Cost Engineer

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to FridayLocation: Reading

Our client is seeking a detail-oriented and commercially aware Estimator to assist their sales team in delivering complex sales quotes effectively and efficiently. You will play a key role in calculating accurate project costings, ensuring bids are competitive, profitable, and achievable within time and budget constraints. You will need experience in construction, and ideally have experience with balconies, facades, steelwork, building envelope etc for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Accurately calculate and prepare project costings to support the sales team in securing and delivering successful projects.
• Budgeting, building, and checking schedules of rates, and approximating build costs.
• Attend pre-budget meetings and site visits to establish accurate cost estimates.
• Coordinate with the sales team to ensure upcoming projects are scheduled in advance for optimal costing practices.
• Identify and report any risks that may affect projected costs or time estimates.
• Verify take-offs to ensure accuracy.
• Oversee the smooth handover from bid stage to project execution, liaising with internal teams and stakeholders.
• Manage and maintain all relevant documentation, including quotes, presentations, and data, in line with GDPR and corporate governance standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Estimating, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' progressive experience in estimating or cost management within construction, with demonstrable results.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, technologies, and materials (glass, steel, aluminium, powder coatings).
• Experience working on commercial building projects.

• Full UK Driving Licence (clean preferred).

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to meet project objectives within agreed constraints.
• Proficiency in preparing bid presentations (PowerPoint).
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent record-keeping, organisational, and time management abilities.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.
• High commercial awareness and meticulous attention to detail.
• Flexible approach to managing changing priorities.

Benefits:

• Holiday - 24 days
• Private medical - After probation
• Passionate about involvement in good causes
• Discretionary quarterly bonus (up to 10% of salary p/a)
• Lunch provided to all staff when in the office
• Parking
• Generous pension - employer pay employee contributions
• Option to opt in for a lease car
• Annual entitlement to buy/sell holiday (up to 3 days) every Jan only
• Employee assistance program