Senior Estimator - Construction and Infrastructure Projects
McKinsey & Company · Atlanta, United States +5 · 5d ago
SeniorOn-siteDevOps, SRE & Infrastructure$110k
Who you'll work with
Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward.
In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues—at all levels—will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else.
When you join us, you will have:
- Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
- A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
- Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- World-class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.
What you'll do
You will prepare detailed cost estimates and budget forecasts for major capital projects.
You will build and scale analytical tools focused on portfolio optimization, value improvement, project execution, and cost/schedule diagnostics.
You will leverage advanced estimating and analytical tools to develop construction cost models, build proprietary solutions, and drive impact on large-scale capital projects.
You will play an active role in client engagements by gathering data, testing hypotheses, and developing actionable recommendations. You will present your findings to client leadership and collaborate directly with their teams to implement solutions.
You will help build new benchmarking databases, cost models, and market perspectives. You will synthesize your findings into complex models, summary reports, and standalone presentations for both internal and external audiences.
You will also stay at the forefront of the capital projects industry, continually contributing to the firm's collective expertise and proprietary insights.
You will build on your existing strengths and passions while gaining valuable new skills in a fast-paced, dynamic environment receiving world-class, ongoing training alongside frequent coaching and mentorship from your colleagues and team leadership.
You will be based in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, or Washington, DC, joining our Capital Analytics Client Capabilities Network—a core component of our broader Capital Excellence Service Line. Capital Analytics provides distinctive analysis, insights, and support to major capital projects across sectors. Our dedicated specialists use a data-driven approach and proprietary methodologies to offer services such as estimate and schedule validation, benchmarking, diligence, and readiness reviews. Our aim is to embed deep capital analytics into all our engagements and help cement Capital Excellence services across industries.
Your background
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Engineering, Construction Science, or a related field
- 3+ years of experience working on major capital projects for either an owner or contractor, ideally within project management or project controls
- 3+ years of hands-on experience with construction estimating software for large-scale capital projects
- Prior experience in consulting, strategic planning, or research is a distinct advantage
- Proficiency with Aspen Capital Cost Estimator (ACCE) is highly preferred
- Familiarity with other industry tools is a strong asset (e.g., Cleopatra Estimating, Autodesk ProEst, Sage Estimating, InEight Estimating, Trimble Accubid, Bluebeam, Stack, RIB CostX, ICEC, or ACostE)
- Advanced Excel modeling capabilities and experience managing, structuring, and analyzing large datasets using database tools
- Exceptional quantitative, analytical, and structured problem-solving skills
- A proven record of leadership and taking initiative within professional, academic, or extracurricular settings
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
- Ability to travel up to 50%
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex, technical data into clear, actionable insights