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Structural Estimator - Modular Buildings

nVent · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Aug 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 a time you compared estimated to actual cost on a finished project. What did you find?

What they are checking: Whether they learn from past jobs to make future estimates more accurate.

Tell me about working with vendors to get accurate quotes under a tight deadline.

What they are checking: Whether they can get reliable vendor pricing quickly.

What would you do

Steel prices change sharply right after you send a quote. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they manage material price risk and keep the estimating database current.

Sales wants a lower number to win a bid. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they protect estimate accuracy while helping sales find real savings.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd build a material and labor estimate for a modular building from a set of drawings and specs.

What they are checking: Whether they have a structured, repeatable estimating method rather than rough guesses.

How do you account for site services in an estimate, beyond the building itself?

What they are checking: Whether they include the costs of delivery, placement and field work that are easy to miss.

How do you set standard labor rates for structural work?

What they are checking: Whether they can build labor standards from real data rather than old assumptions.

How do you read a structural spec and spot items that will drive cost?

What they are checking: Whether they can pick out the specification details that change the price.

How do you keep an estimating database accurate when many people use it?

What they are checking: Whether they treat data quality as part of the job.

What cost trends would you look for to help management reduce costs?

What they are checking: Whether they can use estimating data to find bigger cost reduction opportunities.

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The full job description

As published by nVent.

We’re looking for people who put their innovation to work to advance our success – and their own. Join an organization that ensures a more secure world through connecting and protecting our customers with inventive electrical solutions. WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE IN THIS POSITION: As a Structural Estimator at nVent Management Company, you will embark on an exceptionally rewarding journey! You will analyze drawings, specifications, proposals, and other documentation to prepare material cost and labor estimates for modular building projects and site services. Your role will involve: • Examining data to assess material and labor demands and drafting quote sheets. • Computing cost factors and preparing estimates for planning, organizing, and scheduling work. • Conducting special studies to develop and establish standard labor and material rates. • Consulting with sales, vendors, or other individuals to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues. • Handling the estimating database and refreshing material and labor costs to guarantee precision. • Analyzing completed projects to compare estimated costs to actual costs and identifying discrepancies. • Providing improvement recommendations to cost estimating procedures. • Identifying cost trends to assist management in cost reduction and process improvement efforts. YOU HAVE: • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, preferred. • 3+ years of experience in estimating, cost analysis, or project management preferred. • Skills in analytical thinking, problem-solving, and technical expertise. • Abilities to meet the physical and environmental demands: primarily office-based. WE HAVE: • A dynamic global reach with diverse operations around the world that will stretch your abilities, provide plentiful career opportunities, and allow you to make an impact every day • nVent is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe our inventive electrical solutions enable safer systems and ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world's most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We offer a comprehensive range of systems protection and electrical connections solutions across industry-leading brands that are recognized globally for quality, reliability and innovation. • Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis. Our robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, ILSCO, SCHROFF and TRACHTE. Learn more at www.nvent.com . • Commitment to strengthen communities where our employees live and work • We encourage and support the philanthropic activities of our employees worldwide • Through our nVent in Action matching program, we provide funds to nonprofit and educational organizations where our employees volunteer or donate money • Core values that shape our culture and drive us to deliver the best for our employees and our customers. We’re known for being: • Innovative & adaptable • Dedicated to absolute integrity • Focused on the customer first • Respectful and team oriented • Optimistic and energizing • Accountable for performance • Benefits to support the lives of our employees Benefit Overview At nVent, we value our people and their health and well-being. We provide a broad benefits package with meaningful programs for eligible full-time employees that includes: • Medical, dental, and vision plans along with flexible spending accounts, short-term and long-term disability benefits, critical illness, accident insurance and life insurance. • A 401(k) retirement plan and an employee stock purchase plan — both include a company match. • Other supplemental benefits may include tuition reimbursement, caregiver, personal and parental leave, back-up care services, paid time off including volunteer time, a well-being program, and/or legal & identity theft protection. At nVent, we connect and protect our customers with inventive electrical solutions. People are our most valuable asset. Inclusion and diversity means that we celebrate and encourage each other’s authenticity because we understand that uniqueness sparks growth. #LI-JH1 #LI-HYBRID

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