Senior Estimator Opportunity Shaping

We are seeking to employ, on a full-time W-2 basis, a Senior Estimator - Opportunity Shaping to support early phase development and cost estimating activities for major oil and gas capital projects. This role is responsible for developing project cost estimates, Basis of Estimate documentation, execution scenarios, risk based contingency analyses, and cost models used to support opportunity shaping, funding decisions, and project planning. This position is based in downtown Houston and follows a hybrid 9/80 schedule. The selected candidate will work on-site Monday through Thursday, work remotely on designated Fridays, and have every other Friday off. Candidates must be local to Houston and able to work from the client's office as required. The role also requires approximately 25% international travel, schedule flexibility for meetings across global time zones, a valid passport, and the ability to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential. The ideal candidate will combine strong estimating, cost-engineering, or project-controls experience with practical knowledge of offshore project execution. Experience supporting offshore construction, exploration, facilities, field operations, scheduled turnarounds, materials management, logistics, planning, contractor oversight, or site execution is valuable when supported by substantial estimating or cost-engineering experience. This role is best suited for someone with early-concept, opportunity-shaping, feasibility, front-end, or offshore estimating experience. It is not intended for candidates whose backgrounds are limited to onshore refinery work, scheduling alone, general project controls, or field operations without direct cost-estimating responsibilities.

Key responsibilities:

Lead the development of early-phase project cost estimates and Basis of Estimate documentation. Develop estimate plans, assumptions, methodologies, exclusions, Work Breakdown Structures, Cost Breakdown Structures, staffing plans, and resource requirements. Prepare cost models using project scope, schedules, execution strategies, labor requirements, equipment needs, material quantities, logistics considerations, and indirect costs. Review and challenge contractor estimates, engineering studies, labor-productivity assumptions, staffing levels, resource plans, and execution approaches. Evaluate alternative project concepts and execution scenarios to support strategic decisions, funding requests, business planning, and project selection. Incorporate contingency, escalation, uncertainty, cost risk, schedule risk, productivity, logistics, and offshore-execution considerations into project estimates. Support quantitative risk assessments, contingency modeling, Monte Carlo analysis, benchmarking, statistical analysis, and estimate-assurance reviews. Coordinate with engineering, procurement, construction, operations, scheduling, project management, finance, and contractor teams. Maintain estimate revision controls, document changes to assumptions, and support project-management-of-change processes. Support project budgeting, forecasting, cost control, funding appropriation, and contingency drawdown strategies. Mentor team members and promote consistent estimating standards, tools, procedures, and quality requirements.

Required experience:

Bachelor's degree in any discipline. At least 10 years of relevant professional experience. Significant estimating, cost-engineering, or project-controls experience within the oil and gas industry. Direct offshore project, construction, operational, exploration, or execution experience. Experience developing or reviewing capital-project cost estimates and Basis of Estimate documentation. Experience evaluating contractor estimates, labor productivity, staffing requirements, resource assumptions, and execution plans. Ability to work across engineering, procurement, construction, operations, scheduling, and project-management functions. Strong written, verbal, analytical, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills. Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and operate effectively in a collaborative international environment. Valid passport, willingness to travel internationally, and ability to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential.

Preferred experience:

Early-concept, opportunity-shaping, feasibility, front-end, or exploration estimating. Offshore upstream, subsea, facilities, drilling, construction, turnaround, decommissioning, or new-country-entry projects. Field execution, site construction, materials management, logistics, contractor coordination, or scheduled-turnaround experience. QUE$TOR or comparable offshore-estimating software. Monte Carlo simulation or other quantitative risk-analysis techniques. Project scheduling, resource planning, benchmarking, statistical analysis, cost modeling, or estimate-assurance experience. Engineering, construction-management, or other technical education. Digital estimating, analytics, automation, or artificial-intelligence tools.

Benefits:

Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or transfer employment visas for this assignment.

Schedule:

Full-time W-2 contract assignment Assignment scheduled from July 13, 2026, through July 12, 2027, with possible extension 40 hours per week 9/80 schedule Monday through Thursday on-site Remote on designated Fridays Every other Friday off Schedule flexibility for international meetings 25% international travel Ability to

Relocate:

Houston, TX 77002: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location:

Hybrid in Houston, TX 77002

Pay:

$60.00 - $70.00 per hour Ability to

Relocate:

Houston, TX 77002: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Houston, TX 77002