Estimating Engineer
Chicago, IL, United States
- Engineering
- Full-time
- cost estimating
- oil and gas projects
- capital project estimation
The Estimating Engineer at Aramco is responsible for preparing, reviewing, and validating detailed cost estimates for complex oil and gas capital projects, ensuring alignment with project scope, schedule, and contractual requirements. The role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, applying industry-standard estimating methodologies, and managing cost data from conceptual design through to detailed execution. Candidates must have extensive experience in cost estimating within the energy sector, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in relevant estimating tools and guidelines.
Aramco energizes the world economy.
Aramco occupies a special position in the global energy industry. We are one of the world’s largest producers of hydrocarbon energy and chemicals, with among the lowest Upstream carbon intensities of any major producer.
With our significant investment in technology and infrastructure, we strive to maximize the value of the energy we produce for the world along with a commitment to enhance Aramco’s value to society.
Headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and with offices around the world, we combine market discipline with a generations’ spanning view of the future, born of our nine decades experience as responsible stewards of the Kingdom’s vast hydrocarbon resources. This responsibility has driven us to deliver significant societal and economic benefits to not just the Kingdom, but also to a vast number of communities, economies, and countries that rely on the vital and reliable energy that we supply.
We are one of the most profitable companies in the world, as well as amongst the top five global companies by market capitalization.
Overview
The Engineering Specialist in Estimating will play a critical role in supporting the development and preparation of accurate, reliable, and consistent cost estimates for capital projects. This position collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with project scope, schedule, and contractual requirements, following internal guidelines and other relevant standards. The candidates need to have experience in preparing and reviewing estimates class 1, 2, 3 & 4 for complex oil and gas projects. Prepare estimates of probable costs of materials, labor and equipment, and subcontracts for construction projects based on contract bids, quotations, drawings and specifications. Review and spot check material take-off against IFB drawings, review project specification, execution strategy and site condition. Calculate construction cost based on total direct and in-direct man-hours and all-in rate. Material cost based on vendor quotations and bench mark against internal and external data.
Key Responsibilities
Prepare, review, and validate cost estimates at various project stages—conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design—ensuring compliance with company guidelines.
Use historical data, vendor quotations, and engineering inputs to develop estimates with defined accuracy levels (e.g., Class 4 to class 1 estimates).
Collaborate with engineering and project teams to understand and interpret project scope and deliverables.
Identify specialty items (e.g., licensed equipment, DCS systems, exotic materials) and ensure they are appropriately included in the estimate.
Liaise with execution agency to secure quotations for equipment and bulk materials, adhering to minimum quotation requirements based on project value.
Validate in-house pricing data or adjust based on current market conditions.
Ensure the Estimate Package includes all required documentation such as scoping documents, conceptual drawings, MTOs, vendor quotations, and risk registers.
Participate in reviews and approvals at various stages (e.g., Gate 1, Gate 2, etc.).
Identify cost risks and propose appropriate contingency levels based on project complexity and scope definition.
Ensure all estimates adhere to Saudi Aramco Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and other internal standards.
Generate cost reports to track budget performance and forecast final execution costs.
Strong understanding of international estimating guidelines such as AACE International. (Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering)
Proficient in estimating tools and methodologies including unit rates, parametric estimating, and bottom-up estimating.
Review project scope of work, specifications, and related documents.
Estimate costs by looking at the entire project, including direct and indirect cost.
Present cost estimates to upper management.
Input cost data into company database.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (preferably Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical) or related field.
20 years of experience in cost estimating within the oil & gas, energy, or industrial sector.
Proven experience in preparing conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design estimates.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and manage multiple priorities.
Work Location and Work Schedule
Work Location: Within Saudi Arabia – To be specified in Job offer
Work Schedule: Full Time - To be specified in Job offer
Working environment
Our high-performing employees are drawn by the challenging and rewarding professional, technical and industrial opportunities we offer, and are remunerated accordingly.
At Aramco, our people work on truly world-scale projects, supported by investment in capital and technology that is second to none. And because, as a global energy company, we are faced with addressing some of the world’s biggest technical, logistical and environmental challenges, we invest heavily in talent development.
We have a proud history of educating and training our workforce over many decades. Employees at all levels are encouraged to improve their sector-specific knowledge and competencies through our workforce development programs – one of the largest in the world.
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