About this position
About Fermi America
Fermi America is developing the world’s largest next-generation private power grid to support the future of artificial intelligence. As hyperscale AI demand rapidly outpaces the capabilities of the legacy grid, Fermi is pioneering a behind-the-meter HyperGrid™ delivering highly redundant, utility-scale power at unprecedented speed and scale.
Our flagship development near Amarillo, Texas will exceed 12 GW of generation capacity, including 6 GW of natural gas and 6 GW of nuclear, supporting more than 15 million square feet of high-density data center infrastructure. This is not incremental infrastructure. It is sovereign-scale power development.
Position Summary
The Estimator will serve as a capital and cost-modeling authority for Fermi America’s power and infrastructure program. This role goes far beyond traditional estimating or cost accounting. You will own the capital cost modeling, validation, and risk analysis for one of the largest behind-the-meter generation and data center developments ever undertaken in the United States.
You will be responsible for developing decision-grade cost estimates across the full project lifecycle, from early feasibility through execution-ready control budgets, spanning simple-cycle and combined-cycle natural gas generation, high-pressure gas infrastructure, high-voltage substations, and large-scale data center construction.
As an in-house estimator embedded with engineering, procurement, and construction leadership, your work will directly inform investment decisions, EPC strategy, procurement sequencing, and executive-level capital allocation.
Key Responsibilities
Capital Cost Estimation & Modeling
- Develop, maintain, and continuously refine Class 5 through Class 1 capital cost estimates for large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, including utility-scale simple-cycle and combined-cycle gas turbine plants (CCGT), HRSG systems, cooling infrastructure, balance-of-plant, substations, and high-voltage interconnections.
- Produce integrated capital cost models supporting feasibility analysis, project sanctioning, execution planning, and cost control, aligned with evolving engineering maturity and delivery strategies.
- Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and bottoms-up cost modeling, validating engineering assumptions and modeling labor, material, equipment, indirects, escalation, and contingency across civil, mechanical, electrical, I&C, and balance-of-plant scopes.
EPC, OEM, and Procurement Interface
- Support EPC and OEM bid evaluation and bid leveling, performing detailed scope, commercial, and assumption reviews to ensure completeness, risk alignment, and market-competitive pricing.
- Collaborate with engineering and procurement teams to define owner-furnished versus contractor-furnished scopes, optimize cost, schedule, and risk.
- Track and incorporate commodity pricing trends, labor market conditions, and long-lead equipment dynamics, including turbines, transformers, generators, steel, and copper, into estimates and escalation assumptions.
Risk, Sensitivity, and Value Engineering
- Conduct risk, sensitivity, and scenario analyses to evaluate cost exposure under varying economic, schedule, and execution assumptions, clearly articulating downside, upside, and mitigation strategies.
- Identify and support value engineering and cost optimization opportunities, including constructability improvements, scope refinement, and integration efficiencies between generation assets and data center load.
- Benchmark costs against comparable utility, EPC, and hyperscale infrastructure projects to validate assumptions and identify gaps.
Stakeholder & Executive Support
- Serve as a trusted cost advisor to engineering, construction, finance, and executive leadership, ensuring alignment between technical design, cost, and commercial strategy.
- Prepare clear, executive-ready cost breakdowns, summaries, and decision-support materials for senior leadership, investment committees, and external stakeholders.
Experience
- 10+ years of experience in industrial or infrastructure estimating, with at least 5 years focused on utility-scale power generation or heavy industrial projects with capital budgets exceeding $500 million.
- Demonstrated experience estimating simple-cycle and combined-cycle natural gas generation projects, including turbine procurement, HRSGs, cooling systems, and high-voltage electrical infrastructure.
Technical Expertise
- Strong understanding of natural gas power plant architecture, EPC delivery models, high-voltage transmission and substations, and large-scale data center or industrial facility construction.
- Proven ability to develop estimates across all project phases, from conceptual studies through execution-ready budgets.
Tools & Systems
- Expert-level proficiency in HCSS HeavyBid, WinEst, Sage Estimating, or equivalent industry-standard estimating platforms.
- Advanced Excel-based financial and cost modeling skills, including scenario and sensitivity analysis.
Market & Contract Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of the Texas energy market (ERCOT) and regional labor and subcontractor dynamics.
- Experience with a range of contract structures, including Lump Sum, GMP, and Cost-Plus with Target Price arrangements.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Why Fermi America
- Unmatched Scale: Work on a nationally significant, multi-gigawatt power and infrastructure program unlike anything else in development today.
- Direct Impact: Your work directly shapes capital allocation, EPC strategy, and execution outcomes at the highest levels of the organization.
- Owner-Side Authority: This is not a consulting or transactional role. You sit at the center of decision-making.
- Speed and Precision: We value technical rigor, decisiveness, and execution velocity over bureaucracy.