop early budgets and refine them as the design progresses
• Use historical project data to improve estimating consistency and accuracy
• Collaborate with designers, architects, project managers, fabricators, and field personnel
• Prepare clear estimate summaries and project-turnover information

Required Qualifications

• Practical experience with commercial construction through estimating, architecture, design, project engineering, project management, or a closely related role
• Strong working knowledge of commercial construction materials, assemblies, labor, and sequencing
• Proficiency with SketchUp and the ability to navigate 3D models for scope review and takeoffs
• Ability to understand designs and determine how they can be built and fabricated
• Experience performing takeoffs or developing construction budgets
• Ability to read architectural drawings, specifications, renderings, and construction details
• Strong analytical ability and attention to detail
• Comfort working with evolving designs and incomplete construction information
• Ability to manage multiple estimates and changing priorities
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work full-time from I-5's Lacey office

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with casino, gaming, hospitality, restaurant, food and beverage, or high-end commercial interiors
• Background in architectural millwork, cabinetry, casework, signage, décor, or specialty fabrication
• Experience developing conceptual or budget estimates from limited design information
• Familiarity with ProEst or another commercial estimating platform
• Bluebeam or Procore experience
• Experience in architecture or design combined with an interest in construction management and estimating

Pay And Benefits

• Full-time, W-2 employment
• Pay: $50 - $65 per hour, depending on experience
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short- and long-term disability benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Seven paid holidays
• Paid sick leave accrued according to applicable state law
• PTO for eligible employees: one week after one year, two weeks after two to four years, and three weeks after five or more years
• Opportunity to work on highly customized commercial projects throughout the country
• Direct collaboration with an integrated team that designs, estimates, fabricates, builds, and installs its own work

Why Join I-5 Design Build?

You will estimate projects from the earliest design stage and see how those ideas become fabricated elements and finished environments. I-5's collaborative, in-office structure gives you direct access to architecture, design, fabrication, construction, and project-management specialists when questions arise. The work is varied, technically challenging, and tied to distinctive projects rather than repetitive bid packages. This role offers an opportunity to deepen both your estimating expertise and your understanding of the complete design-build process.

If you understand commercial construction, work confidently in SketchUp, and enjoy turning creative concepts into accurate, buildable budgets, apply today.

I-5 Design Build is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations are available during the application and interview process.