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Estimator III

HNTB · Downers Grove, IL · $105,591–$165,155 a year · Full time

Posted May 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an estimate that came in very different from the bid results. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they review their estimates against reality and improve their data.

Tell me about a time you prepared a cash flow or economic cost study.

What they are checking: Whether they can go beyond line items and show how costs play out over time.

What would you do

The project manager wants your estimate lower to fit the client's budget. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they protect the integrity of the number while helping find real savings.

You find a big quantity mistake in your estimate after it has been sent to the client. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they correct errors openly and quickly, which protects trust with the client.

About the work

Walk me through how you build a detailed estimate using a cost breakdown structure.

What they are checking: Whether they have a structured method that makes estimates traceable and easy to check.

How do you put together a conceptual estimate before there are drawings?

What they are checking: Whether they can use historical data and judgment to price a project early with sensible ranges.

How do you decide how much contingency to carry, and how do you explain it to a client?

What they are checking: Whether they can tie contingency to real risks rather than adding a flat percentage.

What is the difference between a man-hour based estimate and an equipment-factored estimate, and when would you use each?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the estimating approaches the posting names and their limits.

How do you account for inflation and escalation on a project that will be built in three years?

What they are checking: Whether they think about time and market changes, which affect large infrastructure costs.

What estimating software have you used, and how have you helped others use it well?

What they are checking: Whether they can guide others on software, as the posting asks.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by HNTB.

What We're Looking For At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners. This opportunity entails preparing all aspects of detailed cost estimates with minimal supervision for projects that are generally larger and more complex estimating assignments. Accurately projecting the cost of upcoming projects. Responsible for conceptual, definitive, man-hour, and equipment factored total installed cost estimates. Duties may also include preparing economic cost studies, cash flows, and contingency analyses. What You’ll Do: • Performs detailed cost estimates utilizing the Cost Breakdown Structure, determining the cost of each item from experience and summarizing the total. Prepares detailed breakdown of components and elements of estimates for systems and subsystems. • Performs conceptual estimating by establishing a project’s cost prior to development of graphical representation of a facility. Works closely with the project supervisor to ensure the project estimate meets all financial and regulatory guidelines. Operates and provides oversight and guidance on the use of selected estimating software. • Provides support in price negotiations. Obtains cost information for materials and services. Participates in client presentations as required. • Performs detailed cost estimates for professional services. • Develops duration estimates of specific construction activities based on assumed construction approach and appropriate production rates. Prepares independent cost estimates for submitted change order proposals. • Collaborates with scheduling team to develop productivity-based cost estimates and to ensure alignment of estimates to construction schedules. • Analyzes specifications, drawings, sketches, and sample layouts to calculate total construction cost using labor, material, and equipment pricing schedules in concert with historical data. • Reviews contractual documents and contract modifications to determine scope of work and scope changes. • Accumulates, evaluates, and documents historical cost data and construction means and methods to maintain current estimating standards and databases. • Prepares takeoffs on complex projects, drawings, and plans with project management and checks for mathematical and technical accuracy. Assigns material costs and staffing costs to the takeoffs. • Supports the preparation of procurement documents related to Estimating Specifications. What You’ll Need: • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or related degree and 6 years relevant experience, or • In lieu of education, 10 years relevant experience with the development of cost estimates ​ Primary Focus Will Include: • Prepares reviews of engineers estimates for complex civil contracts, • Compiles independent quantity take-offs on major projects for quality check purposes, • Prepares independent change order estimates for construction contracts • Updates cost forecasts for upcoming work, • Analyzes bid tabulations, • Updates price database, and • Produces economic cost studies, cash flows, and contingency analyses Preferred Qualifications and Skills: • AACE’s CEP (Certified Estimating Professional) or equivalent designation • Experience developing cost estimates and quantity takeoffs in heavy highway construction • Experience estimating and bidding projects with a general contractor or subcontractor on heavy civil projects • Familiarity with basic design requirements for roads and bridges • Experience preparing cost estimates using a variety of Estimating tools, including Excel spreadsheets, Sage Timberline, HCSS HeavyBid, and/or other estimating software Additional Information Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. #RN . Locations: Downers Grove, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The approximate pay range for Illinois is $105,590.66 - $165,154.61. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . The approximate nation wide pay range for this position is $95,991.51 - $187,675.71. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES: HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.

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