Data Center Construction Cost Estimator

The Global Program Controls organization provides governance, reporting, controls processes, cost management support, and portfolio visibility to help Oracle Cloud Infrastructure deliver global data center programs with greater consistency, transparency, and execution discipline.  

Oracle is seeking a Construction Cost Estimator (IC3) to support data center development, build-out, and infrastructure delivery across multiple regions. This is a hands-on estimating role responsible for preparing conceptual, budgetary, and detailed construction estimates across civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, controls, low-voltage, security, network, and site-infrastructure scopes.

The Construction Cost Estimator will develop assigned estimates and work packages using established methods and governance, partnering with senior estimators, Design, Engineering, Construction, Project Controls, Procurement, Finance, and external cost partners. The role translates drawings, models, system information, market pricing, and construction assumptions into traceable quantity takeoffs, transparent cost models, Basis of Estimate documentation, and decision-support materials.

Estimate Development and Quantity Takeoffs

• Develop construction cost estimates for assigned data center projects and work packages at conceptual, design-development, procurement, and detailed-design stages.

• Prepare and validate quantity takeoffs from engineering drawings, BIM models, P&IDs, one-line diagrams, equipment lists, schedules, specifications, design narratives, and scope documents.

• Analyze labor, material, equipment, subcontract, general conditions, indirect costs, escalation, allowances, and contingency to produce accurate and transparent estimate build-ups.

• Structure estimates using the approved cost breakdown structure (CBS) and work breakdown structure (WBS), maintaining traceability from scope and quantities to budget lines and work packages.

• Incorporate labor productivity, crew composition, construction sequencing, schedule constraints, site logistics, regional market conditions, and other project-specific execution factors.

• Collaborate with Design and Engineering teams to validate scope, system assumptions, quantities, equipment requirements, specifications, and interfaces between disciplines.

• Prepare Basis of Estimate packages documenting scope, design basis, inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, allowances, risks, estimate methodology, source data, and qualifications.

• Identify cost risks, scope gaps, quantity concerns, constructability issues, and value-engineering opportunities and communicate them to senior estimators and project stakeholders.

Pricing Review and Commercial Support

• Review contractor, subcontractor, vendor, consultant, and colocation-provider proposals for completeness, scope alignment, quantities, pricing accuracy, exclusions, qualifications, and risk considerations.

• Prepare bid-leveling, proposal-normalization, scope-reconciliation, and pricing-comparison analyses using a consistent CBS/WBS and estimate basis.

• Support preparation of procurement and bid packages, cost baselines, and budget allocations for major equipment, bulk materials, construction services, and assigned work packages.

• Contribute to should-cost analyses and independent cost checks using internal models, historical data, benchmarks, regional labor assumptions, and current market information.

• Support cost-reconciliation and negotiation meetings by preparing analyses, documenting clarifications and agreed assumptions, tracking open items, and escalating material issues to senior estimating or commercial leads.

• Assist with change-order and design-change evaluations by validating quantities, pricing, labor assumptions, markups, schedule effects, and alignment with the approved scope and budget.

   

Project Controls and Reporting Support

• Support development and maintenance of project cost baselines, budget allocations, cost plans, and estimate handoffs to Project Controls and Delivery teams.

• Provide estimate-to-actual comparisons, cost variance analyses, trend information, forecast inputs, and change-impact assessments during project execution.

• Maintain clear links between estimates, approved budgets, procurement packages, commitments, forecasts, and changes so cost movements can be explained and audited.

• Prepare estimate summaries, cost reports, dashboards, review materials, and presentation content for Finance, project teams, and leadership review.

• Present routine estimate findings, assumptions, cost drivers, and risks to project stakeholders and support senior estimators during complex or executive-level reviews.

   

Standards, Data and Collaboration

• Develop and maintain cost databases, unit rates, benchmarking tools, productivity assumptions, and historical cost records for data center systems and construction scopes.

• Compare estimates with awarded pricing, actual costs, contractor submissions, and change orders to improve future estimate quality and benchmark reliability.

• Apply Oracle estimating standards, CBS/WBS requirements, documentation expectations, review procedures, and applicable industry best practices.

• Validate estimate inputs, calculations, source references, version control, and supporting documentation before estimates are submitted for review.

• Collaborate across Design, Engineering, Construction, Procurement, Commercial, Finance, Project Controls, Scheduling, Operations, contractors, consultants, and colocation providers.

• Contribute practical improvements to estimating templates, tools, review checklists, cost reporting, and recurring team processes.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in construction estimating, cost management, quantity surveying, preconstruction, project controls, or a related capital-project delivery role.

• Experience preparing conceptual, budgetary, quantity-based, or detailed estimates for multi-discipline construction, infrastructure, industrial, or mission-critical projects.

• Demonstrated ability to perform quantity takeoffs and interpret drawings, models, P&IDs, one-lines, equipment schedules, specifications, design narratives, and scope documents.

• Working knowledge of labor productivity, material and equipment pricing, subcontract costs, general conditions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, and contractor markups.

• Experience reviewing bids or proposals, reconciling scope, validating quantities, preparing comparisons, and identifying cost or commercial risks.

• Strong analytical and spreadsheet-based cost-modeling skills, with attention to accuracy, traceability, documentation, and version control.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work independently on assigned deliverables while seeking guidance on complex issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting hyperscale data centers, colocation facilities, mission-critical infrastructure, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, or other complex technical projects.

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

• Experience with an owner's organization, cost consultancy, quantity surveying firm, general contractor, specialty contractor, or design-build organization.

• Familiarity with estimating software, BIM-based quantity workflows, cost-management systems, reporting platforms, or data-visualization tools.

• Experience supporting projects across multiple regions, construction markets, contractors, vendors, or delivery models.

Success Measures

• Assigned estimates and takeoffs are accurate, complete, transparent, and delivered on schedule.

• Estimate assumptions, quantities, pricing sources, risks, and qualifications are documented clearly and can be traced through the CBS/WBS.

• Bid and proposal reviews identify scope gaps, pricing anomalies, and commercial risks early enough to support corrective action.

• Estimate-to-actual comparisons, cost data, and benchmarks become more reliable and useful over time.

• Project teams, Project Controls, Finance, and senior estimators receive timely, decision-ready cost information with minimal rework.

Core Deliverables

• Conceptual, budgetary, and detailed construction estimates aligned to the CBS/WBS, with supporting Basis of Estimate packages.

• Quantity takeoffs, cost build-ups, labor and productivity analyses, unit-rate models, and estimate assumptions logs.

• Bid-leveling sheets, proposal reviews, scope-reconciliation analyses, pricing comparisons, and commercial clarification logs.

• Cost-risk summaries, value-engineering analyses, change-order evaluations, estimate-to-actual comparisons, and forecast inputs.

• Cost databases, benchmark updates, estimate summaries, dashboards, Finance review materials, and project decision-support content.

Role Expectations 

This is a hands-on IC3 role for an estimator who independently develops assigned construction estimates and work packages, prepares accurate takeoffs and transparent cost models, and supports senior estimators, Finance, Project Controls, Procurement, and Delivery with timely analysis. The role exercises sound judgment within established methods, communicates risks clearly, and escalates the most complex scope and commercial decisions. 

Career Level - IC3