Oxford | Mechanical Building Services | Permanent
£55,000 - £80,000 + package
Package to include car allowance or travel support, pension, 25 days holiday + bank holidays, laptop, phone and ongoing training. There may be flexibility on salary for someone with strong mechanical estimating experience.
This is a role for a Mechanical Estimator who wants proper variety rather than pricing the same type of project every week.
You will be joining a long-established, family-owned M&E contractor based out of Oxford, working across mechanical building services projects in education, commercial, heritage, public sector, residential, scientific and technically detailed environments. The business has been operating for almost 100 years and delivers both mechanical and electrical services across installation, maintenance, design and project delivery.
The project mix is the attraction. Their own project history includes university buildings, halls of residence, school projects, listed and heritage buildings, commercial complexes, museums, colleges, public sector buildings, residential developments, refurbishments and scientific establishments. The work includes both new installations and upgrades to existing buildings, so you will need to be comfortable pricing projects where drawings, site constraints and client requirements need proper thought.
This would suit someone who has estimated mechanical services for an M&E contractor or mechanical contractor and wants to work for a stable business with a strong regional name, sensible project variety and close links between estimating, design and delivery.
What you’ll be doing
* You will prepare mechanical estimates and tenders across a varied range of building services projects.
* You will price mechanical packages across heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, public health, gas, water, drainage, ductwork, refrigeration and associated plant. The company’s mechanical services cover installation, maintenance and repair across heating, plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning, gas, water, ducted and refrigeration systems.
* You will review drawings, specifications, schedules, tender documents, employer’s requirements and site information.
* You will carry out take-offs, build cost plans, prepare tender returns and help produce accurate, commercially sensible submissions.
* You will liaise with suppliers and subcontractors to obtain quotations, compare costs and make sure scope gaps are identified early.
* You will work closely with design engineers, project managers, commercial staff, buyers and senior management to make sure tenders are technically and commercially robust.
* You will help assess risk, programme requirements, access constraints, existing services, phasing, plant replacement, energy efficiency requirements and client-specific expectations.
* You will support value engineering, alternative proposals and technical clarification where needed.
* You will help manage enquiries from initial review through to tender submission, handover and post-tender clarification.
* You will maintain accurate estimating records, supplier information, cost data and tender documentation.
What you’ll need
* You will need experience as a Mechanical Estimator, M&E Estimator, Building Services Estimator, Mechanical Design Estimator or mechanically biased Quantity Surveyor / Estimator.
* You should have strong mechanical building services knowledge, ideally gained with a mechanical contractor or M&E contractor.
* You will need to understand mechanical systems such as LTHW, CHW, ventilation, ductwork, AHUs, FCUs, VRF, public health, plumbing, drainage, gas, plantrooms, controls interfaces and commissioning requirements.
* Experience pricing education, commercial, public sector, residential, healthcare, scientific, heritage, refurbishment or live-building projects would be useful.
* You should be confident reading drawings, doing take-offs, reviewing specifications, comparing supplier quotations and identifying missing scope.
* You will need commercial awareness, attention to detail and the confidence to challenge information where something does not look right.
* Experience with estimating software, Excel, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Trimble, Ensign, ConQuest, Amtech, Cypher, Causeway or similar systems would be useful.
* A mechanical trade background, HNC / HND, building services qualification or mechanical engineering background would all be relevant.
Why this role
This is a strong move for a Mechanical Estimator who wants to join a stable, established M&E contractor with a proper local reputation.
You will not be pricing one narrow type of work. You will be involved in a broad mix of Oxford and regional projects across education, commercial, heritage, public sector, residential and scientific environments.
The business has in-house design capability, direct labour, experienced project managers, a CAD / drawing office, small works and maintenance teams, and more than 100 tradespeople and apprentices supporting delivery. That gives you proper internal support rather than leaving estimating isolated from the people who actually build the work.
For someone who wants a permanent estimating role with variety, stability and a stronger mechanical building services portfolio, this is a good opportunity.
Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation
Salary description
£55000.00 - £80000.00 per year