The Opportunity
Our client, a national M&E contractor operating from their Warrington base, is looking for a Mechanical Estimator to take ownership of mechanical pricing across their live bids.
Most estimating seats treat mechanical as one line among many. This one is a dedicated specialism; HVAC, pipework and public health priced properly, on every bid that goes out.
Pricing HVAC, pipework and public health systems into a listed building, or into a live hospital wing, is a different exercise from a standard commercial package. Access protocols, shutdown windows and fabric constraints all have to be priced at bid stage rather than discovered on site, and that is what makes the technical side of this role more demanding than the job title suggests.
This is a permanent role in Warrington, £60,000 to £70,000 depending on experience, plus a full benefits package.
About the Business
Main contractor relationships measured in decades change what estimating is like. The business is usually pricing into established, well-understood partnerships rather than proving itself on one-off jobs, which for an estimator means more reliable information going into a price and a more collaborative environment when something needs clarifying.
In-house design matters more to a mechanical estimator than an org chart suggests. Being able to sit with the design team while a bid is live - testing whether a plant arrangement genuinely fits, whether a distribution route works - is most of the difference between a substantiated price and an optimistic one.
What You'll Be Doing
Preparing detailed mechanical estimates and tender submissions across HVAC, pipework and public health systems
Carrying out take-offs and measurement from drawings and specifications to produce accurate, well-substantiated pricing
Pricing mechanical packages across a varied portfolio, including heritage, healthcare, defence and custodial projects, each with their own access, security or compliance constraints
Working closely with the in-house design team to ensure mechanical proposals are technically robust and buildable
Sourcing and negotiating with mechanical subcontractors and suppliers to build competitive, substantiated pricing
Identifying value engineering opportunities and contributing to buildability reviews during the tender process
Reviewing contract terms and flagging mechanical-specific commercial risk ahead of submission
Supporting post-tender negotiation and handover into delivery on secured mechanical packages
What We're Looking For
A strong mechanical estimating background within M&E or mechanical contracting
Confident leading mechanical tenders independently, from enquiry through to submission
Proficient in take-off and measurement across HVAC, pipework and public health systems
Sound knowledge of NEC and/or JCT contract forms
Strong Excel and general estimating software skills
Relevant mechanical qualifications
Full UK driving licence
•Ownership of the mechanical price on every live bid
•HVAC, pipework and public health systems priced as a specialism
•Testing buildability with the in-house design team before submission
•Pricing into heritage, healthcare, defence and custodial constraints
•A generalist M&E seat with mechanical as one line among many
•Take-offs handed down with the commercial thinking done elsewhere
•Standard commercial packages with standard constraints
•Pricing to drawings nobody has questioned
What's on Offer
A prestigious and technically varied project portfolio, spanning sectors most M&E contractors cannot access
A well-resourced pre-construction function, with in-house design behind every submission
The backing of a national business with scale, a deep supply chain and long-standing client relationships
How to Apply
Apply using the button below, or contact Mike Halliwell directly for a discreet conversation.